[UNDER CONSTRUCTION – DRAFT]
The Qur’an is not a linear or chronological book. It is not divided into dedicated subjects. And each theme or storyline is not presented in its entirety in a single chapter or section. Rather, themes and storylines are dispersed throughout the book, with some repeated in different locations, and others even repeated word for word in multiple places.
This has to do with the very nature of the Qur’an. The Qur’an is a recording of the divine verses given to Gods final messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him). The last 23 years of his life was the period where God appointed him to be a prophet. Each verse or group of verses were revealed in their own historical and social context. Throughout the 23 years of his prophethood, verses were revealed to him at different times; either addressing the prophet himself, those who believed in him, those who disbelieved in him, the people of the book (people who follow the other revealed texts, the Torah and the Gospel), or all people in general. The underlying theme that is pervasive throughout all of the Qur’an is that God is One, and that people will be held accountable for their beliefs and actions on a Day of Judgment.
Some of the Qur’ans verses are better understood when studied in its original unaltered Arabic language and also when studied within the historical context of when and why the verses were revealed. Other Qur’anic verses have a more universal message which inspire and enlighten even when removed from their linguistic or historical contexts. But when taken as a whole, the spirit and message of the Qur’an transcends all languages and cultures. The Qur’an has a profound ability to talk to the individual who is seeking God, and to connect them directly to God; And it is the life-guide for over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world (most of whom are non-Arabic speakers).
Despite it’s universal message, in order to gain a deeper understanding of the content of the Qur’an and to translate it into contemporary society, knowledge of classical Arabic, and of 7th century Arabic culture and society are necessary. In addition to that, knowledge about the behavior and statements of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), are needed to gain a more practical understanding of the Qur’an. Since he was the vehicle chosen to convey the verses to the people at specific moments in time, then he is the most familiar with the nuanced meanings and implications of the verses. Therefore, he is the model we follow to gain insight into how to properly understand and implement the Qur’an in our lives.
Qur’anic verses are of different types. There are general-type verses, revealed to teach people about life, death, and the afterlife. It is within these types of verses that one will find stories and parables of previous prophets, messengers and righteous people. These verses are the source of the Follower-of-Abraham booklets. Then you have the specific-type verses. Some specific verses are commands from God instructing the people to do or believe in something. These address everyday practical things like morals, laws, rituals, etc. Some other specific-type verses were revealed in response to events that took place at the time of revelation. These could have been in response to: an accusation, people’s behavior, peoples questions, social events and/or occasions.