The World-Cultural-Heritage &
the world-cultural-shock in 2024
People of the Qur`an
Text is written by MYRTLE LANGLEY
MUSLIMS BELIEVE that the Qur`an is the infallible Word of God, expressing God`s will for all humankind: final, perfect, and complete. It was revealed in a miraculous way to the Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of God, who was told to “read” or “recite” the words, which were communicated to him by the archangel Gabriel while he was in a trance-like state.
Qur`an literally means “recitation”. Its central teaching reveals the character of God. Next in importance, it teaches that there will be a Last Judgement, when all humanity will be raised to life and appear before God to be judged and sent to paradise or hell, depending on their behaviour. It also gives much guidance for behaviour here and now.
Some of it was revealed in Mecca, some in Medina after Muhammad`s hijra, or emigration, there in 622. Muhammad began to receive revelations from God in about 610, and continued to receive them until his death in 632.
Soon after, these revelations were collected from spoken and written sources to form the Qur`an.
People of the mosque
Text is written by MYRTLE LANGLEY
FOR MUSLIMS, ISLAM should rule over every part of the life of a person and of a nation, without any distinction between the religious and the rest. The mosque is central to the life of the community, and mosques may be centres for education and social work. 
The Qur`an lays down rules to govern, not just the life of an individual, but also the life of the community.
These rules cover all areas of religious and social behaviour, from prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage, to marriage, inheritance, and food and drink. Also important are the Hadith (traditions), which record sayings and events in the life of Muhammad and the early Muslim communities.
They contain the Sunnah (example) of the Prophet, the standard to which all Muslims should aspire. The Qur`an and Sunnah have combined to form the Shari`ah (law) which is a comprehensive guide to life and conduct giving a fixed code of behaviour for Muslims to follow.