"Seek knowledge, even unto China" - Prophet Muhammad

As-salamu alaykum, chapos!

After consulting with the cyber Ulama we have decided to create an open thread where curious posters can take a break from the great posting jihad and ask questions on the nature of Islam or the Muslim experience. So long as they are asked in good faith, from a position of truly wanting to learn, these questions will be answered without judgement.

As for Muslims, all of us are free to answer any of the questions, even ones that have already been answered. This is an open thread, and the input of different Islamic perspectives is valuable to getting a big picture.

To all those reading this, remember: No one person is an authority on Islam. This is why it traditionally the din never had its own clergy. Always have this in mind when researching on Islam.

Alright, now GET TO ASKING!

  • REallyN [she/her,they/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    This time a question on the Quran:

    How is it structured and what does it contain?

    For example The Bible contains and builds upon alot of the old Jewish books with the life of Jesus, the apostles and the early church. but from my cursory understanding the Quran doesn't do this (although I could be wrong) what, if anything, does it take from the earlier texts etc.?

    • hamouy [he/him]
      ·
      4 years ago

      In Islam, the Bible and Tora are seen as holy books that have been corrupted by human changes to it. The Qur'an as such is seen as the perfect, unchanged word of Allah, as it was revealed to Muhammad SAW, Jesus, Moses and all the earlier prophets. There are a lot of stories it shares with the Bible, from Mary and the immaculate conception to Moses and his story and plenty more. I wouldn't call it "taking" though, as this isn't how the religion sees the texts.

      • REallyN [she/her,they/them]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Maybe taking is the wrong word. Just what stories and such does it have in common and how are they presented.

        • hamouy [he/him]
          ·
          4 years ago

          Oh wow, I wouldn't even know how to answer that question becaude there are so many stories shared. Like so many stories. But as an example and as the central thing in which Islam differs to Christianity, is the story of Jesus. In both, he was born through immaculate conception to Mary, but while he was the son of God who died for humanity in Christian belief, the Qur'an emphasizes that he was merely a prophet sent by Allah, and instead of dying, he was taken back to Allah, with the Romans crucifying someone they mistook for Jesus. Then, again, both faiths believe in the second coming of Jesus, on the day of judgement.

          • REallyN [she/her,they/them]
            ·
            4 years ago

            I guess I was aware of what you mentioned above about the Qur'an but wouldn't know what it looks like.

            Like the Bible is separated obviously by the Old and New Testament, but also by The Pentateuch, the historical, prophetic and poetic books etc.

            Perhaps it's too difficult to accurately explain in a short web reply, but if the Bible "starts" with Genesis how does the Qur'an start, does the Qur'an take a certain structure? idk how to better explain what I am wondering.

            • hamouy [he/him]
              ·
              4 years ago

              oh, now I get you. Yes, the Qur'an is sorted, but I dont exactly remember how: by length, I think: so it starts with the longest sura and ends with the shortest. Talking about the Sura, it is the main unit of the Qur'an: each Sura is its own story or message, in a sense, and can vary wildly in length, from being a simple three ayat (verses) to taking an hour to read. I don't know if this is generally used in every day life too, but for learning the Qur'an, it is divided into thirty-three juzu' (units). And of course, the Surat can also be divided into Meccan (revealed to prophet Muhammad in Mecca, before the Hijra) and Medinan (revealed to Muhammad after the Hijra, in Medina).