# Qur'an

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quran
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the Islamic holy book

noun · CEFR B2

the holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the word of God.

For teachers: the central religious text of Islam, considered by Muslims to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

- Many people learn to read the Qur'an in its original Arabic language.
- The Qur'an serves as the primary source of Islamic law and provides moral guidance for millions of people worldwide.

Usage: Usually written with a capital letter and often preceded by 'the'.

Teaching tip: The spelling 'Qur'an' is currently the most common in academic and respectful contexts, though 'Koran' is still found in older texts.

### 2. a physical copy or translation

noun · CEFR B2

a specific copy or a translated version of the Islamic holy book.

For teachers: a physical volume, specific edition, or translation of the Islamic scripture.

- He kept a small Qur'an on the shelf next to his bed.
- The library houses several historical Qur'ans, including some with beautiful hand-painted decorations from the fourteenth century.

Usage: In this sense, the word is countable and can be used with 'a' or in the plural.

## Examples

- He reads a chapter from the Qur'an every morning.
- Scholars spend years studying the classical Arabic used in the Qur'an to interpret its complex meanings.
- The calligrapher spent decades meticulously copying the verses of the Qur'an, ensuring that every stroke adhered to the traditional geometric proportions of the script.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.