The Qur’an
The Qur’an is the central religious text of Islam. We are reading it to become better-equipped for the ministry of Interfaith Dialogue with Muslims.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Phrases, Adventures
SUMMARY
Disclaimer
We are not Muslims. We have no expertise with the Qur’an.
We are reading the Qur’an as a good-faith effort to to become better-equipped for the ministry of of Interfaith Dialogue with Muslims.
We are Christians who are reading the Qur’an for the first time. Our mindset is to approach the Qur’an with respect and as learners. Our comments are simply whatever stood out to us.
Author
Muslims believe the Qur’an was orally revealed by God to Muhammad through the archangel Gabriel, incrementally over a period of some 23 years.
Muhammad did not write it as he did not know how to write. According to tradition, several of his companions served as scribes, recording the revelations.
Shortly after the prophet’s death, the Qur’an was compiled by the companions, who had written down or memorized parts of it.
Recipients
All of humanity.
Date
It is from 610–632 AD.
Purpose
Muslims believe the Qur’an to be God’s final revelation to humanity, a work of divine guidance revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
The central theme of the Qur’an is monotheism.
The second great doctrine of the Qur’an is the doctrine of the last day and eschatology. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the Quran is eschatological, dealing with the afterlife in the next world and with the day of judgment at the end of time.
Translation
Here at the Explore the Faith website, we are using the Modern Literal Translation of the Qur’an by Free Minds. According to their About Us page, all their work at that site, unless specified, may be copied and/or distributed on condition that reference is given back to www.free-minds.org. According to Wikisource, the Modern Literal Translation “is in the public domain worldwide because it has been so released by the copyright holder.”
To help our understanding, we are consulting The Sublime Quran, Revised Edition, translated by Laleh Bakhtiar, Ph.D., distributed by Kazi Publications.
Details
The Quran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a sūrah.
According to Wikipedia, the Qur’an has 6,200+ verses.
According to IslamWeb.net, the Qur’an has 77,449 words.
OUTLINE
Chapter 1. This chapter is called al-Fātihah, or The Opening. It consists of seven verses.
Chapter 2. This chapter is called al-Baqarah, or The Heifer. It consists of 286 verses.
Chapter 3. This chapter is called ʾĀli ʿImrān, or The Family of Imran. It consists of 200 verses.
Chapter 4. This chapter is called an-Nisāʾ, or The Women. It consists of 176 verses.
Chapter 5. This chapter is called al-Ma’idah, or The Table. It consists of 120 verses.
Chapter 6. This chapter called al-ʾAnʿām, or The Cattle. It consists of 165 verses.
Chapter 7. This chapter is called al-ʾAʿrāf, or The Heights. It consists of 206 verses.
Chapter 8. This chapter is called Al-A’raf, or The Elevated Places. It consists of 75 verses.
Chapter 9. This chapter is called At-Tawbah, or The Repentance. It consists of 129 verses.
Chapter 10. It consists of 109 verses.
Chapter 11. It consists of 123 verses.
Chapter 12. It consists of 111 verses.
Chapter 13. It consists of 43 verses.
Chapter 14. It consists of 52 verses.
Chapter 15. It consists of 99 verses.
Chapter 16. It consists of 128 verses.
Chapter 17. It consists of 111 verses.
Chapter 18. It consists of 110 verses.
Chapter 19. Mary (Maryam)
Chapter 20. Ta Ha
Chapter 21. The Prophets (Al-Anbiya)
Chapter 22. The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj)
Chapter 23. The Believers (Al-Mu’minun)
Chapter 24. The Light (Al-Nur)
Chapter 25. The Discrimination (Al-Furqan)
Chapter 26. The Poets (Al-Shu’ara)
Chapter 27. The Naml (Al-Naml)
Chapter 28. The Narrative (Al-Qasas)
Chapter 29. The Spider (Al-‘Ankabut)
Chapter 30. The Romans (Al-Rum)
Chapter 31. Luqman
Chapter 32. The Adoration (Al-Sajdah)
Chapter 33. The Allies (Al-Ahzab)
Chapter 34. The Saba (Al-Saba)
Chapter 35. The Originator (Al-Fatir)
Chapter 36. Ya Sin
Chapter 37. Those Ranging in Ranks (Al-Saffat)
Chapter 38. Sa’d
Chapter 39. The Companies (Al-Zumar)
Chapter 40. The Believer (Al-Mu’min)
Chapter 41. Ha Min
Chapter 42. The Counsel (Al-Shura)
Chapter 43. Gold (Zukhruf)
Chapter 44. The Drought (Al-Dukhan)
Chapter 45. The Kneeling (Al-Jathiyah)
Chapter 46. The Sandhills (Al-Ahqaf)
