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IV.—THE QURA′N.[1]
The word Qurán is derived from the Arabic Qara, which occurs at the commencement of Súra xcv., which is said to have been the first chapter revealed to Muhammad; and has the same meaning as the Hebrew kara, "to read," or "to recite," which is frequently used in Jeremiah xxxvi., as well as in other places in the Old Testament. It is, therefore, equivalent to the Hebrew mikra, rendered in Nehemiah vii. 18. "the reading." It is the title given to the Muhammadan Scriptures which are usually appealed to and quoted from as the "Qurán Majíd," or the "Glorious Qurán"; the "Qurán Sharíf," or the "Noble Qurán"; and is also called the "Fúrqán," or "Distinguisher,"
- ↑ The contents of this article appear as an Introduction to the Roman-Urdú edition of the Qurán, published at Ludianah, North India, 1877.
