Qur'an — Meaning and Use

Qur’an (Arabic: القرآن) is pronounced qur-AAN. The apostrophe marks a tiny break in the voice between “r” and “a”, and the “q” is made deep in the throat. You may also see the spelling “Koran”.

Meaning

The word means “the recitation” or “that which is read”. Muslims believe the Qur’an is the exact word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Gabriel, piece by piece, over about twenty-three years. It has 114 chapters, called surahs, made up of verses called ayahs (“signs”). The Qur’an describes its own purpose:

إِنَّ هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ يَهْدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًۭا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٩﴾

Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.

How Muslims use it

The Qur’an is recited in every prayer, memorised by millions of people of all ages, and read for guidance and comfort. Muslims treat a printed copy with great respect. Because the original Arabic is considered the revelation itself, versions in other languages are usually called “translations of the meaning” of the Qur’an.

Example

“He reads a page of the Qur’an every morning before work.”

To learn more, read What Is the Qur’an? and How Was the Qur’an Preserved?