Holy Book of Islam. The Qur'an is the literal word of God (Allah) revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (Muhammad) over a period of twenty-three years. The word Koran derives from the Arabic verb which means to recite or recite; Qur'an is therefore a "recitation" or something that must be recited.

It is one of the most read and published books in the world. It is widespread practice in most Muslim societies that the Quran is not sold, but given away. A patron of the United States, such as Thomas Jefferson, had the book in his collection of about ten thousand volumes.