The Quranic Treasures is a short anthology of the Quranic teachings, thematically arranged under various topics. It serves the paramount need of making the Qur’an heard by all who are concerned with humanity and peace in today’s world. This need is important because the Qur’an is the only book which claims to be, and is believed to be, literally the Word of God, and even today, when God has been made irrelevant for human life, it inspires, shapes, governs and directs the lives of about one-fifth of the human race.
Khurram Murad (1932-96) was formerly Director General of the Islamic Foundation (1978-86). He studied civil engineering at the Universities of Karachi (BE 1952) and Minnesota, USA (MS 1958), and worked as a leading consulting engineer at Karachi, Dhaka, Tehran and Riyadh. Actively involved in the Islamic movement since 1948, he was the President, Islami Jam’iat Talaba, Pakistan (1951-52); a member of the Central Executive, Jama’at Islami, Pakistan (1963-96) and Amir of its Dhaka (1963-71) and Lahore (1987-89) branches. Prior to his death he held the position of Na’ib Amir of the Jama’at. His more than 30 published works in English and Urdu include Inter-Personal Relations in an Islamic Movement (Urdu), Way to the Qur’ an and Islamic Movement in the West: Reflections on Some Issues, in addition to a number of books for children. He was also the editor of the monthly Tarjumanul Qur’an, Lahore and the quarterly Muslim World Book Review, UK.
What does the Qur’an have to say?
This should he important to know for all who arc concerned with humanity and peace in this world. torn apart by strife, hatred and violence, It should be important whether one believes that the Qur’an is the Word of God or not.
To know what the Qur’an says is important because the Qur’an has made a deep and abiding impact on the course of human civilization and history in many fundamental ways; because it has been inspiring, shaping, governing, and directing countless human lives over the ages. since it first appeared fourteen hundred years ago. And, it still does.
The Qur’an, among all other hooks believed to be divine, is the only book which itself claims, and is believed by its followers, to be literal/v the word of God. Those who first heard it from the lips of the Prophet Muhammad had absolutely no doubt that, through him, God was speaking to them. It totally transformed them: it quickened their hearts, it reshaped their minds; it made their eyes overflow with tears and their bedim tremble with awe, it changed them into new individuals, as well as a new society’ and policy; it led them to be the leaders of mankind and founders of a rich and flowering civilization.
More significantly what a remarkable testimony it is to the unique power of the Qur’an that, in an age when God has been made irrelevant to human existence and concerns, millions and millions of human beings — as much as one fifth of’ rise human race — still cling tenaciously to the book which they believe with certainty to be the Word of God, as the only blueprint for a bright, progressive, postmodern future. It is still the supreme source of inspiration, guidance and comfort in their spiritual, moral, social and cultural lives, it still influences and shapes their ways of thinking and conduct, both private and public, in innumerable ways.
To know what it has to say is therefore not only important for better inter-human understanding and amity, but it may be crucial for the destiny of mankind too.
However, everyone cannot venture to read the whole of the Qur’an, though its length is less than that of the New Testament. Yet everyone should have the opportunity to taste the delicious fruits in the garden of the Qur’an.
The Quranic Treasures is a small step towards the fulfilment of the enormous task of making the words of the Qur’an heard in our times. This pocket-size, short book is an anthology of its selected verses, arranged under various topics. Though an anthology by its very nature has to leave out much precious and important material, these selections, it is hoped, will give even the unfamiliar and the uninitiated a good glimpse of the vast treasures of knowledge and wisdom offered in the Qur’an, and will bring them face to face with the light that the Qur’an is.
This short pocket book, it is also hoped, may spur and tempt the readers to take up the reading of the whole of the Qur’an. Even the believers may find it a useful companion for keeping in touch with the Quranic teachings and making them heard in Our times.
Finally, I pray to Allah, subhanahu Wa ta’ala, to accept this humble endeavour in the cause of his great and majestic book, forgive my shortcomings and mistakes, and grant me to live by what he says.
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