ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Invitation to Islam Part 3: Religious Texts The Qur'an The Qur'an is the last in a series of divine books revealed by Allah to mankind through the prophets. The Holy Qur'an was revealed to (S) over a period of 23 years and consists of 114 chapters arranged from longest to shortest. Its length compares to that of the New Testament.

The revelations were written down by a group of people appointed by the Prophet (S) and, after his death, first compiled by Imam 'Ali (peace be upon him). The Qur'an sheds light on many different aspects of life - legal, moral, social, political, economic, philosophical, mystical, and scientific - and also contains stories of previous prophets.

"We have sent down to you the Book as an exposition of everything - a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves to Allah as Muslims." (16:89) Less rigid than poetry but more beautiful than prose, its peculiar music transcends all other forms of writing. It speaks only the truth, and its directives are universal for all places and times.

In reality, it is the completion of the earlier revelations, such as the Old and New Testaments, and is the only divine revelation to exist in its original unchanged form: "Verily, it is We Who have sent down the Qur'an, and surely We will guard it from corruption." (15:9) From the time of the Prophet (S) until today, not one word of the Qur'an has been edited, altered, added, omitted, lost, distorted, or otherwise changed. The Qur'an plays an important role in Muslim life.

It constantly reminds Muslims of their duties, rights, obligations, and destiny. Muslims are asked to study, memorize, ponder, and reflect on the Qur'an and then to implement its teachings. The chapters of the Qur'an contain the supreme divine wisdom which is meant for all seekers of truth - ordinary people, scholars, specialists, old, young, Muslims, and non-Muslims.

It addresses all mankind; specific verses even clarify this fact by beginning with the words, "O mankind!" The Qur'an satisfies people with its symphony of words, its science, its narrations and intellectual discourse, and fascinates them with its richness and depth. Science and the Qur'an Many scientific facts and realities are present in the Qur'an, which is the only religious book not to contradict science.

Creation is described on the embryological and cosmological levels: "And indeed We created man out of an extract of clay.