<P> The Quran assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in the Biblical scriptures . It summarizes some, dwells at length on others and, in some cases, presents alternative accounts and interpretations of events . The Quran describes itself as a book of guidance for mankind 2: 185 . It sometimes offers detailed accounts of specific historical events, and it often emphasizes the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence . The Quran is used along with authentic and reliable hadith to interpret sharia law . During prayers, the Quran is recited only in Arabic . </P> <P> Someone who has memorized the entire Quran is called a hafiz . Quranic verse (ayah) is sometimes recited with a special kind of elocution reserved for this purpose, called tajwid . During the month of Ramadan, Muslims typically complete the recitation of the whole Quran during tarawih prayers . In order to extrapolate the meaning of a particular Quranic verse, most Muslims rely on exegesis, or tafsir . </P> <P> The word qurʼān appears about 70 times in the Quran itself, assuming various meanings . It is a verbal noun (maṣdar) of the Arabic verb qaraʼa (قرأ), meaning "he read" or "he recited". The Syriac equivalent is (ܩܪܝܢܐ) qeryānā, which refers to "scripture reading" or "lesson". While some Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is qaraʼa itself . Regardless, it had become an Arabic term by Muhammad's lifetime . An important meaning of the word is the "act of reciting", as reflected in an early Quranic passage: "It is for Us to collect it and to recite it (qurʼānahu)." </P> <P> In other verses, the word refers to "an individual passage recited (by Muhammad)". Its liturgical context is seen in a number of passages, for example: "So when al - qurʼān is recited, listen to it and keep silent ." The word may also assume the meaning of a codified scripture when mentioned with other scriptures such as the Torah and Gospel . </P>

When was the koran written and by whom