What is Al Qur'an (The Koran)?

Terry Jones, the Florida pastor, burn the Koran in his small church in Gainesville, Fla., on March 20, with only 30 worshipers attending.

The act drew little response worldwide, but provoked angry condemnation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where it was reported in the local media and where anti-American sentiment already runs high. Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan condemned the burning in an address before Parliament, and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan on Thursday called on the United States to bring those responsible for the Koran burning to justice.

So, What is the Koran?

Koran derived from Arabic word Al Qur'an. It means "The Reading". Al Qur'an is the words of God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad Peace be Upon Him.

God gives His orders and prohibitions through the Koran. There are also stories of Prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus (Jesus in Islam considered as a prophet. Not a God), Muhammad, etc.

Al Qur'an is written in Arabic. If it is not in Arabic, it is not Al Qur'an. Only "The Translation" of Al Qur'an. It is very different from Bible which is written in different languages.

Al Qur’an that we read today remain the same with the version of Al Qur’an that prophet and his friends read. The prophet Muhammad cannot read nor write. But he memorized Al Qur’an verses and often recited them. He also like to hear Al Qur’an recited by his friends.

Al Qur’an has been memorized by millions of people called “Hafeez” (The Guardian or the Memorizer). The Hafeezs are not only memorizing Al Qur’an words, but they know the length and the tone should be pronounced of every word of the Al Qur’an. Because different length of every syllable will have different meaning. I believe Al Qur’an is the only Holy Book that still original and could be memorized by million people.

What is the content of the Al Qur’an?
You could read it here:
http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran

How is the Quran read?

You could listen the Qari (Reader) recite the Quran here:

Al Fatihah and Juz 'Amma by KH Muammar ZA
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KwF-0JRoTs?rel=0]
That is only one version of the 7 melodies of the Quran.

The first verses of Al Qur’an:

Al-Alaq (Chapter 96)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Read: In the name of thy Lord Who createth, (1)

Createth man from a clot. (2)

Read: And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous, (3)

Who teacheth by the pen, (4)

Teacheth man that which he knew not. (5)

The Preamble of Al Qur’an:

Al-Fatiha (Chapter 1)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful (1)

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, (2)

The Beneficent, the Merciful.(3)

Owner of the Day of Judgment, (4)

Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. (5)

Show us the straight path, (6)

The path of those whom Thou hast favoured. Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. (7)

One of the most important chapters:

Al-Ikhlas (Chapter 112)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Say: He is Allah, the One! (1)

Allah, the eternally Besought of all! (2)

He begetteth not nor was begotten. (3)

And there is none comparable unto Him. (4)

Unlike some Christians that accused Al Qur'an as the imitation of the Bible, Al Qur'an correct some deviations made by the Christians such as worshipping Jesus as a God:

"They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary. The Messiah (himself) said: O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. Lo! whoso ascribeth partners unto Allah, for him Allah hath forbidden paradise. His abode is the Fire. For evil-doers there will be no helpers.
They surely disbelieve who say: Lo! Allah is the third of three; when there is no God save the One God. If they desist not from so saying a painful doom will fall on those of them who disbelieve." (Al Maeda 72-73)

In the verses above, Allah explain that Jesus is only human. There is only one God: Allah.

Those are some verses of Al Qur’an.
Those are the words of God.
The words of Allah.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/02/world/asia/02afghanistan.html