The Illuminated Heading With Surah al-Fatiha (The Opening; I:1-7).
This Quran was donated by Shaban II (1363-76) to his foundation in 1376, four years after it was copied on the fifteenth day of Muharram 774. The text is framed by a gold braid with touches of color applied to the knots and enclosed on both sides by a white braid.s mi.
1. In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
2. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
3. The Beneficent, the Merciful:
4. Owner of the Day of Judgment,
5. Thee (alone) we worship; Thee alone we ask for help.
6. Show us the straight path,
7. The path of those whom Thou hast favored; Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.
This opening chapter of The Quran, The Fatiha, is central in Islamic prayer. It contains the essence of The Quran and is said at the start of every prayer.
What Is The Qur'an?
The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It was memorized by Muhammad (peace be upon him) and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Surahs, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) fourteen centuries ago.
What Is The Qur'an About?
The Quran, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an equitable economic system.
The Qur'an, as the last revealed book of God, is extant in its original form. Allah Himself guaranteed its preservation. The entire Qur'an was recorded in written form during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on pieces of palm leaves, parchments, bones, and other suitable surfaces. Moreover, there were tens of thousands of his followers who memorized the whole Qur'an, and the Prophet himself used to recite it to the angel Gabriel once a year and twice when he was about to die.
After the Prophet's death, Abu Bakr, the first caliph, oversaw the collection of the Qur'an into one volume by the Prophet's scribe, Zaid Ibn Thabit. This volume remained with Abu Bakr who, when he was about to die, entrusted it to his successor, Umar Ibn al Khattab who, in turn, passed it on to Hafsa, the Prophet's wife. It was from this original copy that Uthman, the third caliph, prepared several other copies and sent them to different Muslim territories.
The Qur'an was preserved so meticulously because it was to be the book of guidance for all humanity forever. Thus it does not address only the Arabs, even though it was revealed in their language. It speaks to man as a human being: "O Man! What has seduced you from your Lord?" The practical nature of the Qur'anic teachings is established by the examples of the Prophet and of pious Muslims throughout history.
Are There Any Other Sacred Sources?
Yes, the sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), is the second authority for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, did, or approved. Belief in the sunna is part of the Islamic faith.
Examples of the Prophet's sayings
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others."
- "None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself."
- "He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer."
- "The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints, and the martyrs."
- "Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger."
- "God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds."