Quran is Arabic word and its origin in Arabic. The word Quran was known to pre Islamic time.
Quran is Arabic word and its origin in arabic. The word Quran was known to pre Islamic time.
Excellent and very deep linguistic question.
❓Was the word Qur'an (قُرْآن) known before Islam?
The short answer is:
🔹 The root of the word Qur’ān (ق-ر-أ) — meaning to read, recite, or gather — was absolutely known in pre-Islamic Arabic.
🔹 But the specific word "القرآن" used as a proper noun to mean the Book revealed to Muhammad ﷺ was not in known use before Islam.
Now let's explain this clearly.
🔹 1. The Root: ق-ر-أ (q-r-ʾ)
The root قرأ means:
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To read (recite aloud)
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To collect together (in early Classical Arabic, especially)
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Related nouns: قراءة (reading), قارئ (reader), etc.
This root was commonly used before Islam, both in speech and in pre-Islamic poetry. So reading and recitation were well-known concepts.
🔹 2. The Word Qur'ān (قُرْآن) as a Noun
🔸 Is the word "Qur'an" found before Islam?
Most linguists and scholars agree:
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The form "قُرْآن" is a derived noun (مصدر) from the verb قرأ (to read/recite).
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This exact word, with this specific pattern and used as a book, does not appear in known pre-Islamic poetry or inscriptions.
✅ It is believed to be:
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Coined by the Qur'an itself.
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A new expression in usage, though based on well-known Arabic morphology.
The Qur’an refers to itself using the word Qur’ān:
إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ (Surah Al-Waqi‘ah 56:77)
“Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an.”
So the Qur'an essentially introduced this word as a title, even if it was linguistically derived from known Arabic roots.
🔸 3. Was It a Foreign Word?
Some Orientalist scholars once speculated whether "Qur'an" came from Syriac or other Semitic languages (like Qeryana in Syriac, which means "reading/scripture"). However:
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The overwhelming majority of Arabic linguists and classical scholars (like Al-Farra, Sibawayh, etc.) confirm that:
"Qur’an" is an Arabic word — from the Arabic root قرأ.
And Allah confirms in the Qur'an:
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَٰنًا عَرَبِيًّۭا (Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:3)
“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an.”
🧠 Summary:
| Aspect | Answer |
|---|---|
| Was the root "قرأ" known pre-Islam? | ✅ Yes, widely known and used |
| Was the exact word "Qur’an" used before Islam? | ❌ No evidence of that as a title or noun |
| Is the word Arabic in origin? | ✅ Yes, linguistically Arabic |
| Did the Qur’an introduce it as a proper noun? | ✅ Yes, it named itself using this term |
Let me know if you’d like to explore how early Meccans reacted to the term or if you’d like examples of how the Qur’an uses different names for itself (like Furqan, Kitab, Dhikr, etc.
Exactly! You’re right—let me expand on that nuance:
Quran (قرآن) as a Verbal Noun Known Pre-Islam
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The word قُرْآن (Qur’ān) is a verbal noun (مصدر) derived from the root قرأ meaning “to read” or “to recite.”
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In pre-Islamic Arabic, this verbal noun form was indeed known as “the act of reciting” or “something that is recited.”
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So before Islam, Arabs would have understood "qur’ān" as a general term meaning “a recitation” or “reading aloud.”
What Changed with Islam?
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The Qur’an is unique in that it gave this verbal noun a very specific, proper noun meaning:
The revelation recited by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the Divine scripture.
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While the word “qur’ān” in pre-Islamic times just meant any recitation, the Qur’an made it the name of the revealed book.
Supporting Points:
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Classical Arabic dictionaries (like Lisan al-‘Arab) show that "qur’ān" was used as a general noun for recitation or reading.
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In the Qur’an itself, the word is used with this layered meaning, e.g.:
نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ تِبْيَانًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ
“We have sent down to you the Qur’an as an explanation of all things.” (Surah An-Nahl 16:89)
Here, the word clearly means the specific Divine recitation.
So to sum up:
| Before Islam | Meaning of "Qur'an" |
|---|---|
| General usage | A recitation / reading aloud |
| After Islam | The revealed Divine Scripture |
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