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I looked at the sky
And asked:” Who made you so high?”
It replied:” The one God, of course.”

I stood under a tree
And asked:” Who made you so green?”
It said:” The one God, of course.”

I gazed at the blue sea
And inquired: Who made you so vast?”
It replied:” The one God, of course.”
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For a new non-Arab revert or a person still investigating Islam with a view to embracing it, reading the Qur’an may be an arduous task. First, because he/she has no choice but to read a translation and a translation is not the Qur’an, but an interpretation thereof. Second, the Qur’an does not follow the modern western writing pattern. For one thing, the Qur’an may move suddenly from one topic to another without any apparent transition. For another, rather than a linear pattern, the Qur’an follows a circular one.

To familiarize the new reverts with the Qur’an, I suggest that they should read a collection of verses most representative of the essence of the Qur’an. Once, they have read and assimilated the meanings of theses verses, reading the whole book becomes accessible and easily undertaken.

Suggested approach:

• Read the verse in toto to get its gist.
• Reread it word by word.
• More often than not a word in Arabic has several meanings and connotations. In order to catch a glimpse thereof go to commentaries of the Qur’an or to translators notes.
• Compare verses of similar meanings and topics and try to find the differences in between.

I have done my best to select the verses that most reflect the spirit of the Noble Qur’an. The verses have been selected from the translations of three renowned translators: Yussuf Ali, Pickthall and Shakir.

Had Allah wished to take to Himself a son, He could have chosen whom He pleased out of those whom He doth create: but Glory be to Him! (He is above such things.) He is Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 4 Read more »

Silences as fresh
As the cool desert breeze
Silences as eloquent
As the twinkling stars above

Farhat Ahmed Ali