FROM OUR READERS

Economic restraints prevented me from completing even primary education. Having no knowledge of English, I could only read Urdu. Early in the ’80s, I was introduced to the Urdu Al-Risala. I can say with certainty that Al-Risala compensated me for my lack of education. Maulana’s writing also inspired me to take up learning all over again. I learned English just to convince myself that I am a learner. Now, my reading includes the Spirit of Islam. SOI inspires me to keep improving myself. I have come to realize the difference between the relevant and irrelevant. My community-based thinking is now replaced by universal thinking. I no longer think in terms of ‘we and they’. I think now in terms of ‘we and we’. The Quran has become a source of guidance and spiritual nourishment. The universe is the beautiful and awe-inspiring creation of God and the study of this universe acts as the sure path toward the realization of God. This study of nature, due to lack of education, was unknown to me. SOI opened my eyes to such grandeur of God that was unimaginable to me before. -Kaleem Ishaque, Malegaon o Living in a state of negativity, is a kind of self-killing.