Muslims and the Qur'an?

Question

What proprtion of muslims have actually read the qur'an?

I'd like to hear from non-muslims and muslims alike please

Answer 1

I cannot give you an actual number, as I have no clue what that would be, but I can give you some anecdotal observations.

I am half Arab, so I have some relatives who are Muslim, and I have also spent a lot of time in the Middle East. (I, myself, am not Muslim, but I have read the Qu'ran.) Of the Muslims I have observed, most of the actual practicing faithful who are able to read have read it. Many read it over and over, pondering and studying each verse, the same way many Christians read the Bible. There are a few who are Muslim simply because that is the faith they were raised in, and they have not bothered to read it, but then again, they also do not follow the true teachings of the faith, such as daily prayers, and they would much rather spend their money going to Las Vegas for a week than to try and make the pilgrimage to Mecca.

However, when you travel in the Middle East, it becomes very clear very quickly that a vast number of people are illiterate. I am not talking about middle class people who have had access to education, I am talking about peasants working in the fields. They are so busy trying to keep clothing on their backs and food in their bellies that education is not even a consideration. It is quite touching, as they are often some of the most faithful Muslims. They take their religious obligations seriously, and will share what little they have in the spirit of true love for others. However, even if they have received some religious instruction, such as memorizing parts of the Qur'an, they are unable to read it. They are familiar with its teachings because stories have been told to them by Imams, but they have not received their information from the actual source.

I liken it to the state of Christianity in Medieval times. Very few common people were literate enough to read the Bible. They were able to memorize prayers, or certain scriptures, by rote memorization, and they learned the basic teachings of the Bible by attending Mass and hearing the priest speak. However, they were unable to go directly to the source.

I think that is one reason why fundamentalists in Islam are able to sway people to their point of view. There is a large and rich body of commentary on the Qur'an, and many people are unable to access either the primary source, or the commentary. They must rely, instead, on what they are told. If an Imam chooses to lead the faithful astray, they have no way of knowing that he is teaching them things that are not true. Similarly, if you look back in Christian history, you find that many people did things because they were led astray by people who wanted to control them by only telling them part of the truth, or skewing the information. In my eyes, people who act against the teachings of their religion because they do not know any better are blameless. It is those who lead them astray who shoulder the blame, and who will be held accountable before God.

I once had a very interesting conversation with a doorman in an apartment building. His English was quite good, so we had very little trouble communicating. I asked him to explain Jihad to me. He thought about it for a moment, and then said that Jihad means killing people who are not Muslim. I asked why those people should be killed, and he said, "Because it is written." I tried to help him out a little bit, and offered that perhaps there were two types of Jihad, and could he explain the difference to me. He thought again, and then told me that he imagined it was a difference of how many people you kill. The fact of the matter is that in Islam there are two types of Jihad: greater and lesser. Greater Jihad is the most important of the two, and refers specifically to a person's struggle for mastery over himself and his passions, meaning learning to control those impulses that cause him to do wrong in the eyes of Allah. Lesser Jihad is the one that involves killing, and it does not involve running around and killing people just because they are not Muslim, but rather killing to defend the faith and the faithful, such as killing during the Crusades, which was an effort at defense against aggressive Christians. I found this conversation very interesting because it made me realize that some of the doorman's beliefs were less than the actual, true teachings of Islam. He only knew what he had been told and taught, not what it actually says in the Qur'an. I have no idea how many other people there are out there who are just like him.

Answer 2

A deceptively high number. Although the media doesn't portray that.

I guess it would be a similar number for those christians who have read the bible. It is a fallacy that most muslims just take the word of a sermon. Thats a distorted view also.

Most real muslims have read the Quran, and take the view that religion is between you and the Big Guy upstairs. Most muslims on non Arablic spekaing countries llike the UK learn arabic to be bale to red and undertsand the Quran.

Its a shame people knock it before they know anything about it. Islam is a religion of peace and acceptance, but that is no the message being put across in the media.

Answer 3

Judging by the Muslims I have met in the middle east I would say that it is nearing 100%.

The Qu'ran is also the grammatical reference for written arabic and it's pretty much the only book where you will find all the diacritical marks actually written down, these marks tell you what vowel sounds to make and are usually omitted in written arabic.

So even if you are just learning arabic you find that you end up reading parts of the Qu'ran just for reference.

I read a bit of it, it's just the same as the bible from my point of view.

Not a Muslim or and anything else for that matter. I live in the UK but work around the world.

Answer 4

I have friends which are Muslims and friends who think they are(smoke weed, drink).I have a lot of respect for real muslims they are strong in there believes and most could quote from the Qu'ran. A real Muslim has a disiplined up bringing and are very respectful people to there religon and others! You are not a Muslim if you have n't read the Qu'ran(how would you know and understand the believes). But i would say there is more fakes than real Muslims!

Answer 5

To be a Muslim, you need to declare that there is but one God, Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet. That doesn't involve any reading or other knowledge. It's the easiest of all religions to join (but don't try leaving).
In practice, all children who are brought up as Muslims, study the Qur'an. The extent to which they understand it varies as with any organisation.

Answer 6

I don't know how many people have read it, but I guess a lot of people.
I haven't read it, I just know that Muslims have to make a journey to Mecca, this pilgrimage is called " hajj " and Muslims pray five times a day.

Answer 7

Peace be upon you ...

I read the whole Quran many times ... and specially in Ramadan (a month in the Hijri year) ... all Muslims or most of them compete to read the whole Quran several time s before the end of that month ...

Because reading Quran makes the Muslim gain good points for him (as if he did a good deed... got me?) ... but in Ramadan ... these points are 7 doubles any ordinary day...

So Quran is read so many times in Ramadan ... but also read in ordinary days as well ...

I hope i answered your question with my best ... best regards...

Answer 8

Hi there,
Muslims learn to read arabic , from a younge age , and then they read Quran.This is how it happens in my country , and every muslim child does learn to read Quran because we use and say many Quranic verses while praying .
It is also compulsory that we should understand their meanings , because many recite the Holy Quran , but few understand the meaning .
Regards,
Sidra

Answer 9

i am a muslim and study of Quran is compulsory for us. actually its not mere study or reading but its understanding of what it says. Allah says its the Knowledge for the people who thinks (brain) and the right path for all of the humanity (not only for muslims). so we read it every day. i read it early in the morning before i start my day. all good Muslims actually read it atleast once in a day.
thats why Quran is the most read book around the world.

Answer 10

There are no statistics like that.
It is a religion of masses of uneducated people.
It is a perfect religion for someone to manipulate people.
The younger muslims I have met think it is a religion of peace.
It is just the opposite and advocates killing Christians and Jews.