The Quran will have little effect on your life if you don’t know what it’s saying
I have been learning, memorising and teaching the Quran for more than 50 years. I believe that the Quran is the leading text for connecting with Allah. It is the word of Allah. “This is a revelation from Allah the Almighty, the All-knowing, Forgiver of sins, Acceptor of repentance and the Gracious. There is no god but He. To Him is the return” (Al-Mumin: 2-3).
Many Muslims use verses of the Quran, read their commentaries and admire the logic, the beauty of the words and their proverbial meanings. However, I see a danger in looking at the Quran as a collection of proverbs, pious phrases and maxims rather than a cohesive thematic text. I cringe to think of a reader opening my book on page 11 and randomly picking out a sentence or a phrase then quoting it out of context. We often do this with the Quran. I believe this is a poor way of studying it. I have been advocating that we focus on the themes of the Quran and study the full narrative. So, in my translation ‘The Majestic Quran‘, I have divided each surah into sections that signify a story, a theme or a message. Each section has a heading that sums up the meaning of the section.
The Quran is the book of Allah, in it He is inspiring and motivating human beings to believe, trust and restore the broken relationship since He is the Lord. He wants his beloved creation to communicate with him, worship him and live a life that is flourishing.
The consequence of faith is paradise, a place of delights, scenic landscape, great people and overarching Divine presence. Allah says “A picture of paradise that has been promised to the Allah-conscious people looks like this: There are rivers of water with never changing taste and smell; rivers of milk whose taste never changes; rivers of wine that give pleasure to their drinkers; and rivers of pure honey; for them are all kinds of fruits as well as forgiveness from their Lord. Can these be like those who will be in the fire forever given boiling water to drink that cuts through their bowels?” (Muhammad: 15).
The Quran warns that the consequences of no faith will be dire, the terrors and horrors of Hell, dungeons, blazing fire, a life of pain and torment. “With iron collars around their necks and tied with chains they will be dragged into boiling water then thrown in the fire. They will be asked where are the ones you associated with Allah?” (Al-Mumin: 71-74).
The Quran will have little effect on your life if you don’t know what it’s saying, The Majestic Quran translation in plain English is an attempt to make its message clear, it’s a step in the right direction. “Ha Meem. This is a revelation from the Kind the Caring, a book whose verses are clearly explained, an Arabic Quran so they may know; it gives good news and warnings, yet most do not listen” (Fussilat: 1-4).
May Allah give us the ability to spend time studying His book and bless us with its correct understanding. Ameen!
