The Glorious Qur’an – JSS2 Islamic Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam, revealed by Allah (God) to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through Angel Jibreel (Gabriel).

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. state the meaning of the word “Qur’an” and the language in which it is written;
2. describe how the Qur’an is divided into Surahs, Ayat and Juz;
3. explain how the Qur’an was preserved;
4. list the main themes of the Qur’an;
5. give ways in which Muslims show respect to the Qur’an.

What are the key facts about the Qur’an?

The Qur’an is the word of Allah, which Muslims believe was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

• Source: Muslims believe every word comes directly from Allah.
• Messenger of revelation: Angel Jibreel brought the revelation to the Prophet.
• Period of revelation: it came down bit by bit over 23 years of the Prophet’s life, not all at once.

What does the word “Qur’an” mean?

The word “Qur’an” means “the recitation”, because it is meant to be recited aloud.

• Language: the Qur’an is written in Arabic.
• Huffaz: Muslims who memorise the whole Qur’an are called Huffaz (singular: Hafiz).
• Honour: memorising the entire Qur’an is a special honour in Islam.

How is the Qur’an arranged?

The Qur’an is arranged into 114 Surahs (chapters), which are made up of Ayat (verses), and it is also divided into 30 Juz.

Surahs and Ayat

• Surah: a chapter of the Qur’an. There are 114, each with its own name, such as Al-Baqarah (The Cow) or Al-Nas (The People).
• Ayah: a verse of a Surah. The plural is Ayat. The Qur’an has 6,236 verses by the usual count.
• Order: the Surahs are not arranged in the order they were revealed.
• Length: they are generally arranged from longest to shortest, with some exceptions.
• Longest Surah: Al-Baqarah, with 286 verses.
• Shortest Surah: Al-Kawthar, with 3 verses.

Juz

• Juz: one of 30 parts of roughly equal length. The plural is Ajza.
• Use: it helps Muslims read the whole Qur’an in one month, especially during Ramadan.

Summary of the divisions

How was the Qur’an preserved?

The Qur’an was preserved through memorisation and writing during the Prophet’s life, then collected and copied after his death.

1. The Prophet (peace be upon him) recited each revelation to his companions.
2. Many companions memorised the verses.
3. Some companions wrote the verses on leather, palm leaves, bones and stones.
4. After the Prophet passed away, the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, ordered all the written parts to be collected.
5. The third Caliph, Uthman, had official copies made and sent to different parts of the Muslim world.

• Result: Muslims believe the Qur’an has stayed unchanged for over 1,400 years.
• Same words: a copy from the 7th century has the same words as a Qur’an printed today.

What are the main themes of the Qur’an?

There are five main themes of the Qur’an: belief in One God, stories of the prophets, the Day of Judgment, rules for living and signs of Allah’s power.

1. Belief in One God (Tawheed)

• Main message: there is only one God, Allah.
• Allah’s nature: He has no partners, no children and no equals.
• Ownership: everything in the universe belongs to Him.
• Call: people are told to worship Allah alone.

2. Stories of the prophets

• Prophets named: Adam, Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus).
• Lessons: the stories teach patience, faith and doing good.

3. The Day of Judgment

• Death and return: everyone will die and be brought back to life.
• Judgement: Allah will judge everyone by their beliefs and actions.
• Paradise (Jannah): the reward of good people.
• Hell (Jahannam): the place for wrongdoers, unless they are forgiven.

4. Rules for living

• Character: be honest, kind and fair.
• Acts of worship: prayer, fasting, giving to charity and pilgrimage to Makkah.
• Social life: rules for family life, business and how to treat others.

5. Signs of Allah’s power

• Signs in nature: mountains, rain, plants, animals, the sun and the moon.
• Purpose: people are encouraged to think about these signs and recognise the Creator.

Why is the Qur’an important in Muslim life?

The Qur’an is important because it guides Muslim worship, daily life, comfort and character.

• Daily prayers: Muslims recite parts of the Qur’an in the five daily prayers. Every Muslim must learn some short Surahs to pray correctly.
• Guidance: Muslims turn to it for guidance in personal, family, social, economic and political life.
• Comfort: reading or listening to it brings peace, especially in difficult times.
• Moral development: it builds honesty, kindness, generosity, patience and forgiveness.

How do Muslims show respect to the Qur’an?

Muslims show respect to the Qur’an because they believe it is the word of Allah.

1. Wudu (ablution): they wash ritually before touching the Qur’an.
2. Clean place: they keep it in a clean, high place, never on the floor.
3. Full attention: they listen quietly when it is being recited.
4. Proper handling: they hold it with the right hand and place nothing on top of it.
5. Kissing: many Muslims kiss it as a sign of love and respect.

What scientific facts do Muslims find in the Qur’an?

Muslims point to some Qur’anic statements that they believe agree with modern science.

1. Human development: a baby develops in the mother’s womb in stages.
2. Mountains: mountains have deep roots that steady the earth.
3. Water: all living things are made from water.
4. Water cycle: water evaporates, forms clouds and falls as rain.

• Muslim view: many Muslims see these statements as further signs that the Qur’an comes from Allah.

Why do Muslims learn and teach the Qur’an?

Muslims believe that learning and teaching the Qur’an is one of the best deeds.

• Hadith: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
• Madrasas: special schools where children learn to read, recite and understand the Qur’an.
• Mosque classes: many Muslims attend Qur’an classes at mosques.
• Scholars: some people give their lives to studying and teaching the Qur’an.

How do Muslims benefit from the Qur’an?

Muslims benefit most from the Qur’an by reading it, understanding it and living by it.

1. Read it regularly.
2. Understand its meanings.
3. Reflect on its verses.
4. Apply its teachings in daily life.

• Example of the Prophet: he is often described as a “walking Qur’an” because he lived by its teachings. Muslims try to follow his example.

Evaluation

1. What does the word “Qur’an” mean, and in which language is it written?
2. How many Surahs are in the Qur’an? Name the longest and the shortest Surah.
3. Who ordered the written parts of the Qur’an to be collected, and who had official copies made?
4. List the five main themes of the Qur’an.
5. State three ways in which Muslims show respect to the Qur’an.

Assignment

1. Explain how the Qur’an was preserved, from the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to the time of Caliph Uthman.