Qur'an I: context, theology

(source: Ahmad von Denffer, `Ulum al-Qur'an)

Earlier revelations / books mentioned in the Qur'an:

'To every people (was sent) an apostle ...' (10: 47).

• The Torah (taurat) of Moses (Musa).
• The Psalms (zabur) of David (Dawud).
• The Gospel (injil) of Jesus ('Isa).
• The Qur'an of Muhammad.
• (sometimes: the 'sheets' [suhuf] of Ibrahim and Musa.)

Muslim understanding of the Qur'an:

• Inimitable (i'jaz) and unique; of power and beauty that no human could have produced
• God's word (kalam); thus pre-existent with God
• Qur'an is with God on "well preserved Tablet" (lauh al-mahfuz)
• revaled to Muhammad during the Night of Power (laylat al-qadr), during Ramadan.

The Qur'an refers to itself as:

• criterion, see 25: 1
• sent down on a blessed night, see 44: 3-4
• reminder, see 15: 9
• scripture, see 21:10
• light, see 4:174
• a guide and a mercy, see 31:3
• a healing and a mercy, see 17:82
• glorious, blessed, an announcer, a warner