Tia Flowers

Professor Bayardo
WRC 1013
12-0-11

What is the Qur'an

The

Quran is the primary

source of every Muslim's
faith and practice.
The sacred book of the
Muslims, by whom it is
regarded as the revelation
of God.
It deals with all the
subjects that concern all
human beings.
It also provides guidelines
for a just society, proper
human relationships and
equal divisions of power.
The Quran, after all, is
currently the world's most

The Quran
he read or he recited
Author: God
Messenger: Prophet
Muhammad
revealed through angel Gabriel
(Jibrl)
114 suras
over a period of approximately
23 years beginning in 610 CE

Recitation ( )of the Quran is

a fine art in the Muslim world.
Recite Quran in 5 times of daily
prayer
Most recited and memorized
book in the world

A qur'an from the 9th century.

Surat Al-Ftiah
In

the name of Allah , the Entirely

Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

[All]

praise is [due] to Allah ,

Lord of the worlds -

The

Entirely Merciful, the

Especially Merciful,

Sovereign

of the Day of
Recompense.

It

is You we worship and You we

ask for help.

Guide
The

us to the straight path

path of those upon whom

You have bestowed favor, not of
those who have evoked [Your]
anger or of those who are astray.

Islam
Theology in Islam is not the study of God, or argument
about god, but takes on an apologetic and dialectic
character, as compared with dealing with divine issues
- (Routledge 1).
complete submission to the will of
God (Routledge 8)
Unification
Islam

professes a belief in divinehuman communication:

Belief in God
Belief in the angels
Belief in God's many prophets
Accepting that there will be a Last Day
Belief in the divine measurement of
human affairs
Belief in life after death
Belief in the revealed Books of God

The Cambridge
Companion to the
Quran
Jane McAuliffe
The

Quran represents a living scriptural heritage of more

than a billion people. It speaks with a powerful voice
guiding the heart of the Islam religion. The Cambridge
Companion to the Quran seeks to portray the holy text as
the book that shaped the world , transforming nations,
changing hearts, and reconstructing societies. In the book,
Jane McAuliffe collaborates with many scholars to explain
the Qurans complexities and defend the Qurans positive
influence throughout the world and settle the
misunderstandings of the Quran in a negative light.

Teachings of God, humility,

and prophecy
Influence on Western
scholarship
Negative View in the United
States

Teachings of the Quran

Deals with all the subjects

which concern us as human
beings

Provides guidelines for a just

society, proper human
conduct and an equitable
economic system:
Treat your wife with respect
Practice charity regularly
Protection of crops and
animals
Walk on earth with humility
Face difficulties with patience
Stand out for justice, even
against yourself or your kin

For to them, these are not mere letters or mere words. They are twigs
of the burning bush, aflame with godit is recited by tongues, written
in volumes, memorized in breasts
- C. Pawick

Western scholarship and the Qur'an

Christianity:

Bible is the inspired word of God.

Islamic religion: Quran revealed word of God

Bible: Word of God made flesh
The Quran: Word of God made text

Similarities:

belief in God (Allah)

Trace roots to Abraham
Prophecy
religious community of faith
Church: Christianity, Ummah: Islam

Differences:

Sin and salvation

Islam denies Holy Trinity
Islam also denies that God has a son
Revelation:
Christianity believes that God revealed Himself in
order to redeem us, to save us. According to
Islam, revelation is not for the purpose of
redemption, but for the sake of "guidance"

Negative Perspectives of the Quran,

Islam, and Muslims

Encyclopedia

of Islam(1981): "the closest

analogue in Christian belief to the role of
the Quran in Muslim belief is not the Bible,
but Christ.

Doesnt claim monopoly over the truth

Doesnt say any other religions are correct
or false
God sent Qur'an as a step forward in
religion
Misunderstood to be the source

Individualism
Promote violence?
The real text of the Quran can be
manipulated and distorted by critics

Terrorism?
Defense against enemy
Does not encourage the destruction of a
place of worship, trees, the murder of
women and children

September 11, 2001

terrorist attack on the
World Trade Center Towers

The Quran in Our Society

Ground Zero Mosque by Finlo Rohrer BBC News
"Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust museum
in WashingtonWe would never accept the Japanese putting up a site next
to Pearl Harbor. There is no reason for us to accept a mosque next to the
World Trade Center.

Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf

"We have to convince people that not all Muslims are extremists.We have
to educate them on being able to distinguish between us and on the issue
of Islamophobia. This is a bigger fight. This is a defining moment for us."

'Burn a Koran'
Pastor Terry Jones in Gainesville, Florida.
"International Burn a Quran Day" on the
ninth anniversary of the September 11,
2001, attacks.
"We believe that Islam is of the devil,
that it's causing billions of people to go
to hell, it is a deceptive religion, it is a
violent religion and that is proven
many, many times."

Conclusion
The Quran is the living and direct word of God, free of
any interpellation or corruption. It provides mankind with
guiding principles and laws pertaining to every area and
aspect of human interaction and existence. This majestic
book presents the path to attaining peace and harmony in
the world but has been misunderstood by so many to be the
source of discord. In reality it is only by following the true
spirit and letter of the Quran that mankind can ever hope to
attain peace.

Works Cited
Campanini, Massimo, and Oliver Leaman. The Quran: the Basics.
London: Routledge, 2007. Print.
McAuliffe, Jane Dammen. The Cambridge Companion to the Quran.
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2006. Print.