Our study of the Qur’an acquaints us with three distinguishing characteristics of this holy
book. The first distinguishing characteristic is the absolute authenticity of its source. That
is, without the slightest need of any comparison between the oldest manuscripts, it is
evident that what we recite as the verses of the Holy Qur’an, are exactly the same words
presented before the world by Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allah (S).
The second characteristic feature of the Qur’an is the quality of its contents: its teachings
are genuinely original and have not been adopted or plagiarized. It is the duty of an
analytical study to prove this fact.
The third characteristic of the Qur’an is its Divine identity: its teachings have been
delivered to the Prophet from a world that transcends his thought and mind. The Prophet
(S) was only a recipient of this revelation and message. This is the result that we obtain
from the study of the sources and roots of the Qur’an.
