Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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The Holy Qur'an - Some basic facts

Respect for ParentsThe Islamic Outlook

ByNasir Shamsi &Sayed A.Razwy

www.alhassanain.org/english

THE HOLY QUR’AN - SOME BASIC FACTS

Notice:

This version is published on behalf of www.alhassanain.org/english

The composing errors are not corrected.

Table of Contents

Book 1: THE HOLY QUR’AN - SOME BASIC FACTS 6

INTRODUCTION 7

Introduction to the Basic Facts 8

Exegesis (TAFSIR) of the Qur’an 17

TRANSLATIONS OF QURAN 18

Book 2: RESPECT FOR PARENTS – THE ISLAMIC OUTLOOK 21

Introduction 22

Relationship of Children to Parents in Islam 23

Hadithe Qudsi 28

Traditions of the Masoomeen 29

HADITH OF THE PROPHET OF ISLAM 29

AMIRUL MOMINEEN ALI IBN ABI TALIB 31

Janabe Fatima Zahra (SA) 32

Imam Muhammad Baqir (AS) 34

Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) 35

Anecdotes 36

The Distinction of the Father 38

THE DISTINCTION OF THE MOTHER 39

Supplication of the 4th Imam 40

THE SUPPLICATION OF IMAM ZAYNUL ABIDIN (AS) 40

FOR HIS OWN PARENTS (PBUH) 40

A Women's role as a mother has especial sanctity 43

Book 1: THE HOLY QUR’AN - SOME BASIC FACTS

INTRODUCTION

The Quran is the last revealed Book of Allah. It is a word-by-word record of Allah's communication with Prophet Muhammad, His last Messenger on earth. The Divine Message

called Revelation (Wahi ), was brought by the ArchangelJibrail (Gabriel) from time to time over a period of 23 years.

It is fully established by tradition and research that the Quran, in its present shape and form, was arranged in the lifetime of the Prophet in his own supervision. The Message was received by the Prophet as a Divine instruction to guide him as well as the people in specific situations, or as a response to the non-believers' objections. These Messages received at different times, were placed immediately in a particular Chapter (Sura ) by the scribes as advised by the Prophet. There is consensus of Islamic scholars that the Quran in its present shape and form has existed through the centuries, without any change or alteration and there is no doubt about its authenticity.

The present book is intended to provide the facts about the Quran to the students. It is hoped however, that other readers will also find it useful, and it will help them in their understanding of the Quran.

NASIR SHAMSI

Jackson NJ

Introduction to the Basic Facts

The Basic Facts on the Quran are culled from the Quran itself. It is also in a sense, the thumb-nail 'history' of the Quran, and the history of its translations. The history of the translations of the Quran is adapted from the translation and commentary of the Quran by A. Yusuf Ali.

I hope that the students of the Quran will find this modest attempt interesting.

Quran is the Manifesto of Islam.

Islam is the world's only major monotheistic religion that is also a total political system, complete with rules of law, a system of government, and an economic infrastructure.

Islam is not the religion of Muhammad, the Messenger of God (may God bless him and hisAhle Bayt ). It is the religion of surrender to God's Will -the surrender implicit in the submission of Abraham (Ibrahim) and his sonIsmael , in the supreme test -the attempted sacrifice expressed in the wordaslama .

TAUHEED or belief in the Oneness ofGod, is the central doctrine of Islam. All of Islam revolves aroundTauheed It is the first Article of Faith in Islam, and is summed up in the 112th Chapter of the Quran (Sura Ikhlas ) or (of Faith), which reads as follows:

"SAY; HE IS GOD, THE ONE AND ONLY;

GOD, THE ETERNAL, ABSOLUTE;

HE BEGETTETH NOT NOR IS HE BEGOTTEN,.

AND THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO HIM. "

Etymologically the term Quran simply means 'reading'Or 'reciting'. Theologically it means the Word of God Almighty.

Quran, the Divine Book of Islam, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and hisAhle Bayt ), for the guidance of mankind, for all times to come. The Quran is the last and final revelation.

The first Revelation was brought to Prophet Muhammad by the Archangel Gabriel. The Prophet was 40 years old when this occurred. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, forty years after the Year of the Elephant (570 AD),Or thirteen years before theHijra (the migration of the Prophet fromMakkah to Medina in 622 AD). He was in the cave ofHira when he received the first Revelation.Hira is a caveOn a hill, three mile north-east ofMakkah in Arabia.

