(also Koran. Arabic term meaning, 鈥榬ecitation鈥 or 鈥榮cripture鈥): Muslims believe that the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. It consists of 114 suras (chapters) of varying lengths, each of which is divided into a number of 膩y膩t (verses). The chapters fall under two categories, the Meccan in reference to those revealed while the Prophet was in Mecca, and the Medinan in reference to those revealed while he was in Medina. After the first sura, called al-F膩ti岣, the rest of the chapters are arranged roughly in decreasing order of length. There are varying traditions amongst Muslims about the collection and compilation of the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍, although it is generally believed that the authoritative recension (mu峁ａ弗af) was prepared following the demise of the Prophet Muhammad. Among Muslims, the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 plays a central role in rituals, law, theology, literature, arts and spirituality.
