THINKING MUSLIM : QUR'AN
The Holy Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (sall allahu alaihi wa as-salaam) by the angel Jibril over a period of 23 years. The Qur'an consists of 114 chapters, or sura, of varying lengths. It has been compiled with the longest sura (al-Baqara) appearing first (well, just after the opening sura al-Fatiha) and the shortest coming towards the end. Sura arrangement is not connected to the sequence of revelation. Each sura consists of verses, or ayat.
During the Prophet's lifetime, verses and chapters were memorised and recorded by his companions. The complete mushaf was compiled only after the death of the Prophet Muhammad (sall allahu alaihi wa as-salaam), and it is the Uthmanic compilation that we refer to today.
