Enlightening Your Minds: The Significance of the Qur’an

The Quran is the holy book of Islam and is viewed by Muslims as the direct word of God. The Quran is significant not only because of its history but also because of its continual daily use in Muslim worship. It has also had a significant cultural impact on the Islamic arts.

Revelation

Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of approximately 20 years by the angel Gabriel, who relayed to Muhammad the direct words of God. Muhammad’s initial revelation came as he was meditating in a cave outside the city of Mecca, and soon after he founded Islam and sought to spread the new religion using the words of the Quran.

Compilation

Muhammad, however, was not literate and thus did not write down the revelation; instead, he memorized and recited it. After his death, the new ruler of the Islamic Empire, Abu Bakr, sought to preserve the Quran and ordered the compilation of a written version. Under his guidance, the fragments that had been written down were combined with the knowledge of others who had likewise memorized the revelation to produce the written Quran that Muslims use today.

Daily Use

Muslims use the Quran in almost all Islamic rituals. Muslim prayer consists of reciting various verses from the Quran, the most important being the first chapter, or sura, of the Quran, called al-Fatihah (Arabic for “the opener”). This chapter, similar in content to the Christian Lord’s Prayer, opens each unit of prayer and is the most commonly recited chapter of the Quran. Verses from the Quran are also recited during Ramadan, the Friday sermon and other rituals throughout a Muslim’s day.

Cultural Significance

The Quran has also had a significant cultural influence on Islamic art. Because Islam forbids the depiction of individuals such as the Prophet Muhammad in religious art, Islamic art is rooted in the calligraphy of the Quran. Today many Qurans are prized for the beautiful, flowing Arabic script, and verses from the Quran are reproduced on buildings, flags and other places as public symbols. The words themselves, in lieu of images, have become the fundamental feature of Islamic art.

Also Read: Enlightening Your Minds: How to boost your Memory Power with the help of Quran and Islam