Al-Risala (English), February 1984

Belief in God God is the source of all goodness. He can be seen everywhere in the universe. His power is evident in the form of light and heat. He converts matter into greenery and flowing water. His glory is made manifest in colour, taste and fragrance. Motion and magnetism are evidence of His strength. Belief in a God of such perfection is more than just a dogma. It illuminates man’s soul and enraptures his heart. If one relishes a delicious fruit, and goes into ecstasy on hearing a tuneful melody, how then can one fail to be moved by the discovery of God, who is the fountainhead of all goodness. When one truly discovers God, He becomes like a fragrance which one savours, a delicious taste which one relishes, a spectacle which captivates one’s vision, a melody which never ceases to thrill. God has created all these exquisite delights: His being is their treasure house. Drawing close to God is like entering paradise. It is like dwelling in a garden of exquisite beauty and fragrance, or being in the neighbourhood of the source of all light. □ (From The Garden of Paradise) Invited to India to Invite to Islam The first translation of the Quran was made by order of a Hindu Raja. In 892 A.D. the Raja of Sind, Mahroug, wrote to the Muslim Amir of Mansura, Abdullah Ibn Umar, asking him to send someone who could inform his people of the teachings of Islam. An Iraqi youth, who had been brought up in India and was acquainted with local languages, was in Mansura at that time. The Amir of Mansura sent him to the Raja. He stayed there for three years and, at the Raja’s request, translated the Quran into Hindi. He used to read his translation out in the Raja’s presence every day. □