The Holy Quran stands as the central and primary scripture in Islam, revealed by God (Allah) for all humankind. It is more than just a religious text; it is a comprehensive guide for life. The Quran offers clear direction for every aspect of human existence, both in this world and the hereafter. Its unparalleled linguistic beauty, profound wisdom, and timeless appeal have secured its unique place in global history. This article delves into The History of Quran, exploring its revelation, its historical context, and manner of descent. We will also explore its diverse subject matter and the story of its preservation and compilation. Furthermore, we will examine its distinctive qualities compared to other scriptures, and its profound significance.

The History of Quran’s Revelation: When, How, and Upon Whom?

Islamic tradition states that this magnificent scripture was revealed to the last and greatest Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him). He was forty years old at the time. This historic event occurred in 610 CE on a blessed night in the holy month of Ramadan, famously known as ‘Laylat al-Qadr’ or the ‘Night of Decree.’ The first verses of the Quran descended while Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was meditating in the Cave of Hira, near Mecca. God’s angel, Gabriel (Jibril, peace be upon him), delivered this divine message.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ۞ خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ۞ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ۞ الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ۞ عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
“Read! In the Name of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clinging substance. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous. Who taught by the pen. He taught man that which he knew not.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Alaq 96:1-5)

This first experience deeply astounded and overwhelmed Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When he returned home, fearful and trembling, his wife, Khadijah (may God be pleased with her), comforted him. She became the first to believe in his prophethood.

The Gradual Revelation Process

The Quran was not revealed all at once. Instead, its revelation spanned twenty-three years, with verses descending gradually according to various needs, events, and contexts. This process of revelation continued for about thirteen years while the Prophet was in Mecca and for approximately ten years after his migration (Hijrah) to Medina. Whenever Allah revealed verses, the Messenger (peace be upon him) recited them to his Companions. They would diligently memorize these verses. Simultaneously, he instructed appointed scribes (Katib) to write them down. As paper was not readily available, they recorded the verses on materials like palm branches, leather, flat stones, and camel shoulder bones. Each verse and chapter (Surah) of the Quran has a specific reason and context for its revelation, known as ‘Shan-e-Nuzul’ (occasion of revelation). Understanding this ‘Shan-e-Nuzul’ is crucial for correctly interpreting the meaning, essence, and significance of the Quranic verses.

Context and Reasons for the Quran’s Revelation

At the time of the Quran’s revelation, the social, political, economic, and religious conditions in Arabia were deplorable and decadent. Ignorance, superstition, paganism, tribal conflicts, and widespread violence characterized the society. Women faced extreme disrespect, and the weak and helpless endured oppression. Limitless chaos prevailed. People call this dark period ‘Ayyam al-Jahiliyyah’ or the ‘Age of Ignorance.’

The history of Quran shows that it was revealed during such a critical period to guide humanity to the right path. It called for complete submission to the One God (Tawhid). Its purpose was to rescue humanity from moral and spiritual decline and to establish a just, equitable, and peaceful society.

Its main objectives were:

Establishing Monotheism (Tawhid): To free people from all forms of false worship, guiding them fully towards the worship of the One God, and purifying them from all forms of polytheism (Shirk – associating partners with God).
Affirming Prophethood (Risalat): Firmly believing that God chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His Messenger and that his message is true.
Belief in the Hereafter (Akhirah): To instill unwavering faith in life after death, the Day of Judgment, Paradise (reward), and Hell (punishment).
Moral Development: To deter society from all immoral acts such as lying, cheating, adultery, usury, and oppression. It encourages acquiring virtues like truthfulness, justice, charity, forgiveness, and patience.
Social Reform: To establish the proper rights and dignity of women in society, work towards abolishing slavery, ensure compassion and rights for the weak and orphans, establish justice, and create an environment of peaceful coexistence.
A Complete Code of Life: To provide clear and effective guidance on all aspects of human life – personal, familial, social, economic, political, and spiritual.

Another key reason for the Quran’s revelation was to protect humanity from the distortions and alterations that followers of previous divine scriptures had introduced into their teachings. The Quran came to supersede those scriptures, establishing itself as the final, complete, and uncorrupted divine book.

This highlights the importance of Quran as the ultimate guide for humankind in all aspects of life.

