Praise be to Allah, the Charioteer and Sustainer of the worlds, Who has said in His
Noble Book:

There has come to you from Allah Light and a Perspicuous Book. (1)

And may peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, who
has said that:

The best among you is he who learned the Qur-an and then taught it. (2)

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family and all his
Companions.

The Glorious Qur-an is the Book of Allah, the Wise and Worthy of all Praise, Who
has promised to safeguard it from any violations in its purity. It becomes incumbent
upon each and every person who seeks the dignity of this world and the bliss of the
Hereafter to regulate his life according to it, to implement its commandments and to
pay homage to the magnificence of the One Who revealed it. This can be an easy task
for those favored with guidance from Allah, especially those blessed by an
understanding of Arabic, the language of the divine communication. But for those
not acquainted with Arabic, their ignorance is a barrier between them and this source
of guidance and illumination. A translation of the message of Allah is thus a task not
to be taken lightly or performed superficially.

Before the reader begins to study the Qur-an, he must realize that unlike all other
writings, this is a unique book with a supreme author, an eternal message and a
universal relevance. Its contents are not confined to a particular theme or style, but
contain the foundations for an entire system of life, covering a whole spectrum of
issues, which range from specific articles of faith and commandments to general
moral teachings, rights and obligations, crime and punishment, personal and public
law, and a host of other private and social concerns. These issues are discussed in a
variety of ways, such as direct stipulations, reminders of Allah's favors on His
creation, admonitions and rebukes. Stories of past communities are narrated,
followed bye the lessons to be learned from their actions and subsequent fates.

The Qur-an enjoys a number of characteristics unique to it alone, some of which are
as follows:

1- It is the actual Word of Allah; not created but revealed for the benefit of all
mankind.

Blessed is He Who sent down the Criterion To His servant, that it may be An
admonition to all Creatures. (3)

2- It is complete and comprehensive. The Almighty says:

Nothing have We omitted from the book.(4)

In another place we read,

And We have sent down to thee The Book explaining all things. (5)

3- It is a theoretical and a practical Book, not only moralizing but also defining
specifically the permissible and the forbidden. The importance of understanding the
message of the Qur-an is undeniable, but simply reciting it with the intention of
seeking Allah's pleasure and reward is also an act of worship and meritorious in
itself. Allah Almighty says:

This day have I perfected your religion for you ,

Completed my favor upon you and have chosen

For you Islam as your religion.(7)

5. It is Allah's eternal miracle revealed to the Prophet Muhammad for all
succeeding generations. In response to those who doubt the authorship of the
Qur-an, Allah almighty has challenged the most articulate Arabs to produce a whole
book, ten chapters or even one solitary chapter which can be remotely comparable to
the Qur-an. But to this day, no one has succeeded in meeting the challenge of the
Almighty. The critics of the Qur-an have been struck dumb by its ineffable
eloquence and surpassing beauty.

Say, if the whole of mankind and jins Were to gather together to produce the

Like of this Qur-an, they could not Produce the like thereof; even if they

Backed up each other with help and support. (8)

The Almighty also says:

Or they may say he forged it.

Say: Bring ye then ten chapters

Forged, like unto it and call

(To your aid) whomsoever ye can

Other than Allah, if ye speak

The truth. (9)

And again:

Or do they say: he forged it?

Say: Bring then a chapter like

Unto it and call( to your aid)

Anyone ye can besides Allah,

If it be ye speak the truth. (10)

6. It has been revealed to re-establish the sincere worship of Allah alone, without
association of any partners with Him.

This is a Book with verses basic or Fundamental ( of established meaning),

Further explained in detail,- From One who is Wise and Well-Aware.

(It teaches ) that you should worship None but Allah. (11)

And they have been commanded no more Than this: to worship Allah,

Offering Him sincere devotion, being true In faith, to establish regular prayer

And to give Zakat, and that is The religion Right and Straight. (12)

7. It contains a complete code which provides for all areas of life, whether

spiritual, intellectual, political, social or economic. It is a code which has no
boundaries of time, place or nation.

Verily this Qur-an doth guide To that which is most right. (13)

Source: King Fahd Qur-an Printing Complex.

 ___________________________________________________________________