My Book In Search of the Message

51:55- But teach (thy Message): for teaching benefits the Believers.

وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {55}

IN SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE

from

THE HOLY QURAN

TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARIES

ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI

WITH

SELECTED EXTRACTS FROM SAHIH AL-BUKHARI,

SAHIH MUSLIM,

AL-MUWATTA, AL-TIRMIDHI, SUNAN of ABU-DAWOOD,

HADITH QUDSI, FIQH - US- SUNNAH.

Compiled and produced  By  Abdul Raheman Abedeen

FOREWORD

اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ {39:23)

[39:23] 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.

Taking into consideration that the Holy Quran was revealed for the purpose of the upliftment of mankind, Brother Abdur Rahman Abedeen has spent approximately 25 years of his life time to compile a publication in English under a topic IN SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE. (Allah’s Revelation described as the most beautiful Message in 39:23 above)

Main features of this publication is that the (English translated) verses in the Holy Quran are indexed in a manner that one can easily trace the side verses in separate headings followed by the respective commentaries as laid out in the English Translation of the Holy Quran . These side verses he has selected are mostly Quranic injunctions arranged in  alphabetical  order   from A – Z - which we have to refer to at various times in our day to day life and affairs; and this publication would therefore, also serve as a Quick Ready Reference Book for the seekers of the divine knowledge. Further, the relevant ahadith are mentioned in appropriate places and in some places the references of the ahadith are set out.  It is also significant that one can easily refer to six ahadith books through this publication. It is very helpful indeed to the readers of the arrangements in this book in incorporating and contrasting such subjects as:-

DIFFERENCES with Discord-Dispute-Divided-Distort-Hinder-Sects;

VIRTUES with Wisdom-Good Deeds- Goodness-Manners;

INVITE with Preaching-Proclaim-Recite-Rehearse-Teach-Call;

KINDRED with Kith and Kin & Kinsmen;

SERVE with Strive etc., and

MISSION OF ISLAM – under 35 sub-heads.

This would no doubt enable the readers to understand the spiritual meanings from different angles. Similarly, when one reads  -

ALLAH’S  ATTRIBUTES – His Powers, His Qualities, His favours, His Punishments, which have been sorted out separately, he should be able to understand Allah  better. Under  JUDGEMENT DAY   – One could clearly see The Hour, The Day, The Scene, The warnings, The Commotions, The Trumpet, The People’s Appearance, The Rejecters, The Help, The Punishment, The Rewards and so on.

Under CONTRASTS – you will find the Contrasts between Earthly Power & Divine Power; Day & Night; Light and Darkness; Garden & Fire; Good Tree & the Evil Tree; The Saved and the Doomed; Good & Evil; Right & Wrong; High & Low; Living & the Dead; Distress & Prosperity; Believers & the Unbelievers; Righteous & the Hypocrites; Faithful & the Faithless; Arrogant & the Humble; Misery & Blessing; Trust & Mistrust; Hidden & Open; Deaf & the Blind; Truth & Untruth; etc.,

Under CONTRAST OF ( JUDGEMENT DAY)  you can see the contrasts of the Beast, Earth, Faces, Firmament, Fleeing, Graves, Heaven, Moon, Mountain, Noise, Ocean, Sky, Stars, Sun, Souls, and Rewards etc. Then there are the Contrasts, in the SUBLIME CREATION; Contrasts in the SYMPHONY OF DUALITY; Contrasts in the INEVITABLE. There is the Contrast of  PREACHING by  Messengers – Noah, Hud, Salih, Lut, Shu’ayb, and Moses followed by Punishments.  All the QUESTIONS - raised in the Quran ( Surahs 1 – 107) have been highlighted under Contrast and end up the subject of  Contrast with the EMPHASIS or DUPLICITY found in the Quran-viz:( 102:3 - But nay ye soon shall know (the reality).102:4 -Again, ye soon shall know!)

This method has been adopted in most of the Quranic injunctions quoted in this book and this is very commendable indeed as this makes it easy for the readers to understand the subjects more vividly.

The importance of this book lies in the fact that in one compact volume a wealth of details has been packed and presented in chronological order throwing a flood light on many facets of Islam to public gaze – at least to the English - reading public. As a ready reference book on Islam, this volume is a treasure chest and no one can afford to miss it.

This was no ordinary task as the compilation of this book IN SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE in its present form entails great strain and only one with  a sense of mission can embark on it and accomplish the task. The enormous amount of work that has gone into this book speaks volumes about brother Abedeen’s  determination, devotion and dedication which have brought about this interesting narrative, informative, instructive and authoritative book which would become handy among  all Muslims and non-Muslims as well.

Brother Abedeen was known to me from the time he was in government service.  He was very keen that he should study and understand the religion with authentic ahadith. He has already published ‘Du'as’ from the Holy Quran (in four languages) and various other publications, such as - Friday, Jumu’ah and Adhan,  True Worship, Janaza Regulations, Punishments in Al-Qur’an,etc. with the sole intention of educating the Muslims in this country who are raging in disputes by aligning themselves to various Sects that is taking a deep root among them.  The enemies of Islam with the propaganda at their disposal are maligning Islam and brother Abedeen always speaks to me on this subject  and would proclaim that we  should not be heedless and neglectful of combating this malicious propaganda. It is with this intention he has launched  this Book and I pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to benefit those people who read this book and to give them truthfulness and clear insight into Islam.

When I first noticed his genuine effort, my wish was that with the Grace of Almighty Allah,  he should achieve his object to compile this publication. I was able to give any assistance that I could give. Today I am very happy to see that with the Grace of Almighty Allah,  brother Abedeen is achieving his object.  In addition to the  publication  of his work  in the form of books, he has fed all the enormous notes that he had made, into his computer and is now in the process of turning out C.D’s for distribution, and his intention to open up a Web site in this regard is commendable indeed.

May Allah accept this sincere effort of  brother Abedeen as a pure endeavor entirely for the sake of Allah so as  to benefit its readers.  Every effort  in this field is undoubtedly a great contribution towards the propagation of Islam and its shari’a . May Allah  make this publication a great success to all Muslims and non-Muslims throughout the world and bless the author to make his future efforts more successful.