Siteoflight

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

Is one who worships devoutly during the hour of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord – (like one who does not)? Say: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.
Say: “O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah’s earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!”

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 9-10

And those who put away false gods lest they should worship them and turn to Allah in repentance, for them there are glad tidings. Therefor give good tidings (O Muhammad) to My bondmen
Who hear advice and follow the best thereof. Such are those whom Allah guideth, and such are men of understanding.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 17-18

Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the cloud, then makes it go along in the earth in springs, then brings forth therewith herbage of various colors, then it withers so that you see it becoming yellow, then He makes it a thing crushed and broken into pieces? Most surely there is a reminder in this for the men of understanding.
What! is he whose heart Allah has opened for Islam so that he is in a light from his Lord (like the hard-hearted)? Nay, woe to those whose hearts are hard against the remembrance of Allah; those are in clear error.
Allah has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating (its teaching in various aspects): the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah’s praises. Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 21-23

Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day).
In the end will ye (all), on the Day of Judgment, settle your disputes in the presence of your Lord.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 30-31

Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? And they seek to frighten you with those besides Him; and whomsoever Allah makes err, there is no guide for him.
And whom Allah guides, there is none that can lead him astray; is not Allah Mighty, the Lord of retribution?

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 37-38

Surely We have revealed to you the Book with the truth for the sake of men; so whoever follows the right way, it is for his own soul and whoever errs, he errs only to its detriment; and you are not a custodian over them.

Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep; then He withholds those on whom He has passed the decree of death and sends the others back till an appointed term; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 41-42

When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who believe not in the Hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than He are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy!

Say: “O Allah! Creator of the heavens and the earth! Knower of all that is hidden and open! it is Thou that wilt judge between Thy Servants in those matters about which they have differed.”

Even if the wrong-doers had all that there is on earth, and as much more, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom from the pain of the Penalty on the Day of Judgment: but something will confront them from Allah, which they could never have counted upon!

For the evils of their Deeds will confront them, and they will be (completely) encircled by that which they used to mock at!

Now, when trouble touches man, he cries to Us: But when We bestow a favour upon him as from Ourselves, he says, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!” Nay, but this is but a trial, but most of them understand not!

Thus did the (generations) before them say! But all that they did was of no profit to them.

Nay, the evil results of their Deeds overtook them. And the wrong-doers of this (generation)- the evil results of their Deeds will soon overtake them (too), and they will never be able to frustrate (Our Plan)!

Know they not that Allah enlarges the provision or restricts it, for any He pleases? Verily, in this are Signs for those who believe!

Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped.

“And follow the best of (the courses) revealed to you from your Lord, before the Penalty comes on you – of a sudden while ye perceive not!-

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 45-55

Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.

To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth: and those who reject the Signs of Allah,- it is they who will be in loss.

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 62-63

And they esteem not Allah as He hath the right to be esteemed, when the whole earth is His handful on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens are rolled in His right hand. Glorified is He and High Exalted from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him)

And the trumpet is blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are in the earth swoon away, save him whom Allah willeth. Then it is blown a second time, and behold them standing waiting!

And the earth shineth with the light of her Lord, and the Book is set up, and the prophets and the witnesses are brought, and it is judged between them with truth, and they are not wronged.

And each soul is paid in full for what it did. And He is Best Aware of what they do.

And those who disbelieve are driven unto hell in troops till, when they reach it and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Came there not unto you messengers of your own, reciting unto you the revelations of your Lord and warning you of the meeting of this your Day? they say: Yea, verily. But the word of doom of disbelievers is fulfilled.

It is said (unto them): Enter ye the gates of hell to dwell therein. Thus hapless is the journey’s end of the scorners.
And those who keep their duty to their Lord are driven unto the Garden in troops till, when they reach it, and the gates thereof are opened, and the warders thereof say unto them: Peace be unto you! Ye are good, so enter ye (the Garden of delight), to dwell therein;

They say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath fulfilled His promise unto us and hath made us inherit the land, sojourning in the Garden where we will! So bounteous is the wage of workers.

And thou (O Muhammad) seest the angels thronging round the Throne, hymning the praises of their Lord. And they are judged aright. And it is said: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) 67-75

He knows the stealthy looks and that which the breasts conceal.

AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER) 19

And he who believed said: O my people! Follow me. I will show you the way of right conduct.

O my people! Lo! this life of the world is but a passing comfort, and lo! the Hereafter, that is the enduring home.

Whoso doeth an ill-deed, he will be repaid the like thereof, while whoso doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, (all) such will enter the Garden, where they will be nourished without stint.

AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER) 38-40

Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind; but most of mankind know not.
And the blind man and the seer are not equal, neither are those who believe and do good works (equal with) the evil-doer. Little do ye reflect!

AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER) 57-58

And your Lord says: “Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell – in humiliation!”

It is Allah Who has made the Night for you, that ye may rest therein, and the days as that which helps (you) to see. Verily Allah is full of Grace and Bounty to men: yet most men give no thanks.

Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, there is no god but He: Then how ye are deluded away from the Truth!

Thus are deluded those who are wont to reject the Signs of Allah.

AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER) 60-63

It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom.

AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER) 67

And on the day that the enemies of Allah shall be brought together to the fire, then they shall be formed into groups.

Until when they come to it, their ears and their eyes and their skins shall bear witness against them as to what they did.

And they shall say to their skins: Why have you borne witness against us? They shall say: Allah Who makes everything speak has made us speak, and He created you at first, and to Him you shall be brought back.

And you did not veil yourselves lest your ears and your eyes and your skins should bear witness against you, but you thought that Allah did not know most of what you did.
And that was your (evil) thought which you entertained about your Lord that has tumbled you down into perdition, so are you become of the lost ones.

Then if they will endure, still the fire is their abode, and if they ask for goodwill, then are they not of those who shall be granted goodwill.

FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) 19-23

Lo! those who say: Our Lord is Allah, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but hear good tidings of the paradise which ye are promised.

We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There ye will have (all) that your souls desire, and there ye will have (all) for which ye pray.

A gift of welcome from One Forgiving, Merciful.

And who is better in speech than him who prayeth unto his Lord and doeth right, and saith: Lo! I am of those who are muslims (surrender unto Him).

The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend.

But none is granted it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it save the owner of great happiness.

FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) 30-36

And among His Signs in this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it, it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly, He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things

FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) 39

Surely those who disbelieve in the reminder when it comes to them, and most surely it is a Mighty Book:

Falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it; a revelation from the Wise, the Praised One.

FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) 41-42

Soon will We show them our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?

FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) 53

And in whatsoever ye differ, the verdict therein belongeth to Allah. Such is my Lord, in Whom I put my trust, and unto Whom I turn.

The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He hath made for you pairs of yourselves, and of the cattle also pairs, whereby He multiplieth you. Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer.

His are the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlargeth providence for whom He will and straiteneth (it for whom He will). Lo! He is Knower of all things.

ASH-SHURA ( CONSULTATION) 10-12

Whoso desireth the harvest of the Hereafter, We give him increase in its harvest. And whoso desireth the harvest of the world, We give him thereof, and he hath no portion in the Hereafter.

ASH-SHURA ( CONSULTATION) 20

Those who avoid the greater crimes and shameful deeds, and, when they are angry even then forgive;

Those who hearken to their Lord, and establish regular Prayer; who (conduct) their affairs by mutual Consultation; who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance;

And those who, when an oppressive wrong is inflicted on them, (are not cowed but) help and defend themselves.

The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong.

But indeed if any do help and defend themselves after a wrong (done) to them, against such there is no cause of blame.

The blame is only against those who oppress men with wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a penalty grievous.

But indeed if any show patience and forgive, that would truly be an exercise of courageous will and resolution in the conduct of affairs.

ASH-SHURA ( CONSULTATION) 37-43

To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills (and plans). He bestows (children) male or female according to His Will (and Plan),

Or He bestows both males and females, and He leaves barren whom He will: for He is full of Knowledge and Power.

ASH-SHURA ( CONSULTATION) 49-50

And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants; and most surely you show the way to the right path:

The path of Allah, Whose is whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth; now surely to Allah do all affairs eventually come.

ASH-SHURA ( CONSULTATION) 52-53