The first Revelation consisted of the following five verses:

'READ! IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD AND CHERISHER,

WHO CREATED - CREATED MAN,

OUT OF A (MERE) CLOT OF CONGEALED BLOOD,

READ! AND YOUR LORD IS MOST BOUNTIFUL,

HE WHO TAUGHT (THE USE OF) THE PEN,

TAUGHTMAN THAT HE KNEW NOT.”

These five verses are at the beginning of the 96thSura or Chapter of the Quran. The Chapter is calledlqraa (Read or Proclaim), orAlaq (the clot of congealed blood).

The last verse of the Quran which was revealed to Muhammad, the Apostle of Allah, was the following one:

"THIS DA Y I HA VE PERFECTED YOUR RELIGION FOR YOU,

COMPLETED MY FAVOR UPON YOU,

AND HAVE CHOSEN FOR YOU ISLAM AS YOUR RELIGION.”

This clause occurs in the 4th verse of the fifth chapter Al-Maida (the Table Spread) of the Quran. It was revealed on the plain ofGhadir .

On the 18th ofZilhajj of 10 AH, a date which corresponds to March 21, 632, when the Prophet had completed the Farewell Pilgrimage, and was returning fromMakkah to Medina.

Since God Himself perfected Islam, it is not subject to any modification by anyone; it is impervious to change for all time. But Islam allows flexibility in the interpretation of its laws.

After the revelation of this Verse, the Prophet ofIslam, lived another 80 days in the world. No other revelation came to him during those eighty days. The Message was complete; the religion had been perfected. The Revelation had thus ended forever.

The openingSura (chapter) of the Quran is Al-Fatiha . It is indeed the essence of Quran. It consists of seven verses. Recited at least seventeen times daily in the five daily prayers by every man and woman, old and young, this is the most recited prayer in the world. It is most inspiring to dwell upon each word of this miraculous revelation.

Sura Al-Baqr (the Cow), is the second Chapter in Quran. It is the longest Chapter in the Book and contains 286 verses. Also, its verse282, is the longest verse of the Quran.

Ayat Al-Kursi (the Verse of' the Thorne), the 255th verse, also occurs in theSura Baqr . It is one of the most important verses of the Quran, repeatedly recited by the Muslims forthawab (blissful reward).

AJ-Baqr is also important because it encompasses the bulk of Islamic jurisprudence.

The second longest Chapter in the Quran is the 26th Chapter,Shuaraa (the Poets), with 227 verses; the third longest is the 7th Chapter,Araf , (the Heights), with 206 verses; and the fourth longest is the 3rd Chapter, AJ-Imran , with 200 verses.

The following three shortSuras consists of three verses each.

I. Al-Asr ( Time) Chapter 103

2. Al-Kauthar ( Abundance) Chapter 108

3. Al-Nasr ( Help) Chapter 110

Al-Kauthar is the shortestSura .

The Quran was completed in 23 years- from 610 AD to 632 AD.

The Quran is divided into 30 parts; it is sub-divided into 114 Sums. TheSuras is designated asMakkan orMadinite according to where it was revealed. The number ofMakkan Suras (those revealed inMakkah ) is 70, whereas the number ofMadinite Suras ( those revealed in Medina) is 44.

Quran has 338,606 letters (huruf ); 86,430 words (kalemat ); and 6,666 verses (ayat ). It has 39,582 signs ofkasra (zer ); 53242fatha (zabar ) and 8804zammar (pesh ). It has 1252tashdeed , 1771madda and 105,684 dots. It is the basis of religion, and the canon of ethical and moral life. It is also the first prose book in Arabic. Its style is Divine, and inimitable. It is one of the greatest miracles.

The followingSuras (Chapters) have been named after the Prophets:

1.Yunus Chapter 10

2.Hud Chapter 11

3. Yusuf Chapter 12

4. Ibrahim Chapter 14

5.Luqman Chapter 31

6. Muhammad Chapter 47

7.Nuh Chapter 71

We are not sure ifHazrat Luqman was a Prophet as the traditions vary.

Janabe Mary orMaryam , the mother of Prophet Jesus (Isa) (peace be upon them), is the only woman mentioned by name in the Quran. The 19th Chapter of the Quran -Maryam - is named after her.Zaid is the only companion of the last Prophet, mentioned by name in the Quran.

