Muslims believe God sent the Quran to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Gabriel, a little at a time, over about 23 years. The first words were revealed in the Cave of Hira near Mecca when he was 40.
The first revelation was 'Read, in the name of your Lord who created'. The Prophet ﷺ was frightened and went home to Khadijah, who comforted him. The revelation then came as verses to answer questions, to give guidance in hardship and to teach a growing community.
Each time a portion came, the Prophet ﷺ recited it to his companions, who memorised it, and scribes wrote it down on bark, bone and leather. The Prophet ﷺ reviewed the whole Quran with Gabriel every year, and twice in his final year. After his death, it was collected into one volume under Abu Bakr and copied for the cities under 'Uthman.
ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ﴿١﴾ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ﴿٢﴾ ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥﴾
Recite in the name of your Lord who created - Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - Who taught by the pen - Taught man that which he knew not.
وَقُرْءَانًۭا فَرَقْنَٰهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍۢ وَنَزَّلْنَٰهُ تَنزِيلًۭا ﴿١٠٦﴾
And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.
