The Qur'an is the primary sacred text of Islam and consists of the prophetic speeches of Muhammad recorded and collected by close associates; Muhammad himself was not able to read or write. The term Qur'an means recitation, which is exactly what the text is—recitations from Muhammad of what he said the angel Gabriel told him during meditations in the cave near Mecca. Islamic tradition holds that the angel would speak to Muhammad, then seize him and command him to recite back what the angel had just said. Through this process of memorizing and reciting, Muhammad would recite again these speeches to associates who then would write them down. This oral nature of the Qur'an explains its short verses and seemingly discordant sections. The verses are often freestanding units or sayings that may or may not be thematically connected to those around them. On the other hand, their origin in speech customizes them for use in reciting prayers, chanting, and reading aloud.
Muhammad's experiences in the cave took place over a period of nearly 23 years, during which time he himself could oversee the recording of the recitations. Thus, most scholars believe that the Qur'an is a text with tremendous integrity. Although different versions of the Qur'an existed for a few centuries after Muhammad's death, these versions differed mainly in the arrangement of suras, not in actual content. Unlike either the Jewish or Christian Bibles, the Qur'an has not undergone substantial changes or revisions, and it has not survived centuries of textual transmission and copying by unknown scribes and translators, nor is it far removed historically from its originator—in this case, speaker or "reciter"—or the founder of its tradition.
Islamic tradition reveres the Qur'an as the Word of God, much like Jesus is revered by Christianity as the Word of God made flesh. Furthermore, Allah revealed his Word in Arabic; therefore, only authorized Arabic editions and translations from the Arabic are considered legitimate. Muslims everywhere, regardless of language, are expected to memorize some sections from the Qur'an in Arabic. The passages here from the Qur'an reflect the Islamic conviction that the text is the perfectly revealed Word of Allah, wholly unique, and, as such, is authoritative and final. The Qur'an is Islam's guide for interpretation of all other texts, signs, or miracles, even though other "people of the Book" may not accept it as such.
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