The Quran is a book designed to be read from cover to cover like any other book. It is not meant to be wrapped up in a cloth and placed up high and out of sight only to be brought out on occasions like births, deaths or marriages. So many people own a Quran but they have never actually read it. They leave it on a high shelf away from other books and claim that there are rules on how to read it.

There are no rules on how to read the Quran except to read it. You do not have to wash before you read it. A woman who is menstruating can read it. It is very easy to read and to understand. It was not written so that only men should hear it at the Friday prayers, as the congregation should include women. The Quran is not exclusively for men. So why is it that so many people own a Quran but hardly anyone reads it?

The Quran is the word of God, sent down to us via Gabriel to Mohamed who wrote it down with his own hand for all mankind to read. Mohamed was not illiterate as people claim, he was a merchant and during his time the Arabic alphabet was used as numbers, so during his working life he would have used these letters in his work. The myth that he was illiterate was started to make the Quran look even more of a miracle.

Chapter 29 verse 51
Is it not enough of a miracle that we sent down to you this book, being recited to them? This is indeed a mercy and a reminder for people who believe.

The verse tells us that the Quran was the only miracle that Mohamed was given, his illiteracy was invented by those who knew Mohamed was an educated man but they chose to deny it.

Chapter 44 verse 14
But they turned away from him, saying ‘Well educated, but crazy.’

God knows that the very people to whom the Quran was sent to enlighten, will desert it in favour of fabricated doctrines because He tells us so in the Quran.

Chapter 25 verses 29-30
“He has led me away from the message after it came down to me, indeed the devil lets down his human victims.” The messenger said, “My Lord, my people have deserted this Quran.”

God also knew that many Muslims would divide the religion and accept only parts of the Quran rather than the whole book.

Chapter 15 verses 90-91
We will deal with the dividers. They accept the Quran only partially.

The Quran was sent down to the Arabs who had not previously received a prophet or a scripture. The Quran was sent down in Arabic because, and this may seem very obvious but to some it is not, the Arabs speak Arabic and God says “We did not send any messenger except to preach in the tongue of his people, in order to clarify things for them…” God knew that in the future people who did not speak Arabic would become Muslims and God has had the Quran translated by humans into every language so that we can all read the words of God for ourselves.

Chapter 41 verse 44
If we made it a non-Arabic Quran they would have said, “Why did it come down in that language?” Whether it is Arabic or non-Arabic, say, “For those who believe, it is a guide and a healing. As for those who disbelieve, they will be deaf and blind to it, as if they are being addressed from faraway.”

God asks in the Quran, “Why do they not study the Quran carefully? Do they have locks on their minds? Surely, those who slide back, after the guidance has been manifested to them, the devil has enticed them and led them on.” (47:24-25)

The Quran is a complete and fully detailed book in which nothing has been left out. It confirms and supersedes all of the previous scriptures sent to us. God sent it to mankind so that we may increase our knowledge. Each and every one of us should read the book of God, there is no excuse for not doing so except laziness.