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The verses are of two kinds: Meccan and Medinan.  Meccan verses are characterized by praise of a monotheistic God and condemnation of polytheism.  Medinan verses reflect divine laws and commandments that would help Muhammad in his new role as a leader of men; that is to say, the verses are concerned more with the social laws and obligations of Muslims.

The verses are of two kinds: Meccan and Medinan.  Meccan verses are characterized by praise of a monotheistic God and condemnation of polytheism.  Medinan verses reflect divine laws and commandments that would help Muhammad in his new role as a leader of men; that is to say, the verses are concerned more with the social laws and obligations of Muslims.

The Qur'an has influenced a great number of people over the centuries, especially in the Middle East.  The text of the Qur'an can be found at www.quranexplorer.net.

The Qur'an has influenced a great number of people over the centuries, especially in the Middle East.  (A link to the text of the Qur'an and translations can be found below.)

Several commentaries on the Qur'an exist.  These are labelled as "tafsir" (the word for "commentary.")  Allah himself is regarded as the greatest Tafsir.  Muhammad is the second-best (his tafsir is called "hadith," the Words of the Prophet).  The Companions of the Prophet also produced their own tafsirs.  It is important to note that "tafsir" is NOT scripture, it is a companion to understanding scripture.   

Several commentaries on the Qur'an exist.  These are labelled as "tafsir" (the word for "commentary.")  Allah himself is regarded as the greatest Tafsir.  Muhammad is the second-best (his tafsir is called "hadith," the Words of the Prophet).  The Companions of the Prophet also produced their own tafsirs.  It is important to note that "tafsir" is ''not'' scripture; it is a companion to understanding scripture.   

It is also important to note that Muhammad is not worshiped as a God.  The Muslims are monotheistic.  The Qur'an states that God has no equals, nor was he begotten by a greater being, ''nor has he begotten any other being.''  Muslims may occasionally view Jesus and the Holy Spirit as infringing on God's divinity.  The Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity is regarded as tantamount to polytheism by Moslems.

It is also important to note that Muhammad is not worshiped as a God.  The Muslims are monotheistic.  The Qur'an states that God has no equals, nor was he begotten by a greater being, ''nor has he begotten any other being.''  Muslims may occasionally view Jesus and the Holy Spirit as infringing on God's divinity.  The Christian doctrine of the Holy Trinity is regarded as tantamount to polytheism by Muslims.

Although Muslim apologists claim that Islam respects Christians and Jews (doctrinally  and personally), both Mohammed's personal actions (as recorded in the [[Hadith]]) and verses from the Koran demonstrate otherwise.{{fact}}  

Although Muslim apologists claim that Islam respects Christians and Jews (doctrinally  and personally), both Mohammed's personal actions (as recorded in the [[Hadith]]) and verses from the Koran demonstrate otherwise.{{fact}}  

==Translation==

==Translation==

The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet [[Muhammad]] in what the Angel said was "clear Arabic."  This has come to mean (for many reasons) that Arabic is the most beautiful language of all.  The Qur'an also contains a challenge: if you do not believe that the Qur'an is the word of God, try to make something just as beautiful and good as it!  This is the doctrine of inimitability (no copy can be made), or "i'jaz."  These two doctrines, along with the inherent difficulty of translation (compounded by the fact that Arabic is not a Germanic nor Romance language), severely limit the value of translations of the Qur'an.  In other words, the only Qur'an is the Arabic Qur'an.  English versions of the Qur'an are regarded as commentaries.   

The Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet [[Muhammad]] in what the Angel said was "clear Arabic."  This has come to mean (for many reasons) that Arabic is the most beautiful language of all.  The Qur'an also contains a challenge: if you do not believe that the Qur'an is the word of God, try to make something just as beautiful and good as it!  This is the doctrine of inimitability (no copy can be made), or "i'jaz."  These two doctrines, along with the inherent difficulty of translation, severely limit the value of translations of the Qur'an.  In other words, the only Qur'an is the Arabic Qur'an.  English versions of the Qur'an are regarded as commentaries.   

Two of the most famous and widely-read English translations of the Qur'an are those by A. Yusuf Ali and M. Marmaduke Pickthall.

Two of the most famous and widely-read English translations of the Qur'an are those by A. Yusuf Ali and M. Marmaduke Pickthall (see links below).

==Sources==

==Sources==

<references/>

<references/>

[[Category:Book of Worship]]

[[Category:Book of Worship]]

[[Category:Islam]]

[[Category:Islam]]