Short answer
The Quran contains 114 surahs (chapters) of different lengths. Its main themes are the oneness of Allah, the stories of earlier prophets, the Day of Judgement and the afterlife, laws for worship and daily life, moral teaching, and duas. It describes itself as guidance and a detailed explanation of all things.
The Quran is the first source of Islamic law. The Hanafi scholars, like the others, derive rulings from its ayat, explained by the Sunnah, consensus and analogy.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran is arranged in 114 surahs, from al-Fatiha, a seven-ayah prayer that opens the book, to al-Nas. The order is not by date: the long Madinan surahs come early and the short Makkan surahs mostly come at the end. It is also divided into 30 equal parts (juz) to make daily reading easier: see the 30 juz and the surah list.
What it talks about:
- Belief: Allah's oneness, His names and attributes, the angels, the revealed books, the prophets and fate. See tawheed.
- Stories of the prophets: Adam, Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa, Yusuf and many others, told for their lessons (12:111). See the prophets.
- The afterlife: death, the grave, resurrection, the reckoning, Paradise and Hell.
- Law: salah, zakat, fasting, Hajj, marriage, divorce, inheritance, trade, food and justice.
- Character: honesty, patience, kindness to parents, mercy to orphans, humility.
- Duas: many of the best duas, such as Rabbana atina, come straight from it.
The Quran says it was sent down as a clarification for all things (16:89). The scholars explain that this means everything people need for guidance is there, either in detail or as a principle explained by the Sunnah. It does not try to be a textbook of science or history, though it points to signs in creation and asks you to reflect on them. Read more in What is the Quran?
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nahl 16:89
وَيَوْمَ نَبْعَثُ فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍۢ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ ۖ وَجِئْنَا بِكَ شَهِيدًا عَلَىٰ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ ۚ وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ تِبْيَٰنًۭا لِّكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ ﴿٨٩﴾
And [mention] the Day when We will resurrect among every nation a witness over them from themselves. And We will bring you, [O Muhammad], as a witness over your nation. And We have sent down to you the Book as clarification for all things and as guidance and mercy and good tidings for the Muslims.
The Quran describes itself as an explanation of all that people need.
Quran, Surah Yusuf 12:111
لَقَدْ كَانَ فِى قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌۭ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ۗ مَا كَانَ حَدِيثًۭا يُفْتَرَىٰ وَلَٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةًۭ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿١١١﴾
There was certainly in their stories a lesson for those of understanding. Never was the Qur'an a narration invented, but a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of all things and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
Its stories carry lessons, and it is guidance and mercy.
Sahih Muslim 1218
Sahih... وقد تركت فيكم ما لن تضلوا بعده إن اعتصمتم به كتاب الله ...
"I have left among you something after which you will not go astray if you hold fast to it: the Book of Allah."
The Quran is the foundation of guidance for the Muslims.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.