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The '''Koran''' is a scripture sacred to [[Islam]].

The '''Koran''' is a scripture sacred to [[Islam]].

The Koran is claimed by [[Muslims]] to have been revealed to the Prophet [[Muhammad]] over a number of years in the 7th century AD, purportedly through the [[angel]] [[Gabriel]]. The scripture is organized (roughly) according to the length of the chapters. There are 114 suras (or chapters), with many of the later and more warlike ones appearing near the beginning. The Prophet's first revelations were received in [[Mecca]]. He was exiled from Mecca after commanding the people to repent of [[polytheism]] and join the One True God, (in [[Arabic]], his name is [[Allah]]).  The Prophet Muhammad then traveled to [[Medina]] and converted the entire city.  He led them to a victory over the polytheists at Mecca.   

The Koran is claimed by [[Muslims]] to have been revealed to the [[Muhammad]] over a number of years in the seventh century, purportedly through the [[angel]] [[Gabriel]]. The scripture is organized (roughly) according to the length of the chapters. There are 114 suras (or chapters), with many of the later and more warlike ones appearing near the beginning. The Prophet's first revelations were received in [[Mecca]]. He was exiled from Mecca after commanding the people to repent of [[polytheism]] and join the One True God, (in [[Arabic]], his name is [[Allah]]).  The Prophet Muhammad then traveled to [[Medina]] and converted the entire city.  He led them to a victory over the polytheists at Mecca.   

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.

==Spelling==

==Spelling==

Every major English-language dictionary gives "Koran" as its preferred spelling, including American Heritage, Merriam-Webster, ''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', and Oxford.<ref>See ''[https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Koran American Heritage Dictionary]'', [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koran Merriam-Webster], ''[http://www.yourdictionary.com/koran#websters Webster's New World College Dictionary]'', and [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Koran Oxford].</ref> The Associated Press, which sets a style benchmark for the rest of the media, has used "Quran" since 2000.<ref>"[http://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=4239 Quran or Koran?]" , ''American Journalism Review'', 2006.</ref> The AP's spelling is a variant of "Qu'ran," a spelling promoted by Muslim authorities. Both of these spellings are simplified forms of the romanized Arabic (''al-Qur'ān''). The practice goes against the recommendation of WNWCD, the AP's own preferred spelling authority.<ref>''Webster's New World College Dictionary'' is given as the "first reference for spelling" in the ''AP Stylebook''. Although it gives "Koran" as its preferred spelling, this dictionary does include the notation "the form Quran is now preferred in many contexts." Merriam-Webster, the top U.S. dictionary publisher and the AP's "second reference," gives "Koran, also Quran or Qur'an."</ref>

Every major English-language dictionary gives "Koran" as its preferred spelling, including American Heritage, Merriam-Webster, ''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', and Oxford.<ref>See ''[https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=Koran American Heritage Dictionary]'', [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/koran Merriam-Webster], ''[http://www.yourdictionary.com/koran#websters Webster's New World College Dictionary]'', and [http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Koran Oxford].</ref> The Associated Press, which sets a style benchmark for the rest of the media, has used "Quran" since 2000.<ref>"[http://ajrarchive.org/Article.asp?id=4239 Quran or Koran?]" , ''American Journalism Review'', 2006.</ref> This is despite that the dictionaries recommended in AP's own stylebook give the K spelling.<ref>''Webster's New World College Dictionary'' is given as the "first reference for spelling" in the ''AP Stylebook''. Although it gives "Koran" as its preferred spelling, this dictionary does include the notation "the form Quran is now preferred in many contexts." Merriam-Webster, the top U.S. dictionary publisher and the AP's "second reference," gives "Koran, also Quran or Qur'an."</ref> The AP's spelling is a variant of "Qu'ran," a spelling promoted by Muslim authorities. Both of these spellings are simplified forms of the romanized Arabic (''al-Qur'ān'').

==Sources==

==Sources==

Sura 6:34 also states that "there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah."  

Sura 6:34 also states that "there is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah."  

