Muslims around the world started fasting last week for the month of Ramadhan. Ramadhan has special significance in Islam as it was in this month that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, ‘pbuh’) received the first ever revelation 1,400 years ago (Holy Quran, Ch 96):“Read, in the name of thy Lord who created,Created man from a clot of blood. Recite,for thy Lord is most Beneficent;Who taught by the pen,Taught man what he knew not.”The Holy Prophet (pbuh) was 40 years old when he received these and the revelations continued for the next 23 years of his life. In the beginning, revelations came to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) at intervals and in small bits but as years passed they grew both in volume and frequency. Every revelation was written down and committed to memory by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (May Allah be pleased with them). These revelations were compiled into what is known as the Holy Quran, the scripture of Muslims. The Holy Quran is divided into 114 Surahs or Chapters and each Chapter consists of individual Ayaat or verses.Due to the practice of memorising the revelations and writing them down, the text of the Holy Quran has remained unchanged over the past 1,400 years. The millions of copies of the Holy Quran circulating in the world today are all identical down to a single letter. And this is not strange since God Almighty says in the Holy Quran that He Himself will guard this book:“Surely it is We Who have revealed the Exhortation, and surely it is We Who are its Guardian” (15:10)Muslims believe the Holy Quran to be the final revealed book. No new law, commandment or revelation can abrogate the Holy Quran. It is the final perfect law containing all the needed moral and spiritual teachings to guide mankind until the end of times.The Holy Quran is a book of peace which stands for religious freedom. It is mistakenly believed that some of the Holy Quran’s teachings relating to peace have been abrogated and are no longer valid. This view is patently erroneous and unwarranted and full discussion about this issue can be found on this link: http://www.ahmadiyya-islam.org/bm/islam/the-holy-quran/allegation-against-the-holy-quran/.All the teachings of the Holy Quran relating to peace and religious freedom still stand and have not and will never be abrogated.The Glorious Quran also contains numerous prophecies. One of these is the above mentioned verse which says that the Holy Quran will be protected by God Himself and indeed, the Holy Quran is exactly the same as it was at the time of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). There are a number of prophecies relating to science and future events too, for example genetic engineering, extraterrestrial life and the discovery of new minerals, among others.Even today, the Holy Quran is memorised by Muslims. Muslims who know the Quran by heart are known as Hafiz-Quran. During Ramadhan, much emphasis is laid on reciting and understanding the Holy Quran. During the special evening prayers, known as Taraweeh, which runs throughout the month of Ramadhan, the Holy Quran is recited by the Hafiz-Quran. By the end of the month, the whole Holy Quran will have been recited during the prayers. Additionally, individual Muslims are encouraged to read the whole Holy Quran during this blessed month. The Holy Quran is a Book full of wisdom and guidance for mankind.The Holy Quran can be viewed online with English translation and full commentary at:http://www.alislam.org/quran/tafseer/guide.htm?region=E1For a free copy of the Holy Quran with English translation and commentary, please email alislam.bermuda@gmail.comShabnam Jheengoor is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Bermuda