Sacred Books of the World

1
Sacred Books of the World

• The Quran

2
Background

• Most Sacred Text of Islam
• Name Quran (Koran) gt Arabic qr to read,
  recite thus recitation, readings
• Sura 961-5 Clots of Blood
• Readings from concealed book (Al-Kitab the
  book) in 7th heaven
• Language Arabic
• Length 114 Suras (chapters) of uneven length
• Longer (later, Medina/Mecca) to shorter (earlier,
  Mecca)
• Hymnic quality sound vision
• Not arranged by topic or chronology

3
History/Origins

• Pre-Islamic Arabia world of polytheism
  nomadic life

4
Prophet Muhammad

• Prophets
• Rasul brings a new message (Noah, Moses,
  Ishmael, Jesus, Muhammad)
• Nabi emphasizes prior teachings (Abraham,
  Jacob, David, Solomon)
• 570 AD Muhammad born, orphaned, illiterate
• 595 AD married widow Khadija
• 610 AD first revelation from Allah via archangel
  Gabriel on Mt. Hira near Mecca (where Kaaba
  located)
• 610-632 AD ongoing revelations (until death)
• 622 AD flight to Medina Hijra

5
Canonization

• Muhammad realized need to collect revelations
  prior to his death in 632AD
• Zayd ibn Thabit, secretary, began process
• canonized form established c. 650 AD under 3rd
  Caliph Uthman (called Uthmanic text)
• Motivation extensive spread of Islam, death of
  memorizers, need for uniformity in military
  garrisons

6
Sura 1 Al-Fatiha(The Opening)

• devotional prayer
• five times daily
• one of 7 oft-repeated verse
• Bismallah opening words In the name of
  Allah
• one of earliest Suras
• called Essence of the Quran
• emphasis on Allahs compassion
• Sura 531-11
• early sura
• explicit reference to Muhammads prophetic vision

7
Suras 112-114

• Early Meccan
• Powerful theological message in brevity
• Sura 112 Doctrine of Tawhid oneness
• Greater meaning belief in Oneness of Allah
  avoiding excessive attention to earthly needs
• Negates Christian idea of a son of God
• Sura 113 refuge in Allah from all mischief
• Sura 114 refuge in Allah from internal external
  tempters (Iblis, jinn)

8
Theological Suras

• Sura 80 He Frowned Muhammad is admonished
• Suras 81-82 Day of Judgment
• Sura 52 Hell and Paradise
• Sura 22 Al-Hajj (Pilgrimage)
• Resurrection, Good Works, True Believers,
  Pilgrimage, Jihad
• Sura 391-6,49
• Sura 21-10,154-156,190,286

9
Biblical Suras

• Sura 17 Muhammad (Night Journey More)
• Sura 331-41 background beginning of story of
  Jesus
• Sura 342-54 Jesus as prophet
• Sura 355-63 God claims Jesus back
• Sura 19 Maryam (Mary)
• Sura 230-39 Adam
• Sura 526ff Cain and Abel
• Sura 1436 Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac
• Sura 12 Joseph most beautiful, detailed Sura