Based on what we discussed, read and learned in this course, in your own words, please first describe the main features, structure, and content of the Qur’an as a text and the way it has been received

• A collection of ayat , usually separated from each other by the occurrence of rhythm, rhyme or assonance, comprise a surah. • the Qur’an as well as every component of it are signs of the presence of God in the world. • Surah • 1. Different goals and different topics in the Qur'an : In many suras, there is a specific goal that is the focus of all the verses of that surah.

Some commentators even believe that each surah pursues a specific goal. This special purpose has put the relevant verses together in the form of a surah; For example, Surah Yusuf or Naml or Elephant, etc. is the story of a prophet or a historical event. • 2. Easy to learn, recite and memorize the Qur'an : Dividing and distinguishing between chapters makes teaching and learning easier for seekers and enthusiasts of the word of God and they after learning a part of the word of God or memorizing it, as one who goes through one of the stages of happiness and succeed in conquering it, they become more eager than other parts of the Qur'an . As the Qur'an reciter completes one surah, he/she becomes more interested in starting another surah . This is especially evident in the memorization of the Qur'an ; Because dividing the Qur'an into small and large pieces and chapters has solved the problem of memorization, and if it were not so, the motivation to memorize the Qur'an would be less and it would be more difficult to memorize it . 3 . Preservation of the Qur'an from distortion and falsification : One of the artists of the Qur'an and its miraculous aspects is the division of the book into independent parts called Surahs . This made it easy to memorize them, especially the Meccan surahs, which were small and rhythmic surahs at the beginning of the revelation, and at least every Muslim archives some of these surahs in his memory . 4 . Incomparability even in the smallest surah : The division of the Qur'an into surahs whose verses are very different in verse is another interesting phenomenon ; Because the Qur'an, which in the verses of "challenge" has invited everyone to fight, so that if they can bring even one surah like the Qur'an, by dividing it into small and large surahs, has pointed out the fact that the length and shortness of surahs is not a condition of miracles . Every surah, no matter how small, is at the peak of miracles and greatness The Disjointed Letters • Some Muslims hold that these were simply letters of the alphabet used to draw the Prophet’s attention to the impending revelation . (These letters are thus invoked as alternative names for the Prophet, since God used them to draw his attention .) Others suggest that these words are abbreviations of actual words or phrases relating to God and His attributes . The endless possibilities resulting from this kind of speculation have led the vast majority of Muslims to conclude that they may have some kind of deeply spiritual meaning accessible only to those who walk the path of fellowship with God . Most conclude though that “they are meant to illustrate the inimitable, wondrous nature of the Qur’anic revelation which though originating in a realm beyond the reach of human perception (al -ghayb ) can be conveyed to man by means of the very sounds (represented by letters) of ordinary human speech” (Esack , 62 ). In every single surah where these letters appear, the immediate subsequent reference is some form of revelation using words such as “ wahi ” (revelation), “ tanzil ” (descent) or “kitab” (the book) suggesting that they had far more to do with the act of revelation itself, drawing attention to it or evoking responses to it . • Critical text scholars have also forwarded several theories about the origins of these letters, all of them suggesting that the letters are external to the text and were later additions . Some of these theories include the idea that they were initials denoting the names of the scribes or that they are abbreviations for disused names of the surahs .