The Quran is the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad over 23 years. It is written in classical Arabic and comprises 114 chapters (surahs) addressing various aspects of life, law, and spirituality. The Quran serves as the primary source of guidance for Muslims worldwide.

“Quran” means to read or to recite

You’ll find below the several significant ancient Quranic manuscripts that have been discovered and are studied today. Here are some of the most notable ones:

1. Birmingham Quran Manuscript: Carbon-dated to between 568 and 645 CE, one of the oldest known Quranic manuscripts.
   
   
2. Topkapi Manuscript: Housed in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul, dating to the late 1st century or early 2nd century AH (7th-8th century CE).
   
   
3. Samarqand Kufic Quran: Also known as the Tashkent Quran, believed to date to the 8th or 9th century CE.
   
   
4. Sanaa Manuscripts: Discovered in Yemen in 1972, includes palimpsests with some of the oldest Quranic text fragments, dating to the 7th-8th century CE.
   
   
5. Codex Parisino-Petropolitanus: Fragments of an early Quran manuscript, held in Paris and other locations, dating to the 7th century CE.
   
   
6. Ma’il Quran: An early Quranic manuscript dating to the late 7th century, housed in the British Library.
   
   
7. Mingana Collection: A collection of Quranic fragments and manuscripts held at the University of Birmingham, dating from various periods.
   
   
8. St. Petersburg (Tashkent) Quran: Early Quran manuscript fragments held in the Russian National Library, dating to the 8th century CE.
   
   
9. Blue Quran: An ornate Quran manuscript written on blue-dyed parchment, likely from the 9th-10th century CE, currently housed in several museums.
   
   
10. Qarawiyyin Quran: Manuscripts held at the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco, with some fragments dating back to the early Islamic period.
    
    Birmingham Quran 
    Birmingham Quran (Birmingham University)
    Topkapi Manuscript
    Samarkand Kufic Quran
    Sanaa Manuscript
    Codex Parisino-petropolitanus
    Ma’il Quran
    Mingana (Birmingham University)
    
    
    
    

The Quran can be translated accurately in its context and meaning. It’s always best to ensure to check back with the original language when reading translations. 

You can read the Quran in English, by visiting www.quran.com

The Hadith is a collection of sayings, actions, and approvals of Muhammad, serving as a significant source of guidance in Islam alongside the Quran. These records provide context and elaboration on the Quranic text, offering practical examples of how to implement Islamic principles in daily life. The Hadith are categorized by their authenticity and are compiled in various collections, the most notable being Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

There are thousands of hadiths (narrations) in Islamic literature, with varying levels of authenticity. The most respected collections in Sunni Islam are the “Sahih” (authentic) compilations by scholars like:

1. Sahih al-Bukhari: Compiled by Imam al-Bukhari, it contains around 7,275 hadiths, with repetitions, or about 2,600 unique hadiths.
2. Sahih Muslim: Compiled by Imam Muslim, it includes approximately 7,500 hadiths, with repetitions, or around 2,200 unique hadiths.
   
   

Other significant collections include:

• Sunan Abu Dawood
• Jami` at-Tirmidhi
• Sunan an-Nasa’i
• Sunan Ibn Majah
  
  

These collections contain both sahih (authentic) and other grades of hadiths. The two Sahih collections by Bukhari and Muslim are regarded as the most authentic and are often referred to as “Sahihain.” In total, there are six major hadith collections, known as the Kutub al-Sittah, widely respected in Sunni tradition.

You can access different hadith at www.sunnah.com

The Quran was revealed to Muhammad over a period of approximately 23 years, starting in 610 CE, through the angel Gabriel (Jibril). These revelations occurred in various forms, including direct recitation, visions, and in states of both wakefulness and sleep. Muhammad then memorized the verses and recited them to his followers, who also memorized and later compiled them into the written text known today as the Quran.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:4953

While it is possible to gain a basic understanding of Islamic beliefs and practices from the Quran alone, the Hadith are crucial for a comprehensive and detailed understanding. The Hadith provide context, clarify ambiguities, and offer practical examples of how to implement the teachings of the Quran in daily life. Therefore, for the vast majority of Muslims and Islamic scholars, the Hadith are indispensable for fully understanding and living according to the Quran.

