How do Muslims use the Qur'an?

Answer 1

Muslims believe that Quran is God revelation to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel (Jibril). Quran being the words of God (Allah) is fully respected by Muslims.

Muslims use Quran as:

• the source of God commands 'do and not to do'
• the guide to good morals and social behavior
• the source of the rules of marriage, divorce, inheritance, ... etc
• the source of god historical tales for wisdom and advice
• the source that reveals the corruption and falsification of other holy books
• the source of scientific statements that their validity and authentication proved only by current scientific and technological approaches. These scientific miracles prove that Quran is God revelation and not human authorship and writing.

Accordingly, Muslims for feeling the importance of Quran, they:

• recite it frequently
• memorize it fully or partly per their capacity
• follow it in their saying and doings
• learn its meanings and explanations
  

Answer 2

Muslims typically use the Qur'an in a number of ways.

During salah (prayers) verses from the Holy Qur'an are recited. Usually verses of the person praying are chosen alongside the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening), the opening 7 verses of the Qur'an. Al-Fatihah is recited during all 5 obligatory prayers.

Certain verses are told by hadeeth to have certain properties and that their recitation in a prescribed manner, such as reciting them at a certain time or a certain number of times, can have various effects including protection from evil spirits, protection whilst on a journey and the forgiveness of minor sins.

Muslims are also commanded to study the Qur'an and to learn to recite it. Many Muslims will attempt to memorize the whole Qur'an, at which point they become hafiz.

As a result, the Qur'an becomes the basis, as it is for Christians and The Bible, for all Muslim life. Various edicts, or fatwas, are issued by Islamic scholars where an issue is not discussed by the Qur'an and where a definitive answer is needed on that issue. Modern fatwas include ones on the use of internet by Muslims, smoking, transgender surgery and driving.

Also contained within the Qur'an is a number of legal principles, called shariah, and this contains principles on matters including inheritance, marriage and divorce, property ownership, banking and finance, some criminal charges and religious laws. As it stands, no Muslim country is exclusively ran under shariah law, and non-Muslim countries often see shariah only invoked in civil cases such as matters of divorce and finance.

In the West, it is also possible for a court to accept a oath of truth made upon the Qur'an, and a copy of the Qur'an is among the religious texts kept in the Houses of Parliament, in representation of British Muslim citizens. There is also a Hebrew Torah, a King James version Bible and other religious texts kept there.