In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

6:153 - Verily this is My Way leading straight: follow it: follow not (other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) path:

وَأَنَّ هَٰذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

IN  SEARCH  OF  THE  MESSAGE

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

وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ {55}

INTRODUCTION.

Praise is to Allah,  Lord of the worlds, and peace and Allah’s blessings are on the noblest of all prophets, our master Muhammad, his family and his companions, one and all.

FROM THE QURAN :

English Translation (by Abdulla Yusuf Ali)

“ The tremendous impact that this work has made upon the English reading Muslims (as well as many non-Muslims) of the world, has never been greater than it is today, and shall continue insha-Allah - for generations to come. It has enabled interested readers of English who do not have a proficiency in reading and comprehending Quranic Arabic to greatly enrich their understanding of the meaning  and the incomparable beauty and perfection of the Glorious Quran. It has given them a more authentic and reliable translation from which they could make a serious study.

It is the duty of every Muslim man, woman or child, to read the Quran and understand  it according to his own capacity. If anyone of us attains to some knowledge or understanding of it by study, contemplation and the test of life, both outward and inward, it is his duty, according to his capacity, to instruct others and share with them the joy and peace which result from contact with the  spiritual world. The English language being widely spread over the world, many people interested in Islam will get their ideas of the Quran from English translations. It is good that qualified Muslims should make the attempt to present the picture  which their own mental and spiritual vision presents to themselves.

How much greater is the joy and sense of wonder and miracle when the Quran opens our spiritual eyes! The meaning which we thought we had grasped expands. New worlds are opened out. As we progress, still never  and again newer  worlds “swim into our ken:. The miracle deepens and deepens and almost completely absorbs us. And yet we know that the ‘face of Allah’ - our final goal has not been reached. (Surely we) are fellow riders on a steed of research in a field that is unlimited in scope  and sublime compared to all ordinary  knowledge.” (Abdulla Yusuf Ali ).

29:45 - “Recite what is sent of the Book  by inspiration to thee, and establish regular prayer: for prayer restraints from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life without doubt).  And Allah  knows the (deeds) that ye do.”

NOTE; 3471 - “The TILAWAT  of the Quran  implies:  rehearsing or reciting it, and publishing it abroad to the world; (2) reading it to ourselves;  (3) studying it to understand it as it should be studied and understood (2:121);  (4) meditating on it so as to accord our knowledge and Life and desires with it.  When this is done, it merges into real Prayer, and Prayer purges us of anything (act, plan, thought, motive, words) of which we should be ashamed or which would work injustice to others. Such Prayer passes into our inmost life and being, for then we realize the Presence of Allah,  and that is the DHIKR ( or remembrance), for remembrance is the bringing to mind of things as present to us which might otherwise be absent to us. And that is the greatest thing in Life. It is subjective to us: it fills our consciousness with Allah.  For Allah is in any case always present and knows all.”

This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; (al-Baqarah 2:2)

IN SEARCH OF THE MESSAGE - is the book I wish to present to the readers.. I have not attempted to reproduce the entire Quran by  any means. They are extracts from the Quran compiled under different subjects.  This should  enable the readers to see the Quranic injunctions more vividly, thus creating lasting impressions in their minds; without having to search for them all over which may sometimes turn out to be futile and frustrating. This should therefore serve as a ready reference to the seekers of divine knowledge, at least on some vital subjects.

I have  aired  no views of my  own, but followed the direct translations of the Quran by late Abdulla Yusuf Ali  and arranged them in alphabetical order  - from A – Z - under various subjects that have come to my mind as useful to the Readers, in this service to Islam, and  I do that only for Allah’s sake.

“The Quranic literature is voluminous that no single man can compass a perusal of the whole. Its meaning is so manifold we should be wise to concentrate on the matters that immediately help us”. Hence, this is an effort to guide - ‘in the application of spiritual truths to our own times and our own lives, and we must use every kind of knowledge, science and experience which we possess without obtruding on irrelevant matters.’ (A.YusufAli).

In this regard, I have, to the  best of my ability, collected and collated the various subjects that fell within my ken, and grouped them together, stressing special points of view, by means of the Commentaries, Hadiths, and Fiqh-us-Sunnah - where necessary.  For example, under “Virtue”, I have collated the many verses that speak of virtuous deeds to enable the reader to understand this more clearly. This tends to bring about repetitions of the verses and their notes, elsewhere in the Book. Such repetitions are intended to assist the readers to understand the spiritual matters from different angles.  Similarly, I have endeavoured to illuminate the readers’ minds on other topics by incorporating such items as:-

                                                     

                                                      (a)  Differences, discord, dispute, divided, distort, Hinder, Sects etc.

