Azriel
Well-known member
The same way the Bible gives us our understanding of Christianity, the Qur’an is a vital part of understanding Islam both as it is practiced today and as its origins are described. The difference is who was their authors. Since most non-Muslims have never read the Qur’an, a brief introduction is in order. The word “Qur’an” means “recitation” in Arabic and is thought to be derived from the Syriac word “Quryana,” which refers to “lectionary, or liturgical, readings.”
As the holy scripture of Islam, the Qur’an is the main source of guidance for Muslims, though much of the sharia law is derived from other sources (namely the Hadith, which records the traditional sayings of Muhammad, the Sira, which contains biographical material on Muhammad, the Tafsir, which contains commentaries on the Qur’an, and Fiqh, which is Islamic Jurisprudence).
The 114 chapters, or Surahs, in the Qur’an contain instruction on a variety of topics, including the greatness of Allah, relationships with Jews and Christians, interactions with non-Muslims, and how Muslims ought to conduct themselves in everything from prayer and alms to marriage and military conflicts. Unlike the Christian or Jewish scriptures, the Qur’an is organized by chapter length rather than chronology. It also contains a number of stories about Old Testament figures such as Moses, David, and Abraham, as well as narratives about Jesus (known as “Isa” in the Qur’an) and his mother, Mary.
But who was its author? Key concepts that must be understood about the Qur’an, with an emphasis on how Muslims believe it establishes itself as trustworthy and divinely inspired. Once that is understood it's easier to spot the misconception throughout the Quran and come to the understanding that it was written by a man, and he was not divinely inspired.
Daniel Janosik, The Guide to Answering Islam: What Every Christian Needs to Know about Islam and the Rise of Radical Islam
As the holy scripture of Islam, the Qur’an is the main source of guidance for Muslims, though much of the sharia law is derived from other sources (namely the Hadith, which records the traditional sayings of Muhammad, the Sira, which contains biographical material on Muhammad, the Tafsir, which contains commentaries on the Qur’an, and Fiqh, which is Islamic Jurisprudence).
The 114 chapters, or Surahs, in the Qur’an contain instruction on a variety of topics, including the greatness of Allah, relationships with Jews and Christians, interactions with non-Muslims, and how Muslims ought to conduct themselves in everything from prayer and alms to marriage and military conflicts. Unlike the Christian or Jewish scriptures, the Qur’an is organized by chapter length rather than chronology. It also contains a number of stories about Old Testament figures such as Moses, David, and Abraham, as well as narratives about Jesus (known as “Isa” in the Qur’an) and his mother, Mary.
But who was its author? Key concepts that must be understood about the Qur’an, with an emphasis on how Muslims believe it establishes itself as trustworthy and divinely inspired. Once that is understood it's easier to spot the misconception throughout the Quran and come to the understanding that it was written by a man, and he was not divinely inspired.
Daniel Janosik, The Guide to Answering Islam: What Every Christian Needs to Know about Islam and the Rise of Radical Islam
