The first revelation
The first verses were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ in the cave of Hira, beginning with the command to read and to seek knowledge:
ٱقۡرَأۡ بِٱسۡمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِنۡ عَلَقٍ ٱقۡرَأۡ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلۡأَكۡرَمُ ٱلَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِٱلۡقَلَمِ عَلَّمَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مَا لَمۡ يَعۡلَمۡLies im Namen deines Herrn, Der erschaffen hat, den Menschen erschaffen hat aus einem Anhängsel. Lies, und dein Herr ist der Edelste, Der (das Schreiben) mit dem Schreibrohr gelehrt hat, den Menschen gelehrt hat, was er nicht wußte.
What is it about?
- Tawhid: belief in one God without partner.
- The prophets and earlier nations, and lessons from their stories.
- Law and ethics: worship, dealings, justice and mercy.
- The Hereafter: resurrection, accountability, Paradise and Hell.
Guidance
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدٗى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَDieses Buch, an dem es keinen Zweifel gibt, ist eine Rechtleitung für die Gottesfürchtigen,
How it is read
- In classical Arabic with tajwid rules; translations convey meanings only.
- Millions memorise all of it and recite it in prayer and during Ramadan.
- Start with Al-Fatihah and the short surahs; our site has the full Quran with translation.
God promised to preserve it; see the page “Has the Quran been changed?” for details.
Häufige Fragen
How many verses does the Quran have?
About 6,236 verses in the common count; copies differ slightly in how a few verses are numbered.
Who wrote the Quran?
Muslims believe it is revelation from God; scribes of revelation wrote it down in the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime and it was later compiled into one volume.
Texte und Übersetzungen werden von Gelehrten geprüft.