                                                      (b) Virtues, Wisdom, Good Deeds, Goodness, Manners, etc.

                                                      (c) Invite, Preaching, Proclaim, Recite, Rehearse, Teach, Call etc.

                                                      (d) Kindred, Kith and Kin, Kinsmen , etc.

                                                      (e) Serve, Strive, etc.

                                                      (f) Mission of Islam - under 35 Sub-Heads. Etc.

I wish to make it clear that I am not a scholar of the Quran by any means  It is the constant reading of the  Quran ( for over three decades) which seized my heart with the desire to carry its teachings in its own instructive style, in our efforts to understand the precepts of the Quran.

OF THE MESSAGE – (FROM THE QURAN)

21:10 - We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you:  Will ye then understand?

21:50 - And this is a blessed Message which We have sent down:  Will ye then reject it?

21:106.Verily in this (Quran) is a Message for people who would (truly) worship Allah.  2761

Note: 2761 - The culmination of Allah’s  Revelation is in the Quran, which confirms previous Scriptures, corrects the errors which men introduced into them, and explains many points in detail for all who seek right worship and service  to Allah - whether they  inherit the previous Books (“People of the Book”) or not. It is a universal Message.

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

71:5 - Then spread abroad a Message 5866

Note: 5866 – (5) they gave a Message, through which just men were justified through repentance, and evil men were warned of their sins.

96:1- Proclaim! (or Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher Who created 6203 6204 اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ {96:1}

Note: 6203-Iqraa – read or recite or rehearse or proclaim aloud Allah’s Message when he must stand forth to the world and declare his mission.96:1

Note: 6204- The declaration or proclamation was  to be in the name of Allah and not for any personal benefit to the prophet. It was the call of Allah for the benefit of erring humanity.96:1

96:3-  Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ {3}

96:4-  He Who taught (the use of) the Pen 6206 الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ {4}

Note:6206-  The Arabic words for “teach” and “knowledge” are from the same root. It  is impossible to produce in a Translation the complete orchestral  harmony of the words for “read”, “teach”, ”pen” – (which implies reading, writing, books, study, research), “knowledge” (including science, self knowledge, spiritual understanding),and “proclaim”, an alternative meaning of the word for “to read”. This proclaiming or reading implies not only the duty of blazoning forth  Allah’s message, as going, with the prophetic office, but also the duty  of promulgation and wide dissemination  of the Truth by all who read and understand it. The comprehensive meaning of qaraa  refers not only to the particular person  and occasion but also gives a universal direction.  And this kind of comprehensive meaning, as we have seen , runs throughout the Qur-an for those, who will understand.

96:5-  Taught man that which he knew not. 6207 عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ {5}

Note:6207-Allah  teaches us new knowledge at every given moment. Individuals learn more and more day by day; nations and humanity at large learn fresh knowledge at every stage. This is even more noticeable and important in the spiritual world. 96:5

97:1-   We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the night of Power: 6217إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْقَدْرِ {97:1}

Note: 6217-  It is Allah’s  Power  dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance, by His Revelation, in every kind of affair  .97:1

97:3-The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months. 6218  لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍ (97:3)

Note: 6218- One moment of enlightenment under Allah’s  Light is better than thousands of months or years of animal life, and such a moment converts the night of darkness into a period of spiritual glory. 97:3

97:5 - Peace!... This until the rise of Morn! 6220  سَلَامٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ الْفَجْرِ {97:5}

Note: 6220- When the  Night of spiritual darkness is dissipated by the glory of Allah,  a wonderful  Peace and a sense of Security arise in the soul, and lasts on until this life closes, and the Glorious Day of the new world dawns, when everything will be on a different plane, 97:5

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا {18:6}

18:6- Thou wouldst only perchance fret thyself to death following after them in grief if they believe not in this Message. 2331

