FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Prof. Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof. Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be reached at hub@thespiritofislam.org THE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH OF THE QURAN A STUDY of the Quran shows that the Quranic approach is based neither on mythology nor on superstition, but on scientific principles. When the term ‘scientific approach’ is used to describe a way of thinking, it always means that such thinking is in accordance with reality. A person having scientific approach will be scientific in all his dealings in the world. His thinking will be totally in accordance with realities. The Prophet of Islam used to pray thus: ‘O God, show us the truth in the form of truth and grant us the wisdom to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us the strength to keep ourselves away from it. Show us things as they are.’ This prayer of the Prophet of Islam is a fine example of the scientific approach. The Quran wants to inculcate this spirit in every believer. When a believer becomes eager to be granted this spirit to guide his thoughts, he begins praying for it. This teaching is expressed in different ways in the Quran. The Quran enjoins believers to ‘fear God, and say the right word. He will bless your works for you and forgive you your sins. Whoever obeys God and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success.’ (33: 70-71) This Quranic verse commands humankind to say what is fair. The right word (qaul-e-sadid in Arabic) means saying the truth in exact accordance with the facts. Just as the arrow reaches its target by being shot in precisely the right direction, similarly qaul-e-sadid hits the mark by making one’s words correspond in every detail with reality.