The word(s) "former" appears 17 time(s) in 17 verse(s) in Quran in Muhammad Pickthal translation.

(1) The foolish of the people will say: What hath turned them from the qiblah which they formerly observed? Say: Unto Allah belong the East and the West. He guideth whom He will unto a straight path.

(2) Thus We have appointed you a middle nation, that ye may be witnesses against mankind, and that the messenger may be a witness against you. And We appointed the qiblah which ye formerly observed only that We might know him who followeth the messenger, from him who turneth on his heels. In truth it was a hard (test) save for those whom Allah guided. But it was not Allah's purpose that your faith should be in vain, for Allah is Full of Pity, Merciful toward mankind.

(3) Lo! religion with Allah (is) the Surrender (to His Will and Guidance). Those who (formerly) received the Scripture differed only after knowledge came unto them, through transgression among themselves. Whoso disbelieveth the revelations of Allah (will find that) lo! Allah is swift at reckoning.

(4) And as for those who make (men) keep the Scripture, and establish worship - lo! We squander not the wages of reformers.

(5) He said: Grasp it and fear not. We shall return it to its former state.

(6) And they say: If only he would bring us a miracle from his Lord! Hath there not come unto them the proof of what is in the former scriptures?

(7) And when he would have fallen upon the man who was an enemy unto them both, he said: O Moses! Wouldst thou kill me as thou didst kill a person yesterday. Thou wouldst be nothing but a tyrant in the land, thou wouldst not be of the reformers.

(8) And He is Allah; there is no Allah save Him. His is all praise in the former and the latter (state), and His is the command, and unto Him ye will be brought back.

(9) Within ten years - Allah's is the command in the former case and in the latter - and in that day believers will rejoice

(10) Saving our former death, and are we not to be punished?