1. Background

The Qur’an is considered the central religious text in Islam, forming the foundation of Muslim faith, law, and practice. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was not the author of the Qur’an but the messenger who recited divine revelations transmitted to him ^[1][2]. These revelations were preserved through memorization, oral recitation, and early written records, before being codified as a single text.

The Qur’an consists of 114 chapters (suwar, singular surah), ranging in length from three to 286 verses (ayat). Apart from the opening chapter (al-Fatiha), the chapters are generally arranged by length. The text is revered not only for its content but also for its linguistic perfection, regarded as a miracle (iʿjaz al-Qur’ān) unmatched by human creation ^[3].

2. Compilation

The compilation of the Qur’an occurred in three main stages:

• During the Prophet’s lifetime:
  The revelations were recited by the Prophet Muhammad and memorized by his companions, while also being recorded on palm leaves, bones, and other materials ^[4].

• Caliph Abu Bakr’s reign (632–634 CE):
  Following the Prophet’s death, concern arose that parts of the Qur’an might be lost due to the death of reciters. Abu Bakr commissioned Zayd ibn Thabit to collect the verses from written fragments and oral transmission into a single manuscript (suhuf) ^[5].

• Caliph Uthman’s reign (644–656 CE):
  Disputes about recitation prompted Uthman to order a standard codex. He instructed Zayd and others to produce copies from the earlier suhuf, verified by multiple witnesses. These standardized copies were sent to major cities, while variant codices were destroyed to preserve uniformity ^[5][6].

This codification formed the basis of the Qur’an in use today.

3. Role in Muslim Life

The Qur’an is at the heart of Muslim spirituality, law, and culture. Muslims recite portions of it daily in ritual prayers, with al-Fatiha forming a compulsory component of each prayer cycle. Many Muslims memorize sections of the text, and those who memorize it in its entirety are honored with the title hafiz, enjoying high social and spiritual status ^[7].

The Qur’an also prescribes religious practices, such as ritual prayer (salat) and almsgiving (zakat), which reinforce community belonging ^[8]. Beyond legal and ritual prescriptions, its recitation itself is considered an act of worship.

4. Sociological Perspective

From the perspective of the sociology of religion, the Qur’an functions not only as a theological document but also as a powerful social force shaping Muslim identity, practices, and community structures. Its recitation and memorization form shared cultural and religious norms that bind Muslim societies across time and space.