Has anyone read the Quran?

[3.14159265...]

I mean from cover to cover in a language you understand as you would any other book?

Would you like to discuss it?

[*Mahzala*]

I'll be honest, not from cover to cover, but at least a third in English, yes. I know quite a few members here who are well versed in what you ask, however, giving out their name without their consent wouldn't be appropriate, though I am hoping they make a presence in this thread.

I am happy to go ahead with the discussion.

[randolph85]

yes i have read the quran. judging by ur posts ur an atheist, so what is the point of this thread?

[Azad Khel]

Your post is not very clear. what do you want to discuss about the Qur'an? There can be many points/topics. Do you want to understand or want an arguement in this regard?

[Dreamer]

I mean from cover to cover in a language you understand as you would any other book?

Would you like to discuss it?

yes I have in english... certain passages allude to biblical texts so a sound understanding of the Bible is also required as well as an understanding of the histoical events in prophets time for only then can the verses be understood in their context

[Alchemist]

I mean from cover to cover in a language you understand as you would any other book?

Would you like to discuss it?

I can read it in Arabic and I understand it somewhat. But I don't read the Quran as I read any other book!

Keep in mind that the Qur'an was not in "book" format up until some years after the death of The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him. The Qur'an, root word Iqra, the first word revealed, means recitation, therefore, in essence the Qur'an is meant to be recited. This means that the real Qur'an is the phonetical essence of it's words, and not so much the text and subtext, transliteration or translation. The book upon which it is written is called Al-Mahfaz, the recorder. This is why Qur'an is required to be "Tilowat/Tatleel"...recited beautifully. Thus the act of recitation is also ritualistic, in that it must be read in a specific way for it's intended effects. How you breath the words and stretch them or shorten them to add emphasis, prostrate when told to. This is why we have Qarees who memorize the Qur'an and like any other art form, reciters keep a pedigree of the chain of reciters who have learned from one another. So I would say that unless you are reciting the Qur'an in arabic, as it was revealed, you wouldn't be "reading the book".

The Qur'an is an organic composition that has multiple layers which can only be revealed to the sincerest of hearts and minds. Every time I read it, I find something in it that I had not noticed before. It can simultaneously be both complex and simple. Note how the verses change with tempo, with out any obvious relations, from subject to subject. There are passages in it that no one knows the meaning of except Allah..."and those in whose hearts is a disease will say, what did Allah intend by example..He misguids by it many and he guids by it many". Thus there are intended passages there in it meant to confuse those who do not believe that they are reading the words of Allah. So with that in mind... I think it is futile to discuss with an "atheist" what the Qur'an is because his heart is sealed to it.

[3.14159265...]

Radolph I have read some of your posts. Judging by those I can tell you are an idiot. What is your point?

Alchemist, whatever else you think the Quran is, it is also a book. I want to discuss that book.

Mahzala, thank you for the honesty. I invite you to read the rest.

Azad Khel, I seek neither to learn from another or to teach, but to discuss. I don't want to lead or follow, but to dance. We can discuss passages you find interesting here.

Dreamer I agree! I think the Torah and Neviim should be mandatory reading along with the Quran, and of course also historical context.

I was surprised by the repetitious style, moreso by a verse acknowleding its repetitious style. Fractal!

[Manzareh]

" in a language you understand as you would any other book?"

Thats impossible, you can spend a whole lifetime on the various meanings,contents of a single verse let alone 30 chapters.

[3.14159265...]

"Impossible is just a big a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it."

[graveyardofempires]

yes ive red Quran not all of it
but i have also listened alot to Dr Zakir Naik who explains it.
so if you wanna know about about Islam read the quran and ahadith.
and if you want Quran explaination go watch Dr zakir Naik's may Allah reward him videos on youtube.

[شمله ور خراساني]

I was surprised by the repetitious style, moreso by a verse acknowleding its repetitious style. Fractal!

