Linguistic definitions of al-Quran
- Qur’an comes from the word qara-a (to read/recite), therefore it is al-Qur’an is ‘The Recital’
- Some ulema say it does not have a Hamza in it i.e. Quraan, rather than Qur’an.
Technical definition of the Qur’an
The Qur’an is..
- Words of Allah i.e. kalamullah
- Revealed to his messenger Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), i.e. negates that which was revealed to other prophets, or angels
- Mujiz, i.e. it can not be imitated (discounts the the hadith qudsi, is not the Qur’an)
- Act of worship ((discounts the the hadith qudsi, is not the Qur’an))
- Mutawatir - mass transmission from the time of the revelation to our time making it impossible for someone to pass a something off as a surah of the Qur’an
If someone wants to discuss the Qur’an these conditions have to be met.
Relevant resources
- SeekersAcademy module on Ulum al-Qur’an: On Revelation, How It Was Preserved and Understood, and Why It Is True Lesson 01 - Definitions