(A1) READING THE KORAN:       Artist – Chuck Marshall               Oil on Canvas
(A1) READING THE KORAN     Artist – Chuck Marshall         Oil on Canvas
The Koran is the central religious text of Islam.  Muslims believe the Koran was revealed through the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of years spanning 609 CE – 632 CE.  It is viewed as the culmination of a series of divine revelations which began with messages revealed to Adam and continued through the line of prophets which included Moses, Abraham, and Jesus, ending with Muhammad.  

The Koran is regarded by Muslims as being the only revealed book that is free of distortion or corruption since it was recorded as it was being revealed.  The Koran assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in the Jewish and Christian scriptures.  It describes itself as a book of guidance.


Information regarding Islam:

Islam  is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion, teaching that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is a messenger of God.  It is the world's second-largest religion with over 1.9 billion followers, or 24.4% of the world's population, commonly known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries.  Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique, and has guided mankind through prophets, revealed scriptures, and natural signs.  The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, believed to be the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative examples (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570 – 8 June 632 CE).
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, and the Quran, in its Arabic, to be the unaltered and final revelation of God.