Cheat SheetKoran For DummiesFrom The Koran For Dummies by Sohaib SultanAs the holy book of the Islam religion, the Koran is followed byMuslims around the world. It sets out the basic tenets of the religion,details the purposes of the book and the religion, and is quoted byMuslims and non-Muslims alike.

The Five Purposes of the KoranAs the holy book of Islam, the Koran informs millions of Muslims around theworld. The book itself serves five essential purposes and the following listexplains each in some detail:

The Guidance: The Koran serves as a guide to belief in the Oneness ofGod, and leads to an ethical life defined as Submission or Surrender to theWill of God (Islam). This complete way of life offers guidance through bothpersonal and communal laws.

The Criterion: The Koran distinguishes between moral and immoral, ethicaland unethical, good and evil. The Book helps Muslims make ethical choicesin their daily lives.

The Reminder: The Koran confirms and reminds the world of the teachingsof past Prophets. The stories of the Prophets form an essential part of theKorans narrative.

Spiritual healing: The Book helps Muslims turn away from their lowerpassions, towards the higher aspirations of worshiping and obeying God.

The Koran presents a personal relationship with the Divine, a God-consciousness that elevates the soul and frees the mind from moraldiseases, such as materialism, jealousy, and anger.

Social change: The Scripture serves as roadmap for social change built onsocial justice, economic equity, racial harmony, human rights, and dignity.The Koran calls the Muslim community to actively enjoin that which is right,

good, and just, and to struggle against that which is wrong, evil, and unjust.

Basic Features of the KoranThe Koran, Islams holy scripture, details the tenets of the religion quitedifferently than the Bible explores Christian beliefs. Keep these features of theKoran in mind when reading the scripture:

The oral tradition: The Korans oral tradition gives the Book its aura. Therecited word of the Koran is much more powerful than its printed form,especially if the text has been translated from Arabic into another language.

The non-linear approach: The Koran doesnt follow a systematic historicalor thematic approach. Rather, stories from the past, laws, and moralteachings drive the Books narrative.

The non-historical story: The Koran doesnt include specifics of history,including times, places, and lineage. The moral of the story, whichtranscends time and space, trumps the details of history.

Quotes from the Koran on Major ThemesThe Koran, the holy book of Islam, includes some iconic passages and quotesknown by most Muslims and those of other religions as well. The Koranicpassages, with chapter and verse in parentheses) in the following list offer aglimpse of some major themes presented in the Koran:

God: Say, He is God, the One. God, the Eternal, Absolute. He gives notbirth, nor is He born. And there is none like unto Him (Surah 112).

Prophets: Say, we believe in God, and in what has been revealed to usand what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes,and in the Books given to Moses, Jesus, and the Prophets from theirSustainer. We make no distinction between one and another (3:84).

Beliefs and actions: It is not righteousness that you turn your facestowards East or West. But it is righteousness to believe in God and the Dayof Judgment, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers. To spendof your sustenance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for theneedy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the freeing of slaves. Tobe steadfast in prayer, and give purifying alms. To fulfill the contracts whichyou have made. And to be firm and patient, in suffering and adversity, and

through all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-conscious (2:177).

Mankind and life: By the time, verily, man is in loss, except those whohave faith and do righteous deeds, and join together in the mutual enjoiningof truth, and of patience and perseverance (Surah 103).

The Day of Accountability: When the earth is shaken to her convulsion,and the earth throws up her burdens, and man cries What is the matter withher? On that day will she declare her tidings, for your Sustainer will havegiven her inspiration. On that day will men proceed in groups to be showndeeds that they have done. Then anyone who has one atoms weight ofgood shall see it. And anyone who has done an atoms weight of evil shallsee it (Surah 99).

Human relations: O mankind! We created you from a single [pair] of amale and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you mayknow each other. Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is [theone who] is most conscious of God. And God has full knowledge and is fullyaware (49:13).

Gender relations: The believers, men and women, are friends of oneanother. They enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil. They observeregular prayers, pay purifying alms, and obey God and His Messenger. Onthem God will pour His Mercy, for God is Exalted in power, and is Wise(9:71).

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