The Quran is the holy book of Islam, which Muslims believe is the word of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over about 23 years, from 610 to 632 CE. It is written in Arabic, made up of 114 chapters called surahs, and it is the central source of Islamic belief, worship, law and ethics.
If you have ever wondered what is the Quran, what it says, or why more than a billion people recite it every day, this guide gives you a clear, plain-English answer. It is written for Muslims who want to understand the book they recite and for anyone curious about Islam.
Key takeaways
- The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and Muslims believe it is the literal word of Allah, the Arabic word for God.
- The word Quran means "recitation" or "that which is recited," from the Arabic root qara'a, to read or recite.
- The Quran has 114 surahs and 6,236 verses in the most widely used count, and it is divided into 30 equal parts called juz.
- It was revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril) between 610 and 632 CE.
- Its main themes are the oneness of God, prophethood, the afterlife, moral conduct, worship and justice.
What is the Quran in Islam?
In Islam, the Quran is the final scripture sent by God to humanity. Muslims believe it was not written or composed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but revealed to him word for word through the angel Gabriel, known in Arabic as Jibril.
Muslims also believe God sent earlier scriptures to earlier prophets, such as the Torah to Moses and the Gospel to Jesus. The Quran presents itself as confirming the core message of those books and as the last revelation.
He has sent down upon you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming what was before it. And He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.
Throughout this article you will see the word Allah. It is simply the Arabic word for God, and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews use it too.
What is the holy book of Islam called?
The holy book of Islam is called the Quran, sometimes spelled Koran or Qur'an. The Quran also gives itself other names, such as al-Kitab (the Book), al-Furqan (the Criterion, meaning that which separates truth from falsehood) and adh-Dhikr (the Reminder).
A printed or handwritten copy of the Quran is often called a mushaf. Muslims use the word Quran for the revelation itself, whether it is recited aloud, memorized or written down.
Quran meaning: where does the word come from?
The word Quran comes from the Arabic verb qara'a, which means to read or to recite. So the Quran literally means "the recitation." This fits how the revelation began, with the command to recite in the Cave of Hira near Makkah.
Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not.
The name also explains why recitation is so central to Muslim life. The Quran is recited in every daily prayer, memorized in full by millions of people, and listened to as much as it is read.
What is the Quran about?
The Quran is not arranged like a history book or a law code. It moves between teaching, stories, guidance and reminders, often within the same surah. Still, a few themes run through the whole book.
- The oneness of God (tawhid): God is one, with no partner, child or equal. Surah al-Ikhlas sums this up in four short verses.
- Prophets and their stories: the Quran tells of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Mary, Jesus and many others, and of how their communities responded.
- The afterlife: every person will be raised, held accountable and rewarded or punished with perfect justice.
- Worship and character: prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage sit alongside honesty, patience, kindness to parents and care for orphans and the poor.
- Law and society: later surahs set out rules on family, inheritance, trade, contracts and justice.
The Quran describes its own purpose as guidance. It opens its second surah with that very idea.
This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah -
What is the Quran written in?
The Quran was revealed and written in Arabic, specifically the classical Arabic of 7th-century Arabia. The Quran itself highlights its Arabic language several times.
Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand.
The earliest written copies used Arabic script without the dots and vowel marks you see today. These marks were added during the first centuries of Islam to help readers, especially non-Arabs, pronounce the words correctly. The words themselves did not change.
Translations into English and other languages are very helpful, but Muslims regard them as translations of the meaning, not as the Quran itself. That is why Muslims still pray in Arabic, and why many learn to read the Arabic script even if they rely on a translation to understand it.
How is the Quran structured?
The Quran has 114 surahs of very different lengths. The longest, al-Baqarah, has 286 verses, while the shortest, al-Kawthar, has just 3. Each verse is called an ayah, a word that also means "sign."
The surahs are not in the order they were revealed. Apart from the short opening chapter, al-Fatihah, they are roughly arranged from longest to shortest. For reading and memorizing, the book is also split into 30 equal parts called juz.
Each surah is also described as Makkan or Madinan, depending on whether it was revealed before or after the Prophet's migration to Madinah in 622 CE. You can learn more in our article on Meccan and Medinan surahs, and see the full numbers in how many surahs and verses are in the Quran.
Why is the Quran important to Muslims?
For Muslims, the Quran is the most important thing in the world because they believe it is God speaking directly to humanity. It is the first source for what Muslims believe and how they live, followed by the Sunnah, the teaching and example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Its importance shows up in daily life in several ways:
- Prayer: Muslims recite the Quran in each of the five daily prayers, beginning with al-Fatihah.
- Memorization: a person who memorizes the whole Quran is called a hafiz, and there are millions around the world.
- Ramadan: the Quran was first revealed in Ramadan, and many Muslims read the entire book during that month.
- Guidance: Muslims turn to it for comfort, moral direction and answers to life's big questions.
The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Muslims also believe God has promised to protect the Quran from change. They point to its continuous chain of oral memorization and early written copies as signs of that preservation. You can read more about how it was recorded and compiled in who wrote the Quran.
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
Why read the Quran today?
The Quran asks its readers not only to recite it but to think about it. It calls itself a blessed book revealed so that people would reflect on its verses.
[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded.
For Muslims, reflection turns recitation into a living relationship with the text. For someone exploring Islam, reading even a few surahs with a translation is the most direct way to understand what Muslims believe, in their own scripture's words. If you are not sure where to begin, our guide on how to read the Quran suggests a simple starting path.
Explore the Quran on Quran Universe
On Quran Universe you can read every surah in Arabic with the Sahih International English translation, transliteration and word-by-word meaning. Each verse also has a short card explaining its context and a practical takeaway, alongside the classical commentary of Tafsir Ibn Kathir. A good place to start is Surah al-Fatihah, the opening chapter recited in every prayer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Quran in simple words?
The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe it is the word of God, revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel over about 23 years. It contains 114 chapters that teach belief in one God, moral living and accountability in the afterlife.
What does the word Quran mean?
The word Quran means "recitation" or "that which is recited." It comes from the Arabic root qara'a, meaning to read or recite. The name reflects how the Quran is primarily recited aloud and memorized, not only read silently.
What language is the Quran written in?
The Quran is written in classical Arabic, the language in which it was revealed in 7th-century Arabia. Translations exist in almost every language and are valuable for understanding. However, Muslims consider only the Arabic text to be the Quran itself, so translations are seen as conveying its meaning.
Who is the Quran for?
The Quran addresses all of humanity, often opening passages with "O mankind." It also speaks directly to believers and gives them specific guidance on worship and conduct. Muslims believe its message is meant for every people and every time.
Is the Quran the same as the Bible?
No, the Quran is a separate scripture, although it shares many figures with the Bible, including Abraham, Moses, Mary and Jesus. Muslims believe God revealed earlier books such as the Torah and the Gospel, and that the Quran confirms their core message of worshipping one God. The Quran often tells familiar stories in its own way and with its own emphasis.
How long does it take to read the whole Quran?
Reading the full Arabic text aloud takes many readers somewhere around 20 to 30 hours, depending on their pace. Many Muslims read one juz a day during Ramadan to finish the whole Quran in a month. Reading with a translation and commentary takes longer but gives a much deeper understanding.