___The Arabs of that time were renown for their rich literature and had excelled in the art of poetry and literature. But even the best of them failed to mach the power of the Quran. The Quran challenged them to come up with one chapter similar to it, a challenge that was later reduced to a challenge to come up with atleast one verse. But they never rose up to the challenge despite their opposition to Muhammad and his message. What was even more astonishing to them was the fact that Muhammad never possessed the ability to recite or even to speak poetry.

___The Quran is not just a beautiful Arabic literature but also a great source of wisdom. The Quran is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-and-man relationships, and relations among human beings. Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice, politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations can be built from an important part of the Holy Quran.

___Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal education, the Quran, as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was committed to writing by his secretaries. In this way every word was written down and preserved during his lifetime by his companions. The Quran contains 114 chapters; 6616 verses; 77,934 words; and 323,671 letters that have remained unchanged since the end of revelation ( more than 1400 years ago ! ) The original and complete text of the Quran is in Arabic and translations of its meaning in most known languages are available in major libraries and bookstores.

___Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, accurately reported and collected by his devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Quran verses. Over the decades, the Muslims were very meticulous in gathering and authenticating these teachings. Not only did they preserve the teachings in detail, they also preserved with them the chain of narrators that related these teachings and also information about these narrators.

A Message from The Quran

___The Quran contains a lot of wisdom pertaining to all aspects of life. The following verses are a small portion of wisdom that reminds men of some of their duties towards God.

³³ And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor.

³⁴ And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say : "My Lord ! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small."

³⁵ Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, he is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance.

³⁶ And follow not ( i.e., say not, or do not witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge ( e.g. to say, "I have heard ..", or, "I have seen ..", while in fact he has not heard or seen). Verily ! hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each one of you will be questioned ( by Allah.)

³⁷ And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain the stature like the mountains in height.

³⁸ All the bad aspect of these ( the above mentioned things) are hateful to your Lord.

³⁹ This is (part) of the al-hikmah ( wisdom, good manners, and high character, etc.) which your Lord inspired to you. And set not up with Allah any other god lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected ( from His Mercy.)

(Translation from the Quran 17:33-39)

Translation of the QURAN:
          Index of the Quran by Chapters. (by MSA at USC)
          Search the Quran by word. (by MSA at USC)
          The Quran in Various Languages. ( by Ibrahim Shafi)

Quran and Modern Science