Koran

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A central religious document in Islam that is believed to contain divine revelations received by the Prophet Muhammad throughout his life, serving as a guide for the faith and practices of Muslims
2. This significant text in Islam, regarded as the literal word of God, encompasses teachings and principles essential for moral guidance and spiritual direction within the Muslim community
3. A sacred text in Islam comprised of God's revelations conveyed to Muhammad, guiding religious beliefs and actions

Etymology: The Arabic word "qurʼān" comes from the verb "qaraʼa," meaning "to read" or "to recite," so the name of the Islamic holy book literally means "the recitation." The Arabic root is traced back to a Proto-Semitic form, and the word was prefixed with the definite article "al-" to become "al-qurʼān," meaning "the recitation," the form that gave the book its title. English did not take the word directly from Arabic. The spelling "Koran" was borrowed from Czech "Korán," which reflects the Czech adaptation of the Arabic term. Because the route runs through Czech, the English spelling looks further from the Arabic than the original does, and readers who know the Arabic form will recognize it more easily in the spelling "Quran."