ABSTRACT
The Qur a¯n is the scripture of the Muslim community, revered by Muslims around the world and given authority to determine both faith and life. Many features of the Qur a¯n can be fruitfully explored by the general reader. Other matters related to the Qur a¯n, such as claims to its divine provenance and linguistic perfection, are matters of religious conviction rather than objective fact. At a number of points the Qur a¯n plays an important role in the development of Muslim identity, both in the contents of the book itself and in the claims which Muslims make for their scripture. The Qur a¯n is believed by Muslims to be the revelatory word of God, dictated by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muh. ammad in segments between the years 610 and 632. Muslims believe that as Muh. ammad recited the revelations, the words were memorized by his companions. They believe the recitations were later recorded word for word and are today found in the Arabic text of the Qur a¯n in precisely the manner God intended.
