How Orality and Shared Cultural Context Shape the Nature of the Quran Adis Duderija For over a millennium, the Quran has resonated across continents and cultures, its verses shaping the lives of billions. Yet, to truly grasp the nature of this profound text, we must move beyond the static image of the written word and immerse ourselves in the vibrant world of its genesis: a world steeped in orality and defined by a shared cultural understanding. George Archer’s “ The Prophet’s Whistle: Late Antique Orality, Literacy, and the Quran” offers a compelling lens through which to understand the Quran not merely as a book, but as a dynamic oral performance deeply interwoven with the social, cognitive, and technological landscape of its time. Archer’s work underscores a fundamental truth often overlooked in contemporary engagement with the Quran: it was “made to be said, not read”. As William A. Graham, cited by Archer, aptly states, “in Muslim piety...the written w...