Arguments for the Necessity of Hadith

1. Contextual Understanding:

   • The Hadith provide context to the Quranic verses. Understanding the circumstances of revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) helps in interpreting verses accurately.
     
     

2. Prophetic Example:

   • Muhammad is considered the best interpreter of the Quran. His life exemplifies the application of Quranic principles, making his sayings and actions essential for a holistic understanding.
     
     

3. Detailed Guidance:

   • The Hadith offer detailed explanations that supplement the Quran. For instance, legal rulings, ethical guidelines, and ritual practices are often clarified through the Hadith.
     
     

While the Quran contains clear and explicit instructions on many aspects of faith and practice, several areas rely heavily on the Hadith for complete understanding:

1. Prayer (Salah):

   • The Quran commands Muslims to establish regular prayers but provides limited details on how to perform them. The specifics—such as the number of daily prayers, their timings, and the steps involved in each prayer—are elaborated in the Hadith.
     
     

2. Zakat (Charity):

   • While the Quran mandates giving Zakat, the exact rates, the types of wealth subject to Zakat, and the categories of eligible recipients are detailed in the Hadith.
     
     

3. Fasting (Sawm) and Pilgrimage (Hajj):

   • The Quran instructs Muslims to fast during Ramadan and perform Hajj if they are able. However, the Hadith provide comprehensive guidelines on how to observe these rituals properly.
     
     

4. Jurisprudence (Fiqh):

   • Islamic jurisprudence covers a wide range of aspects from personal conduct to social, economic, and criminal laws. The Quran provides foundational principles, but many legal rulings are derived from the Hadith.

The debate over whether the Quran is created or uncreated is a significant theological issue in Islamic history. 

1. Uncreated View (Orthodox Sunni Belief): The dominant belief among Sunni Muslims is that the Quran is the eternal, uncreated word of Allah. This view holds that the Quran, as the speech of Allah, shares His attribute of eternality and is not bound by time or creation.

2. Created View (Mu’tazilite Belief): The Mu’tazilite school of thought, which emerged in the 8th century, argued that the Quran is created. They posited that attributing eternality to the Quran could compromise the uniqueness of Allah’s attributes, as only Allah Himself is uncreated and eternal.

3. The Mihna (Inquisition): In the 9th century, Caliph Al-Ma’mun instituted the Mihna, a period of religious persecution enforcing the Mu’tazilite doctrine that the Quran is created. Scholars, including the prominent Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who resisted this view, faced imprisonment and torture.

4. End of the Mihna: The Mihna ended in the mid-9th century, and the view of the Quran as uncreated became firmly established as the orthodox position in Sunni Islam.

5. Theological Implications: The belief in the Quran’s uncreated nature emphasizes its divine origin, reinforcing its absolute authority and the timeless relevance of its message.

6. Sufi and Philosophical Perspectives: Some Sufi and philosophical interpretations consider deeper, mystical understandings of the Quran’s nature, but these generally align with the orthodox view of its uncreatedness.
   
   The verse that scholars allude to back up the view point that the Quran is uncreated 
   Quran 85:22

If the Quran hasn’t been created, and God hasn’t been created, then there are 2 uncreated entities. Without proper explanation, this could easily be viewed as multiple Gods. This is a serious problem which completely contradicts the overly simplified view of the islamic concept of tawhid.

The Quran is not arranged in chronological order but rather in a manner that places the longer chapters (Surahs) at the beginning and the shorter ones toward the end. However, scholars have studied the Quran extensively to determine the chronological order in which the chapters were revealed. Although there is some variation among scholars regarding the exact order, there is a generally agreed-upon sequence based on historical and textual analysis.

Muslims claim that the Bible has been corrupted.