Note: 2331- In a reasonable world the preaching  of a reasonable Faith like that of Islam would win universal acceptance.  But the world is not altogether reasonable. It caused great distress to the unselfish; Preacher of Islam that his Message met with so much opposition.  He wanted to point the way to salvation.  He only got, in the Makkans period ,abuse from the chiefs of the Makkans-abuse and persecution, not only for himself but for the Truth which he was preaching.  A heart less stout than his might have been appalled at what seemed the hopeless task of reclaiming the world from falsehood, superstition, selfishness, wrong, and oppression.  He is here consoled, and told that he was not to fret himself to death; he was nobly doing his duty, and, as after-events showed, the seed of Truth was already  germinating, although this was not visible at the time, besides, these “chiefs” and “leaders” were only strutting in false plumes: their glory was soon to fade for ever. 18:6

قُلْ لَوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا {18:109}

18:109 - : If the ocean were ink (wherewith to write out) the words of my Lord. Sooner would the ocean be exhausted than would the words of my Lord, even if we added another ocean like it, for its aid.”2453

Note; 2453 - The Words and Signs and Mercies of Allah are in all Creation, and can never be fully set out in human language, however extended our means may be imagined to be. 18:109

وَلَوْ أَنَّمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ أَقْلَامٌ وَالْبَحْرُ يَمُدُّهُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ سَبْعَةُ أَبْحُرٍ مَا نَفِدَتْ كَلِمَاتُ اللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ {31:27}

31:27 - And if all the trees were pens and the Ocean (were ink), with seven Oceans behind it to add to its (supply), yet would not the Words of Allah be exhausted (in the writing): for Allah is exalted in power, full of wisdom.3616

Note: 3616 - WORDS OF ALLAH;  His wonderful Signs and Commandments are infinite and cannot  be expressed if all the trees were made into pens, and all the wide Ocean, multiplied seven times, were made into ink. Any Book of His Revelation would deal with matters which man can understand and use in his life: There are mysteries beyond mysteries that man can never fathom. Nor would any praise that we could write with infinite resources be adequate to describe His power, glory and wisdom. 31:27

فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ آذَنْتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَاءٍ ۖ وَإِنْ أَدْرِي أَقَرِيبٌ أَمْ بَعِيدٌ مَا تُوعَدُونَ {21:109}

21:109 - But if they turn back say: “I have proclaimed the Message to you all alike and in truth; but I know not whether that which ye are promised is near or far”.2764

Note:2764 - ‘If you do not realize the significance of the Message, I at least have done my duty. I have given the Good News for the Righteous and the Warning for the Unjust, without favour or partiality, and without abating one jot of the truth, openly and squarely for all. Do not ask me when the Good News and the Warning will be fulfilled. That is for Allah to decide, not for me or for you to know.’ 21:109

فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ ۗ وَلَا تَعْجَلْ بِالْقُرْآنِ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يُقْضَىٰ إِلَيْكَ وَحْيُهُ ۖ وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا {11420:}

[20:114] High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge."2639

2639       Allah is above every human event or desire. His purpose is universal. But He is the Truth, the absolute Truth; and His kingdom is the true kingdom, that can carry out its will. That Truth unfolds itself gradually, as it did in the gradual revelation of the Qur-an to the holy Prophet. But even after it was completed in a volume, its true meaning and purpose only gradually unfold themselves to any given individual or nation. No one should be impatient about it. On the contrary, we should always pray for increase in our own knowledge, which can never at any given moment be complete.( see-20.114)

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ {3:8}

3:8 - “Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us Mercy from Thine Own

           Presence. For Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure.”

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ {3:53}

3:53 - “Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger; then write us down

           among those who bear witness.”

 

 Every care and effort have been taken to be as precise and perfect in the production of this Book,  made only for Allah’s sake, as is humanly possible.  I do not however, claim to be above flaw or imperfection.  If I am right, it is from Allah;  if wrong, it is from me. I hope the readers will bear with me for any flaws found in the contents. I ask Allah  to protect us and you from any errors and from all that displeases Him.  In the name of Almighty Allah and His chosen Prophet Muhammad ( .) I dedicate this publication.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               .

All Praise is due to Allah , the Creator of all, the Giver of everything, and He is far exalted above what others ascribe to Him.  And may Peace and Blessing be upon the perfect worshipper of Allah , the final Messenger Muhammad ( ) and all those who follow him.

O our Lord! Accept this humble dedication.

 Abdul Rahemen Abedeen

Colombo, Sri Lanka.

hijri 1429