Prophethood and the Holy Qur'an.
Allah did not leave humanity without guidance. He sent prophets, and the final one, Prophet Muhammad (s), brought the Holy Qur'an. Today you'll learn about prophethood, the Prophet (s), and how to begin your relationship with the Qur'an.
Why prophets?
Human reason is a gift, but it isn't enough on its own to know everything Allah wants from us. So Allah sent prophets (anbiya) with guidance: from Adam (a) to Nuh (Noah), Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon them all), and finally Muhammad (s).
Shia belief holds that prophets are ma'sum: protected by Allah from sin and error in conveying His message, so people can trust them completely.
Prophet Muhammad (s)
- Born in Makkah in the Year of the Elephant (around 570 CE).
- Known even before prophethood as al-Sadiq al-Amin: the truthful, the trustworthy.
- Received the first revelation at about age 40 in the Cave of Hira.
- Migrated to Madinah (the Hijrah, 622 CE), where the Muslim community grew.
- He is the last prophet (Khatam al-Nabiyyin); no prophet comes after him.
The Qur'an describes him as "a mercy to the worlds" (21:107) and as having "a tremendous character" (68:4).
The Holy Qur'an
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | The word of Allah revealed to the Prophet (s) over about 23 years |
| Language | Arabic |
| Structure | 114 surahs (chapters) |
| Shia belief | The same Qur'an used by all Muslims; Shia scholars affirm it is preserved and unchanged |
A common misunderstanding is that Shia Muslims have a different Qur'an. They don't. Shia mosques and homes around the world use the same Qur'an as every other Muslim.
Starting with the Qur'an
You can read and listen on our Qur'an page.
Which is TRUE about the Qur'an in Shia Islam?
One Qur'an for all Muslims, with 114 surahs.
What does "ma'sum" mean for prophets?
Infallibility means their guidance can be trusted completely.
Your task (15 min)
Open our Qur'an page and read Surah al-Fatiha with its translation. Listen to its recitation twice. Try to memorise the first three verses this week, since you'll need it in every prayer.
Lesson 3 complete!
You understand prophethood, the role of the Prophet Muhammad (s) as the final messenger, and how to start reading the Qur'an. Next: Imamah, the Twelve Imams.
Next: Imamate: the Twelve Imams →