ASK MAULANA

he thought was the gist of the Quran. He said that he read the Quran for receiving heavenly reward and not to derive meaning by studying it. This is generally the case of those who read or recite the Quran. The true spirit of Islam would be inculcated in Muslims if they read the Quran so that they understand its meaning and follow its import. Is there any reward for the mere recitation of the Quran? The giving of reward is entirely upon God, but mere recitation of the Quran is not the right way to seek reward. No Companion of the Prophet believed in this concept. You must either understand Arabic or read the Quran along with the translation so that you can understand the Quran, follow its teachings and become deserving of rewards. Time and again you emphasize the difference between Islam and Muslims. Kindly give a simple understanding of this difference. Islam is the name of an ideology of life given by the Quran. It means ‘to submit’. An adherent of Islam is expected to imbibe the tenets of this ideology and lead life in accordance with its principles. The word ‘Muslim’ translates to ‘one who submits’. However, given the freedom a person enjoys, one may sometimes follow the principles of Islam and at other times may simply follow one’s desires. Therefore, it must be understood that Islam and Muslims are different. The actions of Muslims must be judged in the light of Islamic teachings, but Islam must never be judged on the basis of actions of Muslims. o Our Vernacular Websites www.cpsmarathi.com www.cpstamil.com www.cpskannada.com www.cpsmalayalam.com