The Content of the Al Quran

The Quran is an inexhaustible treasure of knowledge. Its subject matter is vast and diverse. It addresses, directly or indirectly, every aspect of human life. We can categorize its main themes as follows:

Aqeedah (Beliefs): Detailed and reasoned discussions on God’s Oneness (Tawhid), His beautiful names and attributes, belief in angels, previous divine scriptures, all prophets and messengers, destiny (Taqdir), and the Hereafter (Akhirah).
Ibadah (Worship): Comprehensive descriptions of the methods, conditions, and spiritual and social importance of fundamental acts of worship like prayer (Salat), fasting (Sawm), pilgrimage (Hajj), and charity (Zakat).
Mu’amalat (Transactions and Interpersonal Relations): Clear rules concerning marriage, divorce, inheritance laws, business and trade, loans, trusts, the justice system, and social conduct.
Akhlaq (Morality): Instructions to acquire excellent moral qualities such as truthfulness, justice, patience, forgiveness, humility, generosity, good treatment of parents and relatives, neighbors’ rights, and trustworthiness. It also strongly urges abandoning bad qualities like lying, backbiting, slander, arrogance, envy, and miserliness.
Qasas (Stories): Narratives of previous prophets and messengers (like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, peace be upon them all) and their communities. It also includes stories of various historical groups, offering lessons so people can learn from the past and follow the right path.
Ahkam (Laws and Rulings): Prohibitions and permissions regarding Halal (permissible) and Haram (forbidden), rules for food and drink, family law, social law, state law, and detailed principles for war and treaties.
Jannah and Jahannam (Paradise and Hell): Detailed descriptions of the eternal abode of bliss (Paradise) and the severe place of punishment (Hell) in the afterlife. These descriptions encourage people towards good deeds and deter them from sinful acts.
Cosmology and Science: Indications about the mysteries of the universe’s creation, the Earth, heavens, moon, sun, stars, creation of plant and animal life, and various natural phenomena. Many of these hints align with modern scientific discoveries and invite deep reflection.
History: Accounts of the rise and fall of different nations and civilizations, highlighting lessons from them so that people can understand God’s way (Sunnatullah).

The Quran contains a total of 114 Surahs (chapters). The number of verses (ayahs) ranges from 6,236 to 6,666 according to different counting methods. Each Surah and ayah possesses its own context and profound significance.

Preservation and Compilation of the Quran: A Vital Chapter in The History of Quran

The Quran is unique as the only scripture that clearly states its own name (Quran), its origin (the Preserved Tablet – Lawh Mahfuz), the reason for its advent, its Sender (Allah, Lord of the Worlds), and the time of its revelation (the Night of Qadr in Ramadan). No other religious scripture provides such explicit self-identification and evidence.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ ۞
“We Who sent down the Reminder (the Quran), and indeed, We will be its guardian.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Hijr 15:9)

During the lifetime of the Messenger (peace be upon him), people preserved the Quran primarily in two ways:

Hifz (Memorization): Arabs traditionally possessed strong memories. Consequently, the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) would memorize the verses with complete accuracy immediately upon revelation. In fact, hundreds among them were Hafiz (those who had memorized the entire Quran). Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself would recite and review the Quran with Angel Gabriel every Ramadan.

Kitabat (Writing): Following the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) instructions, appointed scribes promptly wrote down the revealed verses. These scribes included Zaid ibn Thabit, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, and Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may God be pleased with them). They used readily available materials such as palm leaves, leather, stone tablets, and camel shoulder bones.

The Importance of Quran in Ensuring its Authenticity and Unity

After the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) passing, during the rule of the first Caliph, Abu Bakr (may God be pleased with him), many Hafiz were martyred in the Battle of Yamama. Consequently, upon Umar’s (may God be pleased with him) advice and insistence, an urgent need arose to compile the Quran into a single volume. Therefore, Abu Bakr entrusted this critical and sensitive task to Zaid ibn Thabit (may God be pleased with him). With extreme care and dedication, Zaid ibn Thabit meticulously cross-referenced the written portions the Companions preserved with the memorized verses of numerous Hafiz. He then compiled the entire Quran into one ‘Mushaf’ (book). Abu Bakr kept this first complete compiled copy. After his martyrdom, Umar took possession of it, and subsequently, Umm al-Mu’minin Hafsah (may God be pleased with her) carefully preserved it.

A Pivotal Moment in the History of Quran

Later, during the caliphate of the third Caliph, Usman (may God be pleased with him), the Islamic empire expanded far and wide. As a result, differences in Quranic recitation arose in various regions due to regional Arabic dialects. To address this, Usman used the original copy preserved with Hafsah (may God be pleased with her) as the basis. He then commissioned the preparation of several standard copies of the Quran according to the pure Quraishi dialect. Subsequently, he sent these copies to the major provinces of the empire.

Simultaneously, to maintain unity among the Muslim Ummah (community) and to prevent any confusion or distortion regarding the Quran, he ordered the collection and destruction of other incomplete or dialectally varied copies. For this monumental service, people call Usman ‘Jami’ al-Quran’ or the ‘Compiler of the Quran.’ Since then, the Quran has remained unaltered, preserved in the homes and hearts of millions of Muslims worldwide – a living miracle.

The Uniqueness and Supremacy of the Al Quran

Divine Preservation: It is the only scripture whose preservation the Creator Himself has guaranteed. For fourteen centuries, it has remained unaltered, with every vowel and dot intact.

