What Is the Qur'an?
What is the Qur'an, and how should I approach reading it?
A beginner's introduction to the Qur'an: what Muslims believe it is, how it is structured, how it was revealed, and how to approach reading it, including the difference between text, translation and commentary.
Why it matters
The Qur'an is read, recited and memorised by many millions of people. For someone opening it for the first time, it can be surprising: it does not read like a history book or a novel, and it often moves between themes.
This lesson gives you the background you need to read it with understanding and respect, whatever your own beliefs.
The teaching
What Muslims believe the Qur'an is
Muslims believe the Qur'an is the word of God, revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril) over approximately 23 years, beginning around 610 CE. The word 'Qur'an' means 'recitation'.
According to a well-known narration in Sahih al-Bukhari (3), the first words revealed were the opening verses of Surah Al-'Alaq (96:1–5), which begin with the command 'Recite'.
The Qur'an describes itself as 'a guidance for those conscious of Allah' (2:2) and as revealed 'that they might reflect upon its verses' (38:29).
How it is structured
The Qur'an has 114 chapters called surahs, each made up of verses called ayahs. Surahs are not arranged in the order of revelation: apart from the short opening chapter, they are broadly arranged from longer to shorter.
References are written as surah:ayah. For example, 2:153 means Surah 2 (Al-Baqarah), verse 153. Surahs are often described as Meccan or Medinan, according to whether they are traditionally dated to before or after the Prophet's migration to Madinah in 622 CE.
Text, translation and commentary
For Muslims, the Qur'an is the Arabic text. A translation is a human attempt to convey its meaning in another language, which is why Muslim scholars often call translations 'translations of the meaning'. Different translations can read quite differently.
Tafsir (commentary) is scholarly explanation of the text. It draws on Arabic language, the Prophet's teaching, the context of revelation and earlier scholarship. Commentators sometimes differ, and this is a normal part of the tradition.
On this site, the Arabic text, the English translation and our own explanatory notes are always visually separated and labelled, so you can tell which is which.
How to approach reading it
Start with shorter surahs or a guided selection rather than reading from page one. Read slowly, with a reliable translation and, if possible, a commentary. Look at surrounding verses before drawing conclusions from a single verse.
The Qur'an repeatedly invites reflection: 'Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an?' (47:24). Questions are welcome. When something is unclear or troubling, consult a knowledgeable teacher or a reputable commentary rather than relying on a single quotation shared online.
From the Qur'an
Each passage shows the Arabic text, an attributed English translation, and our explanatory note, kept visually separate.
Arabic text
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ1 خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ2 ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ3 ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ4 عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡ5
Translation · Saheeh International
1Recite in the name of your Lord who created
2Created man from a clinging substance
3Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous
4Who taught by the pen
5Taught man that which he knew not
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
According to Sahih al-Bukhari 3, these were the first verses revealed. They emphasise reading, learning and God's generosity.
Arabic text
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدٗى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ2
Translation · Saheeh International
2This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
The Qur'an describes itself as guidance for those who are conscious of God.
Arabic text
كِتَٰبٌ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ إِلَيۡكَ مُبَٰرَكٞ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوٓاْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُوْلُواْ ٱلۡأَلۡبَٰبِ29
Translation · Saheeh International
29[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
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
The purpose of revelation includes reflection and remembrance.
Arabic text
إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَٰهُ قُرۡءَٰنًا عَرَبِيّٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ2
Translation · Saheeh International
2Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic 'that you might understand'.
Arabic text
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ أَمۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقۡفَالُهَآ24
Translation · Saheeh International
24Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts
Explanatory note (our words, not part of the Qur'an)
An invitation, phrased as a question, to reflect deeply on the Qur'an.
From the hadith
Hadith are reports of the Prophet Muhammad's words and actions. Each one below shows its collection, reference number and grading, with the authority that graded it.
Narrated 'Aisha (the mother of the faithful believers):
The angel came to him and asked him to read. … Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists), created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96:1, 96:2, 96:3)
Why it matters here
The account of the first revelation in the cave of Hira.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 3 (Book 1, Hadith 3)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
“ … ” marks words omitted from a longer narration.
View the full narration with Arabic on Sunnah.com(opens in a new tab)Narrated `Uthman:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."
Why it matters here
Learning and teaching the Qur'an is praised.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5027 (Book 66, Hadith 49)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Facilitate things to people (concerning religious matters), and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away (from Islam).
