القرآن الكريم
al-Qurʾān al-Karīm
Book
God’s final revelation to Muhammad (peace be upon him), given in Arabic, memorized and recited from the start, and written in its present form by order of Uthman.
What it means
Al-Qurʾān al-Karīm, the Noble Quran, is the final revelation of God’s will, given in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His Companions memorized it word for word and recited it publicly and continuously, as their descendants have done to the present day. Its present written form was prepared by order of Uthman ibn Affan (may God be pleased with him), the third of the Rashidun caliphs, in about 24-25 A.H. (646-647 C.E.). The Quran states that God sent down the reminder and will guard it (15:9). Muslims treat the Arabic text as the Quran itself, and a translation as an interpretation of its meanings.
Often misunderstood as
That the Quran is the Prophet’s own writing or a translated book, when Muslims hold its wording to be from God.
Term and Arabic as listed in Ismail al Faruqi, Toward Islamic English (International Institute of Islamic Thought, 1995), p. 44, listed as AL QUR'ĀN AL KARĪM. The definition is restated here.