In the course of this book I have dared to treat Quran only as a book. Although for a Muslim it is much more than that. Simply touching it gives you a unique satisfaction and peace. Then if we study it and imbibe its reaching to our personal lives and the society as a whole it will lead us from one miracle to another. This is true for both in this world and for the life after death. The purpose of this book is to instigate the reader to study the Quran. If I have been successful then after reading this book the reader will immediately:
1. Start reading the Quran: By reading I mean to read in the language one is comfortable in. This is so as to understand it fully. I have done this by trying to remove this mind set that: a. “Quran is very difficult to understand.” b. “You should just recite the Quran and not dare to understand the meaning. Otherwise you will be lead astray if you read the wrong translation or a biased Tafseer.” c. “You have to master Arabic language to understand Quran.” I have tried to address these issues in Chapter-I : “Introduction.”
2. Continue reading and finish the complete book: This is different from the first objective because of a specific reason. We may being to read the Quran, as we begin to read any other book. Then because of the unique nature of this book we may be confused and being to loose interest. This may later on lead us to discontinue reading. I have tried to address this issue in Chapter-II: “Challenge to our mind.” Further in Chapter 3,4 and 5 I have tried to collect verses on similar topics together. So the reader understands the whole topic without having to jump from one place to another. Once he understands this, then the reader knows how to study the Quran further.
3. Applying the teachings of Quran: Once we have cleared these initial hurdles the Quran opens its Magnificent doors to us. We now being to understand the Quran. Step by step we increase our levels.
a. To begin with we learn some basic things about prayer, care for the needy, how to live a perfect social life and so on. We must imbibe them into our personal lives and to the society as a whole. These are compulsory things to be done by all. We are answerable to the State law and above all to our Creator Allah. These verses in the Quran detail the requirements for a perfect society.
b.Then we learn how the learned people in our society should apply their minds. They should probe into the secrets of Nature. They should search for the signs of Allah. Normally only when we understand the functioning of a system them only can we control and master it. If we study Muslim history we know that they have done this in the past. The result was that they were dominating the whole world.
c.Further we learn that Quran has a mystical part too. People who are only seeking “The face of Allah” are addressed. Here we are trying to understand our purpose in life. How we can define Allah and the Prophet (SAW). What is the relationship between them? I leave this to the reader to extract a conclusion for this chapter. I personally feel that these are matters to be understood on a personal level and not to be argued upon. This book is just a drop of knowledge taken from the ocean of the Quran.
-18:109 Say “If the ocean were ink (to write), the words of my Lord. Sooner would be the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it for its aid.
- 31:27 And if all the trees on earth were pens and the oceans (were ink) with seven oceans behind it. To add to its (supply) yet would not the words of Allah be exhausted. For Allah is exalted in power, full of wisdom. But what we can do as is, as is written in - 96:1 “Read in the name of your Lord and Cherisher.” I conclude by saying that all of us must read to understand the Quran. You will really enjoy it. Then when we apply its teaching to our lives we will increase our levels from one step to another.Then we will be on:
- 1:7 “The way of those on whom you have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who do not go astry.” (Amin)