Sura Anam (the Cattle), is the sixth Chapter of the Quran. It has the names of 18 Prophets in four consecutive verses.

The following 28 Prophets have been mentioned by their names in Quran:

Adam

2.Nuh (Noah)

Ibrahim (Abraham)

4.Ismael

Isaac (Ishaq )

Yaqub (Yaqub )

Yusuf (Goseph )

Al-Yasa (Elisha)

Yunus

Lut

Saleh

Hud

Shuaib

Dawud (David)

Sulayman (Solomon)

Dhul-Kifl (Issiah )

Idris (Enoch)

Ilias (Alias)

Zakariya f

Yahya Gohn )

Ayub Gob)

Musa (Moses)

Haroon (Aaron)

Isa (Jesus)

Uzair (Ezra)

Luqman

Zulqarnayn

Muhammad

Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), has been called '8 friend of Al1ah;The verse 125 of theSuratun Nisaa or the Women, (Chapter 4), reads as follows:

"Who can he better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, doesgood , and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith! For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.”

Prophet Abraham had two sons. "The younger son s progeny developed the Faith of Israel and that of Christ; the elder son’s progeny perfected the more universal Faith of Islam, the Faith of Abraham the True.” (A.Yusuf Ali).

Prophet Moses (Musa), was honored by Allah Who spoke to him directly, The verse 164 of theSuratun Nisaa or the Women, (Chapter 4), reads as follows:

"Of some ApostlesWe have already told you the story;

Of othersWe have not; and to Moses Allah spoke direct.”

The name of Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and hisAhle Bayt ) has been honored in Quran in the following verses:

1 ." O Prophet! TrulyWe have sent you as a Witness,

A Bearer of Glad Tidings, and a Warner,

2, “And as one who invites to Allah’s (Grace) by His leave,

And as a Lamp spreading Light.” (Chapter 33; Verses 45 and 46)

3, "We have not sent you hut as a universal (Messenger) to men,

Giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), hut most men do not understand.” (Chapter 34; Verse 28)

4, "Muhammad is not the father of any of your men,

But (he is) the Apostle of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets,

And Allah has full knowledge of all things.” (Chapter 33; Verse 40)

5, "We have sent you not, hut as a Mercy for all creature." (Chapter 21; Verse 107)

The name of Prophet, Muhammad occurs in Quran in the following five verses:

Chapter 3, Verse 144

Chapter 33, Verse 40

Chapter 47, Verse 2

Chapter 48, Verse 29

Chapter 61, Verse 6 (as Ahmad)

Among all the contemporaries of the last Prophet of Islam, only two men have been mentioned by name in the Quran, They areZayd binHaritha and AbuLahab , They are cited in the following verses:

1. “Then whenZayd (hin Haritha ) had dissolved (his marriage) with her,

With the necessary (formality),We joined her in marriage to thee:”

(Chapter 33Ahzah , or the Confederates; Verse 37)

2. "Perish the hands ofAhu Lahah (the Father of the Flame)! Perishhe !"

(Chapter 111; Verse 1)

In the Quran:

Adam is mentioned 25 times,Idris twice,Nuh 49times,Hud 8 times,Saleh 9 time, Ibrahim 49 times,Ismael 12 time,Ishaaq 17 time,Yaqub 16 times, Yusuf 27 time,Lut 27 time,Ayub 4 times,Shoaib 11 times, Musa 133 times (the most mentioned name of a Prophet),Haroon 19 times,Dawood 16 times,Sulayman 17 times,Yahya 7 times, Isa 36 times,Uzair once, Al-Yasa twice,Dhul-Kifl twice,Yunus 6 times,Ilias 3 times andZakariah 7 time.

May Allah's peace be upon all ofthem.

The firstAyat of the Quran:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim , has 19 Arabic alphabets, It is interesting to note that whereas every chapter of the Quran starts with thisAyat (Bismillah ), except forSura Tauba , allKalemats (sentences) of the Quran, have one or more out of the 19 alphabet ofBismillah except for oneKalima , ‘Qad Saghat ’ inAyat 4 of the 66thSura ,Tahreen .

