The Quran ("Qor-Ann") is a Message from Allah to humanity. It was
transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself to the
angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This message was given to the
Prophet (PBUH) in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE
to 632 CE). The Prophet (PBUH) was 40 years old when the Quran began to be
revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed. The language
of the original message was Arabic, but so far it has been translated into many
other languages.
The Quran is one of the two sources which form the basis of Islam. The second source is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw). What makes the Qur'an different from the Sunnah is primarily its form. Unlike the Sunnah, the Qur'an is literally the Word of Allah (PBUH), whereas the Sunnah was inspired by Allah but the wording and actions are the Prophet's (saw). The Quran has not been expressed using any human's words. Its wording is letter for letter fixed by no one but Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (saw) was the final Messenger of Allah to humanity, and therefore the Qur'an is the last Message which Allah (PBUH) has sent to us. Its predecessors such as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels have all been superseded. It is an obligation - and blessing - for all who hear of the Qur'an and Islam to investigate it and evaluate it for them selves. Allah (PBUH) has guaranteed that He will protect the Qur'an from human tampering, and today's readers can find exact copies of it all over the world. The Quran of today is the same as the Quran revealed to Muhammad (saw) 1400 years ago.