The History of the Qu'ran

Islamic belief is strongly centered in its scriptural writings of the Holy Qu'ran. The Qu'ran is a text of religious guidance and direction for mankind. This important collection of writings is as important to Islamic faith, as the Bible is to Christians. But how did such an important book become what it is today? How did it come together centuries ago and survive throughout centuries of war and religious struggle?

The Qu'ran began with the prophet Muhammad who received it from an angel during a revelation. His followers were the ones who copied down his visions, although during this time, writing was not one of the main sources at their disposal. Much of the Qu'ran was passed down orally until the correct means for writing were available. However, even when writings were completed, they were not bound together into one cohesive book, but separated and individual. It was because of the lack of binding, that forced many followers to memorize the ancient text and continue to pass down the teachings orally.

Under the order of Uthman, the Qu'ran was collected together and competed to create a single formal text. As the years passed and the spread of Islam grew, so did other cultures and languages. With the invention of paper and the growing intellectual society, translations of the Qu'ran were made for several other regions and countries. Since then, millions of copies of the Qu'ran have been made and have become the guiding symbol of the Islamic faith. Memorizing the Qu'ran is still a wide spread custom among them, continuing the tradition of how the Qu'ran was originally passed down.

http://www.arabicbible.com/islam/hit.htm

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