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Koran
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The original usage of the word quran is in the Quran
itself, where it occurs about 70 times assuming various meanings. It is a verbal
noun (mardar) of the Arabic verb qaraa , meaning "he read" or "he recited", and
represents the Syriac equivalent qeryana which refers to "scripture reading" or
"lesson". While most Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the
Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is qara`a
itself. In any case, it had become an Arabic term by Muhammad's lifetime. Among
the earliest meanings of the word Qur’an is the "act of reciting", for example
in a Quranic passage: "Ours is it to put it together and [Ours is] its quran".
In other verses it refers to "an individual passage recited [by Muhammad]". In
the large majority of contexts, usually with a definite article (al-), the word
is referred to as the "revelation" (wahy), that which has been "sent down" (tanzil)
at intervals. Its liturgical context is seen in a number of passages, for
example: "So when al-quran is recited , listen to it and keep silent". The word
may also assume the meaning of a codified scripture when mentioned with other
scriptures such as the Torah and Gospel. |
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The Koran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each
known as a sura. Chapters are classed as Mecca or Medina, depending on where the
verses were revealed. Chapter titles are derived from a name or quality
discussed in the text, or from the first letters or words of the sura. Muslims
believe that Muhammad, on God's command, gave the chapters their names.
Generally, longer chapters appear earlier in the Quran, while the shorter ones
appear later. The chapter arrangement is thus not connected to the sequence of
revelation. Each sura, with the exception of one, commences with the Basmala. an
Arabic phrase meaning ("In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"), with
the exception of the ninth chapter. There are, however, still 114 occurrences of
the basmala in the Quran, due to its presence in verse 27:30 as the opening of
Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba.
Each sura is formed from several ayat (verses), which originally means a sign or
portent sent by God. The number of ayat differ from sura to sura. |
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