Living Original Language

Living Original Language: The Arabic language in which God revealed the Quran remains a living and major world language today. People recite, study, and research it in this original language. God says: “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand.” (Quran, Surah Yusuf 12:2). In contrast, the original languages of many other scriptures may have become extinct or altered. They often rely on translations, which raises questions about the completeness and accuracy of the original message.

Global Tradition of Memorization (Hifz)

Global Tradition of Memorization (Hifz): From the North Pole to the South Pole, millions of people memorize the entire Quran and hold it in their hearts. These people include Arabs and non-Arabs whose mother tongue is not Arabic. This astonishing tradition of Hifz is an outstanding feature of the Quran. It is not seen with any other scripture.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ۞
“And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember, so is there anyone who will be mindful?”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Qamar 54:17)

Above Distortion and Change

Above Distortion and Change: Historical data and various studies—such as discussions in the Catholic Encyclopedia and research on other scriptures—show that many ancient texts have undergone changes or distortions over time. However, the Quran exists today in its original form. There are no different or conflicting versions of the Quran. Slight variations in recitation (Ahruf) did exist, but Caliph Usman unified them. Other scriptures, like the Torah or Bible, have multiple versions. Examples include the Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Masoretic Text, Samaritan Torah, and different canons of the New Testament. These versions have discrepancies and contradictions among them. This has not happened with the Quran. God condemns those who write scripture with their own hands and then claim it is from God to gain a small price.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ الْكِتَابَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَـٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ اللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۖ فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ ۞
“So woe to those who write the ‘Scripture’ with their own hands, then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for what they earn.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:79)

Linguistic and Literary Miracle

Linguistic and Literary Miracle: The Quran’s Arabic language astonished even the most skilled poets and littérateurs of Arabia. Its eloquence, literary standard, rhythm, and profound meaning left them incapacitated. This linguistic miracle remains clear to Arabic speakers even today.

Numerical Consistencies

The Quran displays amazing consistency in the repetition of various words. For instance, the word ‘Dunya’ (this worldly life) appears 115 times, and ‘Akhirah’ (the Hereafter) also appears 115 times. The words ‘angel’ and ‘devil’ each occur 88 times. The word ‘month’ (shahr) is used 12 times, and ‘day’ (yawm) is used 365 times. These are just a few examples of the Quran’s structural miracles.

The Importance of the Holy Quran

The significance and importance of the Holy Quran are immense, not only for Muslims but for all of humanity. For them, it is:

Source of Guidance (Hidayah)

The Quran guides humanity to the straight, correct, and eternal path.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2)

Complete Code of Life

It provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of human life – personal, family, social, economic, political, and spiritual.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ هُدًۭى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَـٰتٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَٱلْفُرْقَانِ
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)

Final and Ultimate Divine Scripture

It is the last and greatest book revealed by God, superseding all previous divine scriptures. Its teachings are applicable to humanity until the Day of Resurrection.

Miracle (Mu’jiza): The Quran’s language, literary excellence, prophecies, accurate scientific allusions, and its unaltered preservation for fourteen centuries prove its miraculous nature.
Source of Peace and Mercy: Reciting the Quran, studying it, and following its teachings bring tranquility to human hearts, and God’s mercy descends.
Repository of Knowledge and Wisdom: The Quran encourages people to acquire deep knowledge and provides life-related and spiritually profound teachings.
Symbol of Unity and Brotherhood: The Quran unites the global Muslim Ummah (community) through the worship of One God and adherence to one Messenger. It teaches mutual brotherhood and compassion.
Primary Source of Law: The Quran is the primary and fundamental source of Islamic Shari’ah (law and regulations). Muslims derive laws for their personal, family, social, and state life from it.
Path to Salvation in the Hereafter: By sincerely following the Quran’s commandments, people can attain eternal salvation and God’s pleasure in the afterlife.

Sayings of the Prophet (PBUH)

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“The best among you is he who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5027)

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“I have left among you two matters which, if you hold to them, you will never be misguided: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.”
(Muwatta’ Malik, Book 46, Hadith 3)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Holy Quran is a vast ocean of inexhaustible knowledge, wisdom, and guidance. Every verse, every word, guides humanity towards well-being in this life and success in the Hereafter.It is not for any specific nation or time. Rather, it is a special mercy and timeless guide from God for all humankind. A believer can attain true peace and salvation in the Hereafter only through its proper study, deep understanding, and reflection of its teachings in their life. For ages, it has led people from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. It will continue to do so, God willing (Insha’Allah). To know the truth, one needs an open and truth-seeking heart. God Almighty has given humans the ultimate right to choose.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَقُلِ ٱلْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَآءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ
“And say, ‘The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.'”
(Qur’an, Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)