The Qur'an is the word of Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu], revealed to His Messenger and the last of the prophets, Prophet Muhammad [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam], beginning with Surah Al-Fatiha and ending with Surah An-Nas. Its audience includes all humans and jinn, and its purpose is to ensure the happiness and well-being of all people in this world and the Hereafter. Our Holy Book, the Qur'an al-Karim, is a guide for life and a universal message that leads people to peace and happiness.
"It (the Qur'an) is nothing less than a Message to all the worlds." (Al-Qalam 52)
Since it was sent to the followers of the heavenly religions, the Jews and Christians, as well as to all humanity, everyone is required to believe in it and follow its commands.
The Qur'an was first revealed to the Messenger of Allah [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam], in the year 610 CE, during the month of Ramadan, on the Night of Honour (Laylat al-Qadr). Almighty Allah states: 'Indeed, We sent it (the Qur'an) down on the Night of Laylat al-Qadr.' (Al-Qadr 1)
“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and the wrong).” (Baqara 185)
The Qur'an began to be revealed to the Prophet [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam], when he was forty years old. The Qur'an al-Karim was revealed over a period of twenty-three years, verse by verse and surah by surah. The reason for this was to answer various questions, provide solutions to emerging problems, and resolve issues that people needed guidance on at different times. Another wisdom behind the Qur'an al-Karim being revealed over this long period was to make it easier to memorize.
Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu] says: 'Indeed, it is We who have sent down the Qur'an to you in stages.' (Al-Insan 23)
In another verse, it is stated: 'The disbelievers say, "Why was the Qur'an not sent down to him all at once?" Thus (it is revealed) that We have sent it this way to strengthen your heart thereby, and We have revealed it to you in slow, well arranged stages, gradually.' (Al-Furqan 32)
All the verses of the Qur'an al-Karim were memorized by the Prophet [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam], himself from the very beginning, as well as by many of his companions (ashaab), who also recorded them in writing. After the Prophet [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam] passed away, Hz. Abu Bakr [radiyaallahu anh] had copies of the Qur'an compiled in the presence of the Ashab-i Kiram, thus preserving it from any alteration. During the caliphate of Hz. Osman (Uthman) [radiyallahu anh], additional copies were made from this original compilation and sent to major Islamic centers. Each of these copies was called a 'Mushaf al-Sharif.' Later, all following copies of the Qur'an were written exactly in accordance with these originals. Later, all copies of the Mushaf were written exactly in accordance with these originals.
In every century, hundreds of thousands of copies of the Mushaf al-Sharif have been written, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have memorized the entire Qur'an, becoming huffaz.
This unique feature has been granted only to the Qur'an al-Karim among the Divine Books. This is due to divine wisdom, as the other Divine Books were revealed to specific nations and for a limited period of time through the prophets. The Qur'an al-Karim, however, was revealed to our Prophet [sallallahu aleyhi wa sallam] for all of humanity and for all eras. Therefore, its preservation by Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu], is a matter of divine wisdom.
The fact that not even a single verse of the Qur'an al-Karim has been altered and has remained in its original form is such a reality that even some Orientalists have acknowledged it with fairness. Those who claim otherwise are individuals with political motives or blindly committed to falsehood, engaging in propaganda against Islam. The Qur'an al-Karim has been passed down from generation to generation without any alteration since the day it was revealed to the Prophet. The Qur'an al-Karim is undoubtedly the only book that has preserved this unique characteristic, reaching us exactly as it was originally revealed, without a single word added or removed. This is because Allah [Jalla Jalaluhu], Himself has taken on the responsibility of preserving it:
"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an, and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Al-Hijr 15/9)
For this reason, despite the passing of many centuries, none of the enemies of the Qur'an have been able to attempt any alteration, addition, omission, or modification to it.
