Quran Pocket Guide

These copies of the Quran, made with extraordinary care and precision, were passed on from generation to generation until the age of the press dawned. Many printing presses were then established in the Muslim world, where the beautiful calligraphy of the scriptures was reproduced after its content had been certified by memorisers of the Quran. Thus, once again, with the help of the memorised versions and written texts, correct, authentic copies were prepared; then with the publication of these copies on a large scale, the Quran spread all over the world. It is an irrefutable fact acknowledged by the orientalists, that any copy of the Quran found in any part of the world at any time will be exactly the same as that handed down to the Muslims by the Prophet in his last days, arranged in the form still extant today. The Teachings of the Quran The Characteristics of a Believer Faith is the discovery of the greatest reality. When this reality enters into any one’s heart, it shakes one’s whole personality. The state of one so affected is that when he is reminded of a truth, he immediately accepts it. Discovering God as Omnipotent naturally engenders within him the quality of trust. Higher qualities of every kind naturally come into existence in such a person. He becomes, on the one hand, a true devotee of God and, on the other hand a true friend and well-wisher of other human beings. Dawah Work The Prophet’s mission is also the mission of the followers of Islam. While treading this path, one has to face trouble from the people in getting support; while some give timely support, they later desert, uttering falsehoods. Under these circumstances, it was Trust in God alone which kept the Prophet (or his followermissionaries) firmly on the true path of their missionary work. To be tolerant of whatever is negative in the people, to ignore it and under all circumstances to keep one’s eyes fixed on God: these are the real assets of one who performs work. Comfort for the Heart What is comfort of the heart? It is the solace a man feels when he achieves what he wanted to achieve. On the contrary, discomfort of the heart is felt when a man is deprived of whatever he had a desire in his heart to achieve. When a man remembers God and his relations with Him are established on a spiritual level, this amounts to complete fulfillment for his entire personality. When he ponders over the signs of the universe, he finds a response to his intellectual needs. This is that supreme experience, which is expressed in this verse as ‘comfort of the heart.’ Usefulness “He sends down water from the sky that fills riverbeds to overflowing, each according to its measure. The torrent carries along swelling form, akin to what rises from smelted ore from which man makes ornaments and tools. God thus depicts truth and falsehood. The scum is cast away, but whatever is of use to man remains behind. God thus speaks in parable.” (Al-Ra‘d 13:17) An individual has to be useful to his family. Similarly, he has to be useful to his society. Without benefiting others, he will find a place of respect neither in the family nor in society. This is also true of national and international life. Here too, only those will be accorded respect who can prove their utility. There are two types of usefulness– one in the material sense and the other in the moral sense. But the greatest benefit that a group or an individual can offer others is to present them with the gift of truth.