However, the Koran critically contradicts the Bible,<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/ answering-islam.org; ''Contradictions in the Qur'an'']</ref>  especially as concerns the person and work of [[Jesus Christ]], as it flatly denies His death and resurrection, as well as His Divine nature, both of which which are held by Christians to be abundantly testified to.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/JESUS.Vs.Muhammad.html MUHAMMAD VERSUS JESUS CHRIST]</ref><ref> [http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html The DEITY of CHRIST]</ref>  

However, the Koran critically contradicts the Bible,<ref>[http://www.answering-islam.org/Quran/Contra/ answering-islam.org; ''Contradictions in the Qur'an'']</ref>  especially as concerns the person and work of [[Jesus Christ]], as it flatly denies His death and resurrection, as well as His Divine nature, both of which which are held by Christians to be abundantly testified to.<ref>[http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/JESUS.Vs.Muhammad.html Muhammad Versus Jesus Christ]<br/> [http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/DEITYofCHRIST.html The DEITY of CHRIST]</ref>  

Islamic apologists recognize these contradictions, and therefore charge that the Bible was tampered with, though the amount of alterations required to explain the Koranic deviations from Biblical text would require a radical amount of rewriting, especially of the latter.   

Islamic apologists recognize these contradictions, and therefore charge that the Bible was tampered with, though the amount of alterations required to explain the Koranic deviations from Biblical text would require a radical amount of rewriting, especially of the latter.   

Christian apologists respond to these charges by evidencing that an abundance of manuscripts which predate the Koran yet exist,<ref>http://www.spotlights.org/Bible22.htm</ref> such as the Codex Sinaiticus (c. 350 AD),  with Aland numbering a total of 230 extant New Testament manuscript portions which pre-date 600 AD (192 Greek New Testament manuscripts, 5 Greek lectionaries containing scripture, and 33 translations of the Greek New Testament).<ref>Kurt and Barbara Aland, 1987:82-83</ref><ref>http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/bib-qur/bibmanu.htm</ref> The doctrinal conflation of these with later manuscripts manifest that the alleged rewriting did not take place.<ref>http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/bibleorigin.html</ref><ref>http://www.carm.org/questions/about-bible/manuscript-evidence-superior-new-testament-reliability</ref>   

Christian apologists respond to these charges by evidencing that an abundance of manuscripts which predate the Koran yet exist,<ref>http://www.spotlights.org/Bible22.htm</ref> such as the Codex Sinaiticus (c. 350 AD),  with Aland numbering a total of 230 extant New Testament manuscript portions which pre-date 600 AD (192 Greek New Testament manuscripts, five Greek lectionaries containing scripture, and thirty-three translations of the Greek New Testament).<ref>Kurt and Barbara Aland, 1987:82-83</ref><ref>http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/bib-qur/bibmanu.htm</ref> The doctrinal conflation of these with later manuscripts manifest that the alleged rewriting did not take place.<ref>http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/bibleorigin.html</ref><ref>http://www.carm.org/questions/about-bible/manuscript-evidence-superior-new-testament-reliability</ref>   

In addition, it is postulated that if Muhammed could not read, as Islam states, then he would have relied upon the word of others (travelers, etc.) who were overall likely to be significantly Biblically illiterate.<ref>http://www.letusreason.org/Islam5.htm</ref> This would explain how Muhammed could reprove such things as the Christian Trinity consisting of God, Jesus and Mary,<ref>[http://answering-islam.org/Why-not/13trinity.html Jochen Katz, ''My Questions to Muslims''; Answering Islam]</ref> (Sura 5:116-117) in addition to speaking numerous contradictions of the Bible.

In addition, it is postulated that if Muhammed could not read, as Islam states, then he would have relied upon the word of others (travelers, etc.) who were overall likely to be significantly Biblically illiterate.<ref>http://www.letusreason.org/Islam5.htm</ref> This would explain how Muhammed could reprove such things as the Christian Trinity consisting of God, Jesus and Mary,<ref>[http://answering-islam.org/Why-not/13trinity.html Jochen Katz, ''My Questions to Muslims''; Answering Islam]</ref> (Sura 5:116-117) in addition to speaking numerous contradictions of the Bible.