It seems you have mistaken Qur'an for any other standard type of book.

Let me help you out by clearifying a few common misunderstandings.

1. The Qur'an is a collection of various independent books (surah's) which are an independent book. Yet these different books are sometimes refering to one another and therefore interrelated.

2. Every surah either tells you a story or deals with a specific matter. Sometimes, the same story are discussed in different surah's. In every Surah the way the story is told is different because the emphasis is on something other than that of another Surah. For example: In Surah Taha-60-65, the story of the Magicians of the Pharaoh are discussed. But the details of the event are not clear after you read the same story regarding these magicians in Surah Araaf-113-114. This is because there are many wisdoms that could be derived from certain events and there are different perspectives and different scopes. Qur'an allows you to get an understanding of the wisdom behind a certain event.

3. Some exact same verses might be repeated in various Surahs. This is because those particular verses emphasize the same thing but in different Surahs. For example: In one surah you read that Allah is all knowing and alla hearing. This might be refering to the names and attributes of Allah. But in another Surah, the same verses reminds you of these attributes of Allah when the rulings regarding marriage and divorce are being discussed. There the exact same verse and the exact same words imply that, would you do anything wrong, Allah observes all your actions, and knows of your intentions. And therefore, at the day of judgement you cannot escape any wrong doings. Neither will any of your good deeds will go wasted.


If you want to learn more about Qur'an, I can refer you to a few very useful documents which explain the way the Qur'an was revealed and how the Qur'an was interpreted by the Prophet Muhammad sal allahu alayhi wasalam.

[graveyardofempires]

"Impossible is just a big a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it."

sorry but you are wrong
to have a discussion regarding Quran one needs to have the right knowledge.
you cant just have a discussion about the Quran with any muslims.

if you want to discuss about the Quran you should do so with an Aalim or someone who has the right knowledge.

why do you want to discuss the Quran?

[شمله ور خراساني]

"Impossible is just a big a word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it."

The reason why Qur'an is revealed in Arabic is because the language is very comprehensive. And you can state quite allot by using a short sentences.

But when you read translations of Qur'an certain ayat might be typed in Arabic with 200 characters, but a proper and almost accurate translation might take 1000 or more characters.

Yet if you open any translation, the translator tries to keep the length of the sentence as close as possible to the arabic text.

As a result, you get some very poor translations which often misrepresent a very important and delicate matter.

One way to solve this problem for you is to read Qur'an using Tafsir Ibn Kathir which is available online at Tafsir Ibn Kathir - Quran Tafsir

And if you understand Pashto, you can also benefit from the Pashto tafsir course of the Qur'an available for free on mp3 on the link below in my signature.

[Alchemist]

yes I have in english... certain passages allude to biblical texts so a sound understanding of the Bible is also required as well as an understanding of the histoical events in prophets time for only then can the verses be understood in their context

Reading the Bible and the Torah should never be considered a prerequisite for understanding the Qur'an. If the bible and the torah were kept in their original form and had not been "written by their own hands for a small price" then perhaps the Qur'an would not have been needed. This is a false supposition to have because it gives the illusion that the difference between Qur'an, The New Testament and the Old Testament is akin to the differences between Windows 95, Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Much of the stories that are iterated in the Qur'an are for correctional purposes...for example the story of Isa ibn Maryam, peace be upon him, and the story of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, who alike with Solomon, peace be upon him are portrayed negatively in events.
I have found the the reading of the Old and New Testaments are by a great deal contradictory and the passages in the New Testament are blasphemous, to say the least. Even though there are some similarities in context, even the style and intended purpose is corrupted. For example, in the bible and the torah, women are never acknowledged, but in the Qur'an they are..."muslimeena wal muslimaat". I would say that the reading of the Qur'an is actually the prerequisite for reading Torah or the bible, so as not to get lost and confused by them.

[3.14159265...]

I invite you to read the rest of the Quran graveyardofempires.