Illustrated Text of the Koran

This beautifully decorated page comes from a 14th-century Koran. Muslims believe that the Koran is an infallible transcription of God's message to Muhammad. As the messenger of God and Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad was charged with the responsibility of relaying this message to all believers. Muslims consider him the last of the line of prophets that includes Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, and Jesus. Divided into 114 surahs, or chapters, that together are about as long as the New Testament, the Koran, which means a recitation, is meant to be chanted or sung as part of Islamic worship.