The Qur'an and the Prophet

The Prophet Muhammad as the receiver of revelation, guide and teacher of the Qur'an, how he is viewed and characterised has an enormous impact on how the Qur'an is interpreted. To interpret or try to understand the Qur'an without trying to know the man and prophet it was revealed to - is quite absurd and illogical. The true nature, interpretation and life of the Qur'an can only be understood when we understand the Prophet Muhammad. The Qur'an was never a book without context or a guide; it was always contextual, relevant and deeply spiritual. It is quite an amazing aspect that the Qur'an is to every person what he or she expects of it. To the sectarian zealot, it assures their fervent beliefs; to the pious seeker, it is a journey to his or her beloved; to the critical examiner, it is the epitome of excellence in language and structure; to the rejector, it is incoherent, structureless and empty.