What is the Quran?

The last Book sent by God, which contains no errors, nor was it ever, nor will it ever be distorted. Revealed in Arabic to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who could not recite nor write! The revelation was brought to him by the Angel Gabriel (Jibreel.)

The Qur'an is the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammed through the Angel Gabriel.
Muslims memorize the entire book, thus the Qur'an exists in written form and in the hearts and minds of Muslims.

The Holy Book of Islam, which claims to be God's last revelation to humanity. It is said to have been revealed to Mohammed alone, by the angel Jibrail (Gabriel), who told him to "Recite..." The revelations continued for much of Muhammed's life, but seeing as he was illiterate, he wrote nothing down. Instead, he dictated the revelations to various followers. When he died, these revelations were in the hands of various followers, some of whom were killed in battle and others who died of natural causes. There was a fear that the entire series of revelations would be lost. Another trouble was that there were varying versions of some revelations around, so the second Caliph, Umar, ordered that all revelations still in private hands be brought in and compared. A standard text was established, and all other versions of revelations destroyed. Some of those who had been the keepers of the writings were furious that this was done.
So that you do not think I am making this up, look at this site, which says what I have said, but from an orthodox Muslim point of view:
http://www.quran.net/quran/PreservationOfTheQuran.htm

Below is brief description. A few comparisons with the Bible are quoted as you may be more familiar with it.

The HQ (Holy Qur'an) is believed to be God's own words dictated to Prophet Mohammed rather than God inspiring the authors as in the Bible.

It describes Prophet Mohammed as the last in the chain of prophets which started with Prophet Adam, the first man, and includes Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus among many.

It names itself alQur'an (the Recitation) within the text whereas the Bible being a selection of canonised "books" couldn't and doesn't have a name within its text. Both the compilers of the RC version and the slightly slimmer Protestant versions did not give their compilations a proper name as a result each collection is just referred to as the Bible which simply means the Book.

The HQ names the religion it represents as Islam (submission to God's will) and the believers as Muslims (those who submit to the will of God). If you bear in mind the definition of Muslim you'll find that Jesus himself was a Muslim, as he asserted many times, for example “…My food is to do the will of Him who sent me…” (John 4:34); “I can of myself do nothing…I do not seek my own will but the will of the Father who sent me” (John 5:30)

The Bible is divided into chronologically ordered "books" of the OT and NT, while the HQ, referred to as the LT (last testament) by some, is divided into named Soorahs (chapters) numbered 1 to 114 and arranged in order of length. Longest first, except for the first chapter Soorah Faatiha, The Opening, which is only a few verses long and has been likened by some to the Lord’s Prayer.

Whereas most of the books of the Bible are written in a narrative format the HQ jumps from subject to subject every few verses, except where a story is being related for example Soorah Yousoof (Joseph).

The HQ uses the Arabic word Allah for God which is the same word used in Arabic copies of Bibles. Wherever the word God occurs in the English Bible it appears as Allah in the Arabic Bible. For example “who can forgive sins, but Allah” in Luke 5:21 and “blessed are they that hear the word of Allah” in Luke 11:28. Follow this link for a detailed explanation http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/533224

Other peculiarities of the HQ include the following:
It has a unique style
It addresses the whole of mankind.
It says God will preserve it from corruption.
It says it is the criteria for judging right from wrong
It says it is a quality control for other scriptures
It says it is a guidance for mankind

According to the Canadian scholar in the video below the HQ performs a quality control function on other scriptures setting them right where they've been corrupted by human intervention. This is as stated in HQ 5:48 which says "To thee (Mohammed) We sent the Scripture (the HQ) in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety"

The HQ provides reasonable solutions to certain global issues.

Anyone claiming, for example, that the present HQ is not what was revealed to Prophet Mohammed, that Khalif Uthman had something to gain by making sure it wasn’t, then just let them make their case.

obsolute truth