1. First revelation, at Mt. Hira’, near Mecca, 26th-27th Ramadan 610: Qur’an 96: 1-5: 1. Read in the name of thy Lord who created. 2. Created man from a blood-clot. 3. Read, for thy Lord is the Most Generous, 4. Who taught by the pen, 5. Taught man that which he knew not.

2. Muhammad (c. 570-632) Qur’an/Koran IslamKa‘ba khalifa (caliph) 610 First revelation 611 Muhammad starts preaching 622 Emigration to Medina 622-30 Conflict with Mecca 632 Death of Muhammad

3. Text initially recorded during Muhammad’s lifetime After 650, troops of Syria and Iraq arguing over correct version. ‘Uthman (r. 644-56) appoints commission that compiles text in several volumes in dialect of Quraysh. Sent to capitals of Muslim world. Orders all other versions burned Collection of the Qur’an

4. Other versions recorded as late as 10th c. God’s guiding hand throughout. ‘Uthman’s version as copy of God’s original. Collection of the Qur’an

5. Perception and Structure of the Qur’an Collected words of God, transmitted to humanity through Prophet Muhammad 114 suras (chapters), approx. 6200 ayas (verses) Suras approximately ordered from longest to shortest

6. Themes in the Qur’an The nature of God Stories of the prophets Day of Judgment Laws Sunna/hadith With scriptures: Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad Sacrifice of Abraham: Isma‘il/Ishmael No associates, like Ezra, Jesus or the Trinity

7. 1-29 Faith and disbelief 30-39 Creation, Adam, Satan 40-86 Biblical history - Moses 87-103 Biblical history - Jews, Jesus, Moses 104-21 Polemic - Muslim, Jewish, Christian 122-41 Biblical history - Abraham 142-67 Islamic identity - prayer and pilgrimage 168-203 Juridical problems - food, wills, etc. 204-14 Salvation history 215-42 Juridical problems - jihad, marriage, etc. 243-53 Salvation history 254-60 Mixed topics 261-83 Juridical problems - charity, usury 284-86 Faith Organisation Sura 2

8. Khawass al-Qur’an = special properties of the Qur’an Issues of translation/interpretation