Muslims regard the Quran as the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with those revealed to Adam - regarded, in Islam, as the first prophet - and including the Suhuf-i-Ibrahim, the Tawrat (Torah), the Zabur (Psalms), and the Injil (Gospel). The aforementioned books are recognized in the Quran, and the Quranic text assumes familiarity with many events from Jewish and Christian scriptures, retelling some of these events in distinctive ways, and referring obliquely to others. It rarely offers detailed accounts of historical events; the Quran's emphasis is typically on the moral significance of an event, rather than its narrative sequence. Details of historical events are contained within the Hadith of Muhammad and the narrations of Muhammad's Companions (Sahabah).
The Quranic text itself proclaims a divine protection of its message: Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian, The Quranic verses were originally memorized by Muhammad's companions as Muhammad recited them, with some being written down by one or more companions on whatever was at hand, from stones to pieces of bark. In the Sunni tradition, the collection of the Quran compilation took place under the Caliph Abu Bakr, this task being led by Zayd ibn Thabit Al-Ansari. "The manuscript on which the Quran was collected, remained with Abu Bakr till Allah took him unto Him, and then with 'Umar till Allah took him unto Him, and finally it remained with Hafsa bint Umar (Umar's daughter)".
The original usage of the word quran is in the Quran itself, where it occurs about 70 times assuming various meanings. It is a verbal noun of the Arabic verb qara`a, meaning "he read" or "he recited", and represents the Syriac equivalent qeryana-which refers to "scripture reading" or "lesson". While most Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is qaran itself. Among the earliest meanings of the word Quran is the "act of reciting", for example in a Quranic passage: "Ours is it to put it together and [Ours is] its quran". In other verses it refers to "an individual passage recited [by Muhammad]".
The term also has closely related synonyms which are employed throughout the Quran. Each of the synonyms possess their own distinct meaning, but their use may converge with that of quran in certain contexts. Such terms include kitab ("book"); ayah ("sign"); and sorah ("scripture"). The latter two terms also denote units of revelation. Other related words are: dhikr, meaning "remembrance," used to refer to the Quran in the sense of a reminder and warning; and hikma, meaning "wisdom," sometimes referring to the revelation or part of it.
Most Muslims treat paper copies of the Quran with veneration, ritually washing before reading the Quran. Worn out, torn, or errant (for example, pages out of order) Qurans are not discarded as wastepaper, but rather are left free to flow in a river, kept somewhere safe, burnt, or buried in a remote location. Many Muslims memorize at least some portion of the Quran in the original Arabic, usually at least the verses needed to perform the prayers. Those who have memorized the entire Quran earn the right to the title of Hafiz.
Based on tradition and a literal interpretation of sura 56:77-79: "That this is indeed a Quran Most Honourable, In a Book well-guarded, Which none shall touch but those who are clean.", many scholars opine that a Muslim perform wudu (ablution or a ritual cleansing with water) before touching a copy of the Quran, or mushaf. This view has been contended by other scholars on the fact that, according to Arabic linguistic rules, this verse alludes to a fact and does not comprise an order. The literal translation thus reads as "That (this) is indeed a noble Quran, In a Book kept hidden, which none toucheth save the purified". It is suggested based on this translation that performing ablution is not required.
Quran desecration means insulting the Quran by defiling or dismembering it. Muslims must always treat the book with reverence, and are forbidden, for instance, to pulp, recycle, or simply discard worn-out copies of the text. Respect for the written text of the Quran is an important element of religious faith by many Muslims. They believe that intentionally insulting the Quran is a form of blasphemy. In Islam, blasphemy is considered a sin. In the Quran, Allah says "He forgives all sins, except disbelieving in God (blasphemy)". In Islam if a person dies while in blasphemy, they will not enter heaven, except if said person repented before death.
O mankind! there has come to you a direction from your Lord God and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts,- and for those who believe, a guidance and a Mercy.
