The Qur'an is Allah's own book — the most special book in the world, because every word inside it is the word of Allah, sent for us to read, love and follow.
How the Qur'an came to us
A long time ago, Allah chose the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to receive His book. He sent the angel Jibrīl (as) to bring the words, a little at a time, over many years. The Prophet ﷺ could not read or write, but he remembered every word by heart and taught it to the people around him.
The language of the Qur'an
The Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, and Muslims everywhere — in Britain, Africa, Asia — read the very same Arabic words. That is one reason it has stayed exactly the same for hundreds of years.
Showing respect
| What Muslims do | Why |
|---|---|
| Wash and have clean hands | To touch the Arabic Qur'an with care |
| Sit nicely and listen quietly | To honour Allah's words |
| Place it up high, not on the floor | To show it is very special |
Al-Fātiḥah, the opening
Al-Fātiḥah is the first surah, read by Muslims in every prayer. In gentle words it means: we praise Allah, who is kind and cares for everything; we ask only Him for help; and we ask Him to guide us on the good, straight path.