Who wrote the Quran?
The Quran is the divine words of Allah (God) and was written by Allah in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz (The Preserved Tablet) before the creation of the universe and everything within it. The Quran was revealed verbally to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) over a period of 23 years through the Angel Jibril (Gabriel).
The Quran affirms this in several verses:
"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Surah Al-Hijr, 15:9)
The Prophet Muhammad's Literacy and the Quran's Transmission
The Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate prophet, meaning he could neither read nor write. This fact underscores the miraculous nature of the Quran, as it was conveyed to an unlettered man who then recited it verbatim. Allah states in the Quran:
"And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt." (Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:48)
The Quran was transmitted to us through connected chains of narrators, known as isnad, which ensures the authenticity and accuracy of the transmission. The companions of the Prophet Muhammad memorized the Quran and wrote it down.
The Quran vs. The Bible
Unlike the Bible, which Christians believe was written by four people inspired by the Holy Spirit and composed in their own words, the Quran is not a product of human authorship. It is the direct, verbal revelation from Allah. It is not something that was written by someone in their own words by inspiration or through their own interpretations. The Quran is the literal word of God, revealed in its entirety to the Prophet Muhammad and preserved exactly as it was revealed.
The distinction between the Quran and other religious texts is crucial:
- The Quran remains unchanged.
- It is considered the final and complete guidance for humanity.
