Introduction to the Qur’an

First Revelation at The cave of Hira 610

Taught privately for 2 years10 years in Mecca10 years in Medina

Complete with Al-Yawm akmaltu “To-day I have completedYour religion.”

Qur’anintroducing a verse from the Qur’an is “God—May He be exalted—has said.”Chapter: sūraVerse: āyaConventionsQur’an: Compare Aramaic Qeryana “Recitation”Fawatih or mystical lettersText: Consonants only. 

History Abu Bakr asked Muhammad’s secretary to prepare a copy which was given to Abu Bakr’s daughter and Muhammad’s widow, A’isha, (some say Hafsa) approximately 633.

“Uthmanic recension”—c. 651—agreed by all, Shia as well as Sunnis.

Orthography

First Chapter of

The Qur’an

History

One of the earliest MSS,

From the 7th Cent.

Next slide: Qur’anic

Inscription from

Dome of the Rock

History

Variants: Still remembered in 10th cent. And gathered by Ibn Abi Dawud.Shia claim Ali retained his own copy but accept “Uthmanic” recension.10th century: development of a fully vocalized, standard text by Ibn Muqlah and Ibn ‘Isa in 933. Multiple reading traditions (Arabic:qira'at). Today the Egyptian, South Asian and West African versions are probably most important; also a European edition.

I’jaz al-Quran “The miracle of the Qur’an.” Sanctity of Qur’an

For many Muslims, the production of the Qur’an was Muhammad’s only miracle.

Sanctity: Qala Allah Ta’allah: al-Qur’an al-Karim la yamisahu illa al-mutahharun. A “Hadith Kudsi” Only the purified an touch the Noble Qur’an

Jewish  sages found God in studying and discussing the Torah. Christians assert that there is no way to God the Father except through the Son;

for Muslims, an important path to God and to understanding the revelation through Muhammad is by reciting the Qur’an—the eternal WORD of God.

Was the Qur’an Created?

Ghayr makhluq: One of the big controversies of the early days was whether the Qur’an was created by God, or the eternal Speech of God, uncreated just as God is “uncreated.” This was one of the major points of the Mu'tazilis and of an "inquisition" in the 9th century.

Length and chronology:

Words: 77,934Verses: 6236Letters: 323,621

1st chapter: al-FatihaOtherwise organized

by Length

 Asbab al-nuzul “Causes of revelation”

Meccan Suras: Earliest are rhythmic, brief and often introduced by oaths. Example: sura 95

Prophets, Madina Suras

24 Medinan SurasLegal and social

legislation: longer and more “prosaic”

al-Naskh wal-Tabdil “Change and Alteration” e.g. 2:106, 3:71.

Wine; War; non-Muslims

Prophets mentioned include

Ibrahim (70 times) Moses (in 34

chapters) Noah, Jonah,

Joseph, Saul, David, Sulayman, Harun, others

Adam (10 times).

Reading the Qur’an

Begin with: A’udhu b-‘llah min al-Shaytan ar-rajim "I take refuge in God from accursed Satan"

End with: Sadaqa Allah al-Azim. Amin "God most Great has spoken truth. Amen.“

No Lectionary

Interpretation:Legal and ethical: through sunna and hadith.Tafsir.  Ta’wil.Tabari d. 923Abu Hamid al-Ghazzali d. 1111Zamakhashari d. 1144Al-Baydawi d. 1286Ibn Kathir 774 AHJalalayn (Started by Jalal al-Din Al-Mahalli d. 894

AH/1459CE, completed Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti d. 911 AH/ 1505CE)

         Moderns: Muhammad AbduhSayyid QutbMaulana Muhammad Ali (Ahmadi)http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/maududi/ Syed Maududi’s introductions