The Quran is called in its own text -by 55 titles according to Al-Suyuti's book,Itqaan . Some of these titles are given here under with their meanings:

1. Al-Kitab . The Book

2. Al-Quran: The Reading

3. Al-Mubin : The Enlightener

4. Al-Kalam : The Word

5. Al-Burhan : The Proof

6. An-Noor : The Light

7. Al-Huda: The Guide

8.Az-Zik : The Reminder

9. Ash-Shifa : The Healing

10. Al-Hikmah : The Wisdom

11. Al-Ali: The Lofty

12.Ar-Rahman : The Mercy

13. Al-Bayan : The Explanation

14. Al-Balagh :The Me sage

The name of Allah (swt ) has used His Name, Allah, in the Quran 2698 times,Rahman 57 times,Rahim 114 times and Ism 19 times. These numbers are other thanBismillahir Rahmanir Rahim .

Sura Mujadilah is the onlySura of the Quran, where in each verse (Ayat ), the name of' Allah has been mentioned.

Whereas the longest verse (Ayat ) of Quran is Verse 282 ofSura Al-Baqr , the shortest verse is Verse 21 ofSura Mudathir .

There are 29 letters in the Arabic alphabet( counting hamza andalif as two letters), and there are 29Suras (chapters) which have abbreviated letters prefixed to them.

The core doctrines of Islam are summed up in the following verses:

1. "O you who believe! Believe in Allah, and His Apostle, and the scripture which He has sent to His Apostle and the scripture which He sent to those before (him}. Any who denies Allah, His angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the Day of Judgment, has gone far, far astray."

(Chapter 4; Verse 136)

2. "But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge, and the Believers, believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you and (especially) those who establish regular prayer and practice regular charity and believe in Allah and in the Last Day: to them We shall soon give a great reward.”

(Chapter 4; Verse 162)

3, "The Believers, men and women, are protectors, One of another: they enjoin what is lust, and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey Allah and His Apostle,On them Allah will pour His mercy: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.”

(Chapter 9; Verse 71)

4, "But it is righteousness -to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; tohe steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic, Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.”

(Chapter 2;Verse 177)

The mission of the Prophet of Islam has been delineated in the following verse:

“A similar (favor you have already received) in that We have sent among you as Apostle of your own, rehearsing to you Our Signs, and sanctifying you, and instructing you in Scripture and Wisdom, and in new Knowledge.”

(Chapter 2; Verse 151)

According to this verse, Muhammad Mustafa (S) had to carry out the following duties as the Messenger of Allah:

1, Rehearsing the Signs of Allah;

2, Sanctifying the Muslims through Faith and Good Works, Most important of the Good Works are the five daily canonical prayers of Islam, regular charity, and the duty of commanding others to do good, and forbidding them from doing wrong;

3. Instructing the Muslims in Scripture and good sense; and

4. Imparting new Knowledge to the Muslims.

Islam is the greatest leveler of political, social and economic inequalities, and ethnic and national distinctions, as we read in the following verse:

"O MANKIND! WE CREATED YOU FROM A SINGLE (PAIR) OF A

MALE AND A FEMALE, AND MADE YOU INTO NATIONS AND

TRIBES, THAT YE MAY KNOW EACH OTHER (not that ye may

despise each other}. VERILY THE MOST HONORED OF YOU IN

THE SIGHT OF ALLAH IS (he who is) THE MOST RIGHTEOUS OF

YOU AND ALLAH HAS FULL KNOWLEDGE AND IS WELL

ACQUAINTED (with allthing )."

(Chapter 49; Verse 13)

This verse is addressed to all mankind and not only to the Muslim brotherhood. The tribes, races and nations are convenient labels by which we may know certain differing characteristics. Before God they are all one, and he gets mosthonor who is most righteous. (A. YusufAli )

There is no question now of race or nation, of a 'chosen people' or the 'seed of Abraham'; or the 'seed of David'; or of HinduArya-varta ; of Jew or Gentile, Arab or 'Ajam (Persian), Turk or Tajik, European or Asiatic, White Or Colored; Aryan, Semitic, Mongolian, or African; or American, Australian, or Polynesian. To all men and creatures other than men who have any spiritual responsibility, the principles universally apply. (A. Yusuf Ali)

Each Chapter of the Quran begins withBismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (in the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful) except forSura Tauha (Repentance) orBeraa (Immunity) - the 9th Chapter.

ThisSura was a notable declaration of State policy promulgated about the month of Shawwal, 9 AH( 630 AD ). The Messenger of Allah selected Aliibn Abi Talib to promulgate this importantSura (Chapter).

