Editing Quran (section)

== Etymology and meaning ==
The word {{transliteration|ar|ALA|qur'ān}} appears about 70 times in the Quran itself,<ref name="Wheeler2002">{{cite book |last=Wheeler |first=Brannon M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qIDZIep-GIQC |title=Prophets in the Quran: An Introduction to the Quran and Muslim Exegesis |date=2002 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-0-8264-4957-3 |page=2}}</ref> assuming various meanings. It is a [[verbal noun]] ([[Arabic verbs#Verbal noun (maṣdar)|{{transliteration|ar|ALA|maṣdar}}]]) of the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] verb {{transliteration|ar|ALA|qara'a}} ({{lang|ar|{{Script/Arabic|size=100%|قرأ}}}}) meaning 'he read' or 'he recited'. The [[Syriac language|Syriac]] equivalent is {{transliteration|syc|qeryānā}} ({{lang|syc|ܩܪܝܢܐ|}}), which refers to 'scripture reading' or 'lesson'.<ref name="Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon">{{cite web |title=The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon |url=http://cal.huc.edu/searchroots.php?pos=N&lemma=qryn |publisher=[[Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion]] |access-date=31 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018134645/http://cal.huc.edu/searchroots.php?pos=N&lemma=qryn |archive-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> While some Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is {{transliteration|ar|ALA|qara'a}} itself.<ref name="Britannica">{{harvnb|Nasr|2007}}</ref> Regardless, it had become an Arabic term by Muhammad's lifetime.<ref name="Britannica" /> An important meaning of the word is the 'act of reciting', as reflected in an early Quranic passage: "It is for Us to collect it and to recite it ({{transliteration|ar|ALA|qur'ānahu}})."<ref>{{qref|75|17|b=y}}</ref>

In other verses, the word refers to 'an individual passage recited [by Muhammad]'. Its [[liturgy|liturgical]] context is seen in a number of passages, for example: "So when {{transliteration|ar|ALA|al-qur'ān}} is recited, listen to it and keep silent."<ref>{{qref|7|204|b=y}}</ref> The word may also assume the meaning of a codified scripture when mentioned with other scriptures such as the [[Tawrat|Torah]] and [[Injil|Gospel]].<ref>See "Ķur'an, al-", ''Encyclopedia of Islam Online'' and {{qref|9|111}}</ref>

The term also has closely related [[synonym]]s that are employed throughout the Quran. Each synonym possesses its own distinct meaning, but its use may converge with that of {{transliteration|ar|ALA|qur'ān}} in certain contexts. Such terms include {{transliteration|ar|kitāb}} ('book'), {{transliteration|ar|[[ayah|āyah]]}} ('sign'), and {{transliteration|ar|[[Sura|sūrah]]}} ('scripture'); the latter two terms also denote units of revelation. In the large majority of contexts, usually with a [[definite article]] ({{transliteration|ar|al-}}), the word is referred to as the {{transliteration|ar|[[wahy|waḥy]]}} ('revelation'), that which has been "sent down" ({{transliteration|ar|[[tanzil|tanzīl]]}}) at intervals.<ref>{{qref|20|2|b=y}} cf.</ref><ref>{{qref|25|32|b=y}} cf.</ref> Other related words include: {{transliteration|ar|ALA|[[dhikr]]}} ('remembrance'), used to refer to the Quran in the sense of a reminder and warning; and {{transliteration|ar|[[hikmah|ḥikmah]]}} ('wisdom'), sometimes referring to the revelation or part of it.<ref name=Britannica />{{Efn|According to Welch in the ''Encyclopedia of Islam'', the verses pertaining to the usage of the word {{transliteration|ar|hikma}} should probably be interpreted in the light of IV, 105, where it is said that "Muhammad is to judge ({{transliteration|ar|tahkum}}) mankind on the basis of the Book sent down to him."}}

The Quran describes itself as 'the discernment' ({{transliteration|ar|al-furqān}}), 'the mother book' ({{transliteration|ar|umm al-kitāb}}), 'the guide' ({{transliteration|ar|huda}}), 'the wisdom' ({{transliteration|ar|hikmah}}), 'the remembrance' ({{transliteration|ar|dhikr}}), and 'the revelation' ({{transliteration|ar|tanzīl}}; 'something sent down', signifying the descent of an object from a higher place to lower place).<ref name=Jaffer>{{cite book|first1=Abbas |last1=Jaffer |first2=Masuma |last2=Jaffer |title=Quranic Sciences|publisher=ICAS press|year=2009|isbn=978-1-904063-30-8|pages=11–15}}</ref> Another term is {{transliteration|ar|ALA|al-kitāb}} ('The Book'), though it is also used in the Arabic language for other scriptures, such as the Torah and the Gospels. The term {{transliteration|ar|[[mus'haf]]}} ('written work') is often used to refer to particular Quranic manuscripts but is also used in the Quran to identify earlier revealed books.<ref name="Britannica" />