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 يَعۡلَمۡRecite 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.
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 لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَThis is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allāh[8] -
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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Texts and translations are under scholarly review.