MuhammadHusayn Haykal , the Egyptian biographer of the Prophet of Islam, writes in his The Life of Muhammad, about the promulgation of this chapter, as follows:

“Aliibn Abi Talib was entrusted by the Prophet with the duty to proclaim the commandments of God and His Prophet. When the pilgrims congregated at Mina, Ali rose, and delivered all these verses fromSurah Al-Taubah . After he finished his recitation of the Qur'an, he continued in his own words: "O men, no unbeliever will enter paradise; no polytheist will perform pilgrimage after this year; and no naked man will be allowed to circumambulate theKaaba . Whoever has entered into a covenant with the Apostle of Allah will have his covenant fulfilled as long as its term lasts." Ali proclaimed these four instructions to the people and then gave everybody four month of general peace and amnesty during which anyone could return safely home. From that time on no polytheist performed the pilgrimage and no naked man circumambulated theKaaba . From that day onwards, the Islamic State was established."

Each chapter of the Quran begins withBismillahir Rahmanir Rahim (in the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful) except for theSura Tauba (Repentance) orBerat (Immunity), the 9th Chapter.

Sura Naml (the Ants), the 27th Chapter of the Quran, has twoBismillahs , one at the beginning, and one in Verse 30.

Ramadan (the 9th month of the Islamic calendar) is the only month mentioned in the Quran. The name occurs in Verse 85 ofSura Baqr (the secondSura ).

Friday is the only day mentioned in the Quran.Sura 62 has been titledJumaa (Friday).

The names of the following cities or countries or places have been mentioned in the Quran:

Mt. Sinai Chapter 2; Verse 93

Babylon Chapter 2;Verse 102

Arafat Chapter 2; Verse 198

Bakka orMakkah Chapter 3; Verse 96

Badr Chapter 3; Verse 123

Hunain Chapter 9; Verse 25

Egypt Chapter 10; Verse 87

Egypt Chapter 12; Verse 21

Mt. Judi Chapter 11; Verse 44

Valley ofTuwa Chapter 20; Verse 12

Madyan Chapter 28; Verse 45

Mountain ofTur Chapter 28; Verse 46

Rome (Rum) Chapter 30; Verse 2

Yathrib Chapter 33; Verse 13

Saba Chapter 34; Verse 15

Makkah Chapter 48; Verse 24

The following eatables and drinks have been mentioned in the Quran:

Manna andSalwa Chapter 2; Verse 57

Pot - herbs, Cucumbers, Garlic, Lentils, Onions Chapter 2; Verse 61

Date - palms and Vines Chapter 2; Verse 266

Meat Chapter 5; Verse 2

Grain, Grapes, Olives and Pomegranates Chapter 6; Verse 99

Corn Chapter 13; Verse 4

Fish Chapter 16; Verse 14

Milk Chapter 16; Verse 66

Honey Chapter 47; Verse 15

Water Chapter 47; Verse 15

Wine Chapter 47; Verse 15

Ginger (Zanjahil ) Chapter 76; Verse 17

Wine (pure and holy) Chapter 76; Verse 21

Corn and Vegetables Chapter 78; Verse 15

Fig Chapter 95; Verse 1

The following colors have been mentioned in the Quran:

White, Red, and Black Chapter 35; Verse 27

Green (Tree ) Chapter 36; Verse 80

Pink (or Red) Chapter 55; Verse 37

Dark Green Chapter 55; Verse 64

Green (Garments) Chapter 76; Verse 21

Ya -Sin or the 36thSura of theQuran, is particularly devoted to the last Prophet and the Revelation which he brought. The abbreviated lettersYa -Sin are usually construed as a title of the holy Prophet. ..ThisSura is considered to be 'the heart of the Quran; as it concerns the central figure in the teaching of Islam and the central doctrine of Revelation and the Hereafter. As referring to the Hereafter, it is appropriately read in solemn ceremonies after death. (A.Yusuf Ali)

The first Chapter of the Quran revealed in Medina, was Al-Baqr , the secondSura .

The last Chapter of the Quran revealed inMakkah , wasTatifif , the 83rdSura .

The Treaty ofHudayhiyya has been called The Manifest Victory (Fathe Mobin ) in the following verse of the Quran: "VerilyWe have granted you a Manifest Victory."( Chapter 48; Verse 1 )

"By this Treaty theMeccan Quraish , after many years of unrelenting conflict with Islam, Bt length recognized Islam BS( what they thought) an equal power with themselves. In reality thedoor was then opened for the free spread of Islam throughout Arabia and thence through the world." ( A.Yusuf Ali)

The Treaty ofHudaybiyya is the most important political document in the entire history of Islam. TheSecretary who was chosen by the Prophet of Islam for indicting its terms, was Aliibn Abi Talib .