Chapter 47. Muhammad
Chapter 48. The Victory (Al-Fath)
Chapter 49. The Apartments (Al-Hujurat)
Chapter 50. Qaf
Chapter 51. The Scatterers (Al-Dhariyat)
Chapter 52. The Mountain (Al-Tur)
Chapter 53. The Star (Al-Najm)
Chapter 54. The Moon (Al-Qamar)
Chapter 55. The Beneficent (Al-Rahman)
Chapter 56. The Event (Al-Waqi’ah)
Chapter 57. Iron (Al-Hadid)
Chapter 58. The Pleading Woman (Al-Mujadilah)
Chapter 59. The Banishment (Al-Hashr)
Chapter 60. The Woman Who is Examined (Al-Mumtahanah)
Chapter 61. The Ranks (Al-Saff)
Chapter 62. The Congregation (Al-Jumu’ah)
Chapter 63. The Hypocrites (Al-Munafiqun)
Chapter 64. The Manifestation of Losses (Al-Taghabun)
Chapter 65. Divorce (Al-Talaq)
Chapter 66. The Prohibition (Al-Tahrim)
Chapter 67. The Kingdom (Al-Mulk)
Chapter 68. The Pen (Al-Qalam)
Chapter 69. The Sure Truth (Al-Huqqah)
Chapter 70. The Ways of Ascent (Al-Ma’arij)
Chapter 71. Noah (Nuh)
Chapter 72. The Jinn (Al-Jinn)
Chapter 73. The One Covering Himself Up (Al-Muzzammil)
Chapter 74. The One Wrapping Himself Up (Al-Muddaththir)
Chapter 75. The Resurrection (Al-Qiyamah)
Chapter 76. Man (Al-Insan)
Chapter 77. Those Sent Forth (Al-Mursalat)
Chapter 78. The Announcement (Al-Naba)
Chapter 79. Those Who Yearn (Al-Nazi’at)
Chapter 80. Frowned (Abasa)
Chapter 81. The Folding Up (Al-Takwir)
Chapter 82. The Cleaving (Al-Infitar)
Chapter 83. Default in Duty (Al-Mutaffifun)
Chapter 84. The Bursting Asunder (Al-Inshiqaq)
Chapter 85. The Stars (Al-Buruj)
Chapter 86. The Comer by Night (Al-Tariq)
Chapter 87. The Most High (Al-A’la)
Chapter 88. The Overwhelming Event (Al-Ghashiyah)
Chapter 89. The Daybreak (Al-Fajr)
Chapter 90. The City (Al-Balad)
Chapter 91. The Sun (Al-Shams)
Chapter 92. The Night (Al-Lail)
Chapter 93. The Brightness of the Day (Al-Duha)
Chapter 94. The Expansion (Al-Inshirah)
Chapter 95. The Fig (Al-Tin)
Chapter 96. The Clot (Al-Alaq)
Chapter 97. The Majesty (Al-Qadr)
Chapter 98. The Clear Evidence (Al-Bayyinah)
Chapter 99. The Shaking (Al-Zilzal)
Chapter 100. The Assaulters (Al-Adiyat)
Chapter 101. The Calamity (Al-Qari’ah)
Chapter 102. The Abundance of Wealth (Al-Takathur)
Chapter 103. The Time (Al-‘Asr)
Chapter 104. The Slanderer (Al-Humazah)
Chapter 105. The Elephant (Al-Fil)
Chapter 106. The Quraish
Chapter 107. Acts of Kindness (Al-Ma’un)
Chapter 108. The Abundance of Good (Al-Kauthar)
Chapter 109. The Disbelievers (Al-Kafirun)
Chapter 110. The Help (Al-Nasr)
Chapter 111. The Flame (Al-Lahab)
Chapter 112. The Unity (Al-Ikhlas)
Chapter 113. The Dawn (Al-Falaq)
Chapter 114. The Men (Al-Nas)
MEMORIZE
Traditionally great emphasis was put on children memorizing the 6,200+ verses of the Quran, those succeeding being honored with the title of Hafiz.
PHRASES
Here are some phrases that especially stood out to us:
believe and do good. See 2:25 and 2:82 and 2:227 and 7:42.
Jinn. See 7:38.
Resurrection. See 7:14 and 7:32.
Retribution. See 7:39.
Satan. See 7:11.
Note. This list is a work-in-progress.
ADVENTURES
from my missionary work overseas
England
Meeting Muslim Street-Preachers. [England; 1992] On the streets of Birmingham, we met some men preaching about Islam! They invited us to come to their house that night to join them in breaking their fast.
Living with our Muslim friend. [England; 1992] During the month of Ramadan, the four of us lived with our Muslim friend Zayan.
Flying to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. [England; 1992] In London, we were sensing a change. Our era as a team was about to end. It was time for each of us to go our own way.
Karachi in Pakistan
Fasting with Peter. [Pakistan; 1992] At a hostel, I met a man named Peter from Uganda. He was a vibrant Christian believer who fasted continually on a very simple diet.
THE QUR’AN
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Phrases, Adventures
Here at the Explore the Faith website, we are using the Modern Literal Translation of the Qur’an by Free Minds. According to their About Us page, all their work at that site, unless specified, may be copied and/or distributed on condition that reference is given back to www.free-minds.org. According to Wikisource, the Modern Literal Translation “is in the public domain worldwide because it has been so released by the copyright holder.”
To help our understanding, we are consulting The Sublime Quran, Revised Edition, translated by Laleh Bakhtiar, Ph.D., distributed by Kazi Publications.
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.