how was the quran (Qur’an) revealed and compiled
The word Qur’an (Quran) literally means “the reading” or “the recitation”, and refers to the divinely revealed scripture given to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Since Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is considered the last prophet of God, the Qur’an is believed to be the final revelation from God to humanity.
The Qur’an is considered by Muslims to be the literal Speech of God given to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Arabic language. The chapters and verses of the Qur’an were revealed throughout Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mission, over a span of close to twenty-three years, from 610-632 C.E. Contrary to common misconception, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the author of the Qur’an. Rather, he is viewed as the chosen recipient of and transmitter of the revelation and the ideal implementor of principles and commandments contained therein. The personal sayings or words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are known as hadith, which are distinct from the divine origin of the content of the Qur’an.
As verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and subsequently repeated by him to companions and other fellow Muslims, they were written down, recited and memorized. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also typically led the formal worship five times daily, during which he recited the revealed verses according to the procedure that he established. The verses were also recited out loud by designated Muslims in the early dawn hours and prior to the worship times and other important occasions. In short, the Qur’anic verses played an immediate and practical role in the spiritual lives of Muslims from the outset. Before he passed away, the Prophet arranged the 114 chapters into the sequence we find in the Qur’an as we have it today. Scholars, both Muslim and non-Muslim, agree that the Qur’an has remained intact and unchanged to the present. The Qur’an as a scripture stands unique in this regard.