Islam

=== Scriptures ===
[[File:Qur'an_and_Rehal.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Quran]] manuscript resting on a [[Rehal (book rest)|rehal]], a book rest for the holy text]]
{{Main|Islamic holy books|Quran|Wahy}}
{{See also|History of the Quran}}
The pre-eminent holy text of Islam is the [[Quran]]. Muslims believe that the verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad by God, through the [[archangel]] Gabriel, on multiple occasions between 610&nbsp;CE<ref name="610CE">{{harvc|c=Muhammad|in=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online|year=n.d.|last2=Welch|first2=A.T.|last1=Buhl|first1=F.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Watt |first=William Montgomery |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AQUZ6BGyohQC&pg=PA5 |title=Islam and the Integration of Society |date=2003 |publisher=[[Psychology Press]] |isbn=978-0-415-17587-6 |pages=5 |access-date=15 June 2021 |archive-date=28 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228022949/https://books.google.com/books?id=AQUZ6BGyohQC&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> and 632, the year Muhammad died.{{sfnp|Esposito|2004|pp=17–18, 21}} While Muhammad was alive, these revelations were written down by [[Muhammad's companions|his companions]], although the primary method of transmission was orally through [[Hafiz (Quran)|memorization]].<ref name="al faruqi">{{Cite journal |last1=Al Faruqi |first1=Lois Ibsen |author-link=Lois Lamya al-Faruqi |year=1987 |title=The Cantillation of the Qur'an |journal=[[Society for Asian Music|Asian Music]] |issue=Autumn – Winter 1987 |pages=3–4}}</ref> The Quran is divided into 114 chapters (''[[sūrah]]'') which contain a combined 6,236 verses (''[[ayah|āyāt]]''). The chronologically earlier chapters, revealed at [[Mecca]], are concerned primarily with spiritual topics, while the later [[Medina]]n chapters discuss more social and legal issues relevant to the Muslim community.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Ringgren |first=Helmer |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Quran |title=Qurʾān |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=17 September 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505001543/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/487666/Quran |url-status=live }} "The word ''Quran'' was invented and first used in the Quran itself. There are [[Quran#Etymology and meaning|two different theories]] about this term and its formation."</ref> Muslim jurists consult the ''hadith'' ('accounts'), or the written record of Muhammad's life, to both supplement the Quran and assist with its interpretation. The science of Quranic commentary and exegesis is known as ''[[tafsir]]''.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/tafsir |title=Tafsīr |access-date=17 September 2021 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019035210/https://www.britannica.com/topic/tafsir |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfnp|Esposito|2004|pp=79–81}} In addition to its religious significance, the Quran is widely regarded as the finest work in [[Arabic literature]],<ref>{{cite book|first=Alan|last=Jones|location=London|publisher=[[Charles E. Tuttle Company]]|year=1994|page=1|title=The Koran|quote="Its outstanding literary merit should also be noted: it is by far, the finest work of Arabic prose in existence."|isbn=1842126091}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Arthur|last=Arberry|title=The Koran Interpreted|location=London|publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]]|year=1956|quote="It may be affirmed that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it."|page=191|isbn=0684825074}}</ref> and has influenced art and the Arabic language.<ref>Kadi, Wadad, and Mustansir Mir. "Literature and the Quran." In ''[[Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān|Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an]]'' 3. pp. 213, 216.</ref>

Islam also holds that God has sent revelations, called ''[[wahy]]'', to different prophets numerous times throughout history. However, Islam teaches that parts of the previously revealed scriptures, such as the ''[[Tawrat]]'' ([[Torah]]) and the ''[[Injil]]'' ([[Gospel in Islam|Gospel]]), have become [[tahrif|distorted]]—either in interpretation, in text, or both,<ref name="harvp|Esposito|2002b|pp=4–5">{{harvp|Esposito|2002b|pp=4–5}}</ref><ref name="harvp|Peters|2003|p=9">{{harvp|Peters|2003|p=9}}</ref><ref>{{harvc|c=Muhammad |in=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online|year=n.d. |last2=Welch |first2=A.T. |last1=Buhl |first1=F.}}</ref><ref>{{harvc|c=Tahrif |in=Encyclopaedia of Islam Online|year=n.d. |author=[[Hava Lazarus-Yafeh]]}}</ref> while the Quran (lit. 'Recitation') is viewed as the final, verbatim and unaltered word of God.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{harvp|Teece|2003|pp=12–13}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Turner|2006|p=42}}</ref>{{sfnp|Bennett|2010|p=101}}