The Religions Book

258

For example, chapter 95 of the
Qur’an is introduced with, “By
the fig and the olive and by Mount
Sinai and by this city of security!”
Later Meccan chapters are
more serene and contain frequent
illustrations of the truth of God’s
message drawn from nature and
history. They are more formal
than other chapters and often
discuss matters of doctrine. God
is frequently referred to in these
chapters as the Merciful.
Revelations accorded to
Muhammad when he was living
in the city of Medina are classified
by scholars as the Medinan
chapters. These chapters are quite
different from the Meccan ones
because, by this time, Muhammad
was no longer leading a fledgling

group of followers, but had become

the head of a large, independent

community of Muslims.

As a result, the Medinan

chapters are characterized less

by themes of doctrine and the

proofs of God’s signs. Instead,

more time is spent in discussion of

legal and social matters and how

such rulings should be applied

in order to regulate life within

the growing Muslim community.

For example, in chapter 24

of the Qur’an, Muslims are told

to bring four witnesses in order

to corroborate an accusation of

adultery. This was an important

safeguard for women in a society

in which even the sight of an

unrelated man and woman

together might be considered

GOD REVEALS HIS WORD AND HIS WILL

cause for suspicion. The testimony

of those who do not provide the

necessary witnesses should be

rejected and such persons dealt

with harshly according to this

Medinan chapter of the Qur’an.

Rote and recitation

Western scholarship has added

numbers to the chapters and verses

of the Qur’an for ease of reference.

For Muslims, however, chapters

are referred to by specific,

distinguishing words that appear

within each chapter. For example,

the Qur’an’s second and longest

chapter is known as The Cow.

This chapter is named after a

story it contains about a heifer

that is reluctantly sacrificed by the

Israelites. In the account, the flesh

of the sacrificed animal is used to

bring a slain man to life again in

order to identify his murderer.

Muslims also rarely refer

to individual verses by number,

instead preferring to quote the

beginning of a passage under

discussion. This form of referencing

of course requires not only great

familiarity with the text of the

Qu’ran but also considerable

memorization skills. Nonetheless,

many Muslims memorize large

The Qur’an is not arranged in any narrative or chronological
order. Opened at any point, it will offer reassurance of God’s will
to the reader through suras (chapters) that often take their name
from a story, theme, or truth that they contain.

This Qur’an is

not such as could

ever be produced by

other than God.

Sura 10:37

The Cow

The Constellations

The Letter “Qaf”

The Sun

The Mountain

The Pen The Moon

The Elephant