Qur'an

Put into writing around the seventh century, the Qur'an was "the central religious text of Islam...comprised of revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad." It was first written as a codex, not in scroll form like many other texts of that time. The text contains no poetic writing or hymns, but when it is read aloud in Arabic, the Qur'an's native language, the rhythm and rhyme contained in the suras is evident.

Origins and Expectations

Before they were written down, the Prophet Muhammad preached his revelations orally. Because there was no written record of the revelations, believers were expected to memorize the Qur'an, creating a tradition that prevailed even after the verses were recorded. Thanks to the Qur'an, literacy quickly became an important skill in Islam because of the emphasis on reading and reciting suras. Copying the Qur'an became a religious practice, too. The more time and effort one put into copying the text, the deeper one connected to one's faith.