The Treaty ofHudaybiyya was signed inZilqaad 6 AH (February 628).

There are 29 letters in the Arabic alphabet( counting hamza andalif as two letters), and there are 29Suras (Chapters) which have abbreviated letters prefixed to them. These abbreviated letters are calledMuqattaat .

Exegesis (TAFSIR) of the Qur’an

The principal exponent of the exegesis( explanation or critical interpretation of a text) of the Quran was Abdullahibn Abbas ibn AbdulMuttalib . He was the cousin of the last Prophet and Aliibn Abi Talib .

Reynold A. Nicholson says in his book, A Literary History of the Arabs: "The real founder ofKoranic Exegesis was “Ahdullah b.Abbas ”. Abdullahibn Abbas was a pupil of Aliibn Abi Talib and learned all the sciences of Quran from him.

TRANSLATIONS OF QURAN

Latin was the first language in which the Quran was translated. In 1143, the Catholic monk,Robertus Cetenensis (Robert theMoine ), who lived in Spain and knew Arabic, translated the Quran into Latin. This first translation was published only in 1543 at Basel, Switzerland, and the publisher wasBibliander .

Maracci produced in 1689 a Latin version of the Quran.Maracci was a Confessor to Pope Innocent XI; and he dedicated his work to the holy Roman Emperor Leopold I.

Schweigger's German translation was published atNurenburg (Bavaria) in 1616.

A French translation by DuRyer was published at Paris in 1647.

A Russian translation was published at St. Petersburg in 1776. A second translation by G.S.Sablukov was published in Kazan in 1878. Another translation byKrachkovskii was published in 1963.

The first English translation -by Alexander Ross - was published in London in 1649. It was a translation of the first French translation of DuRyer of 1647, and bore the title - TheAlcoran of Mahomet, "translated out ofArabique into French and nowEnglished , for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities.”

George Sale published his translation in 1734. He based it onMaracci's Latin version.

J. M.Rodwell's translation was published in 1861. In his translation, he restored a chronological order of verses.

Edward H. Palmer's translation was first published in 1880 in The Sacred Books of the East series.

Richard Bell published his translation with a critical rearrangement of theSura .", (Edinburgh, 1937-39), and he applied the methods of 'higher criticism' to the Quran.

Richard Bell's posthumous Introduction to the Qur’an contains important discussions of many questions concerning the form, composition, chronology and textual history of the Qur'an.

Arthur J.Arberry's translation, The Koran Interpreted, was published in London in 1955. It has a literary distinction for overall effect in spontaneous reading.

N. J.Dawood's translation was published in 1956. It is a free translation and easy to read for non-Muslims.

The earliest Urdu (the language of the East -with countries as India and Pakistan), translation was made by Shah AbdulQadir of Delhi who died in 1826. He was the son of the famousMuhaddith of Delhi, ShahWaliullah , and the brother of Shah Abdul Aziz who died in 1824.

The first Muslim to undertake an English translation of the Quran was Dr. Muhammad Abdul Hakim Khan, of Patiala (East Punjab, India). His translation was published in 1905.

Maulvi Muhammad Ali's translation of the Quran was first published in 1917. It has explanatory matter in the notes and a fairly complete index.

Marmaduke Pickthall , an English Muslim, published the Quran with Arabic text and English translation, entitled The Meaning of the Glorious Quran, in 1930.

Only a small portion of the Quran takes the form of legal prescriptions -some 600 verses inall, and of this number only about 80 can be considered legislation in the strict sense. Theremainder deal with religious duties, with the rituals of prayer, fasting and pilgrimage and so on. Most of theQur’anic verse.." relate to the general ethical principle.." and day-to-day life of human beings on this planet, i.e.,Muamalat .

Quran was revealed through events in the midst of war and peace and under the varying conditions of political, economic and social life. It talks of human life - of glary and fulfillment when men responded to the Divine Will, and of tragedy when they disregarded the Divine Will. Quran is, therefore, anethico - religious and a socio-political document.

The essential value of the Quran lies in its ability to encourage every individual to enter the sanctuary of personal communion with God; to receive a vivid sense of the Divine Presence in daily living; and its centrality in terms of authority, tradition and reason.