Why it matters here
A principle for teaching: make things easy and do not drive people away.
Source, grading and translation details
- Collection
- Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 69 (Book 3, Hadith 11)
- Numbering
- Muhammad Fu'ad 'Abd al-Baqi numbering, as used on sunnah.com
- Grade
- Sahih: Included in Sahih al-Bukhari, a collection accepted as authentic (sahih) by Sunni hadith scholarship
- Translation
- Muhammad Muhsin Khan (English translation as published on sunnah.com)
- Checked
- sunnah.com English dataset (offline copy in the `hadith` npm package v1.3.0): wording, number, in-book reference and grade, on 2026-10-09
- Editorial note
- Words in brackets were added by the translator.
Context and key terms
Arabic terms in this lesson (5)
Qur'an
القرآن
The recitation
The scripture that Muslims believe was revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad over about 23 years, preserved in Arabic. Translations are understood as interpretations of its meaning, not the Qur'an itself.
Surah
سورة
Chapter
One of the 114 chapters of the Qur'an. Surahs vary from three verses to 286 verses in length.
Ayah
آية
Verse; sign
A verse of the Qur'an. The same word also means 'sign', and the Qur'an uses it for signs in nature that invite reflection. References such as 2:153 mean surah 2, verse 153.
Tafsir
تفسير
Explanation; commentary
Scholarly explanation of the Qur'an, drawing on language, the Prophet's teachings, historical context and earlier scholars. Tafsir is human interpretation and is distinct from the Qur'an itself.
Hadith
حديث
Report; narration
A report of what the Prophet Muhammad said, did or approved. Each hadith has a chain of narrators (isnad) and a text (matn). Scholars assess hadith for reliability and grade them.
Qur'an and hadith are different
The Qur'an is believed to be God's word. Hadith are reports of the Prophet's words and actions, transmitted by people and assessed by scholars for reliability. Both are primary sources of Islamic teaching, but they have different status and are cited differently on this site.
About the translation used here
This site uses the Saheeh International English translation, which is widely used and fairly literal. Words in square brackets are the translators' additions to help the meaning read clearly in English.
Go deeper: Context of revelation
Some verses are associated with specific events, known as 'occasions of revelation' (asbab al-nuzul). These reports are themselves narrations, assessed for reliability like hadith. Knowing the context can prevent misunderstanding, especially for verses about conflict or law, which were often revealed in specific circumstances.
Everyday example
Illustrative story (fictional)
Sarah's first reading
Sarah, curious after a conversation with a colleague, downloaded a Qur'an app and started at the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah. Twenty pages in, she felt lost: the topics shifted quickly and she did not know the background.
Her colleague suggested starting with a few short surahs, reading a commentary alongside, and writing down questions. Reading Surah Al-'Asr and its explanation took ten minutes, and gave her plenty to think about for the rest of the day.
A good approach to the Qur'an is slow, contextual and question-friendly.
Activity
Sorting activity
Text, translation or commentary?
Readers often confuse the Qur'an itself with translations and explanations. Sort each statement into the category that best describes it.
0 of 5 sorted
Knowledge check
Answer each question to see an explanation. You can retry as many times as you like; nothing is graded.
Reflection
Try it in practice
Read one short surah slowly
- 1Choose a short surah, such as Al-'Asr (103), Al-Ikhlas (112) or Al-Fatihah (1), from the Explore the Qur'an section.
- 2Read the translation slowly twice, then read the explanatory note.
- 3Write down one idea that stays with you.
This is also available as an optional daily practice: Reflect on one verse.
Sources and further reading
Primary sources cited
- Qur'an 96:1–5 (Surah Al-'Alaq). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 2:2 (Surah Al-Baqarah). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 38:29 (Surah Sad). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 12:2 (Surah Yusuf). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Qur'an 47:24 (Surah Muhammad). Arabic: King Fahd Complex Uthmani text; translation: Saheeh International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5027, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
- Sahih al-Bukhari 69, graded Sahih (Sahih collection). Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
Further reading
- Tanzil: Qur'an text and translations (opens in a new tab) · Tanzil.net
A verified Qur'an text project with many translations.
- Quran.com (opens in a new tab) · Quran.com
Read with multiple translations and tafsir.
This lesson is educational and is not a fatwa (religious ruling). For personal religious questions, please consult a qualified scholar you trust. How we source and review lessons.
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