Rallying to God and tuning our will with His Universal Will is another name for Islam.

Mercy is the predominant feature in God's universe. "He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Enforcement of the Muslim Brotherhood is the greatest social ideal of Islam. On it was based the Prophet's Sermon at his last pilgrimage, and Islam cannot be completely realized until this ideal is achieved. (A. Yusuf Ali)

"THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT A SINGLE BROTHERHOOD:

SO MAKE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION BETWEEN YOUR

TWO (CONTENDING) BROTHERS; AND

FEAR GOD, THAT YE MAY RECEIVE MERCY"

(Chapter 49; Verse 10)

Islam holds fast to the one central fact in the spiritual world, the unity of God, and all Reality springing from Him and Him alone. There can be no one and nothing in competition with that one and only Reality.

It is the essence of Truth. All other ideas or existence, including our perception of Self, are merely relative, -mere projections from the wonderful faculties which He has given to us. This is not, to us, mere hypothesis. It is in our inmost experience. In the physical world, they say that seeingis believing . In our inner world this sense of God is as clear as

sight in the physical world. Therefore, Mustafa and those who really follow him in the truest sense of the word, callall the world to see this Truth, feel this experience, follow this Way. They will never be distracted by metaphysical speculations, whose validity will always be doubtful, nor be deluded with phantoms which lead men astray. (A. Yusuf Ali)

Quran presents a lucid conception of Allah and His attributes. He is a Transcendent Being, Infinite, Eternal, Arbitrary, and Absolute Ruler of the Universe. His existence is absolute, and not conditioned by Time or Place. Quran lays great stress upon Faith and Good Works, and upon giving priority and preference to the Hereafter. It constantly reminds Muslims of the Day of Judgment and their accountability before Allah.

Its main teachings focuses on:

a. Sovereignty of God, and

b. Obedience to the Messenger of God, Muhammad Mustafa, the blessed one, and that,

c. Human salvation through compliance (Atuya ) with Divine Orders,

d. Code of Life,

c. The believers by their self-surrender toGod, can obtain eternal Felicity. They must dedicate themselves to Him entirely and without reserve.

For the believers, the Quran is the key - to the door of proximity to Allah; success in this world, and salvation in the Hereafter.

Book 2: RESPECT FOR PARENTS – THE ISLAMIC OUTLOOK

Introduction

Respect for parents is a norm as well as a requirement in every society .Even the primitive cultures mandated respect for parents. The unit of the family, which forms the basispf human development revolves around an intrinsic love and respect between the parents and children. The discipline and coherence that resulted from this uniquerelationship, and the accompanying altruistic love essentially forms the basis of all later developments into higher institutions, the clan, the society and ultimately the state. Interestingly the animal kingdom also shows this sublime characteristic with the humans.

The parents and children's relationship is reciprocally based on mutual love and respect. This relationship is the key to the individual happiness as well as the collective success of a society.

The Western society has been able to achieve a relative material prosperity .But in the rat race thatfollowed, the family as a unit started decaying. The moral values diminished. Today the West is confused. It is unable to handle the problems resulting from the epidemic of divorce and the broken homes, illegitimate births and the single parent family,anew phenomenon of this century .The children, born in adverse and unnatural environment and deprived of love, turn into psychotics and criminals. The West has no solution to the chaos, the problem of violent crime and the fast disintegrating family unit.

The time has come for the humanity to submit to the will of the Creator, the one and only one God. While the West finds itself in the darkness, there is light at the end of the tunnel and that light is the Quran and its eternal Message which provides solutions to all human problems.

This small booklet translated from the original Urdu text is one of the series ofPyame Aman Publications. An attempt has been made by the author to put together in a small volume, theQur’anic injunctions, the Traditions of the Prophet and the Sayings of the Imams on the subject in hand. For the benefit of the readers,Pyame Aman has added toward the end, the famousDua of the 4th Imam. While we sincerely believe the Muslims as well as non-Muslims will benefit from this book, I most humbly conclude here, with an excerpt from the supplication of the 4th Imam, which is beautiful and sublime..

“ O God,

Lower before Them (Parents), My Voice,

Make Agreeable to Them my Words,

Make Mild before Them my Temper,

MakeTender toward them My Heart,

and

Turn Me into their Companion,

Their Loving Friend!"

NASIR SHAMSI

Jackson, NJ