All thanks and praises to Almighty Allah Ta'ala, the most Exalted. I bear witness to the fact that there is no one worth worshipping except Allah Ta'ala, Who is One and only One, the Cherisher and the Sustainer of all the worlds, Who is live and eternal and will never die, Who is the Creator of man and his true Benefactor, Who bestowed the Mu’mineen with the Ni’mat of Iman. Who sent prophets for the guidance of mankind, Who decorated the skies with the stars, Who created Paradise for righteous ones and the Hell for bad ones, Who created Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) as the best of all creation, Who sealed the prophethood forever with Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Who took Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) above the skies and elevated him to the highest status which other human beings cannot even imagine and Who sent Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) with the last testament—Al-Qur’an Shareef, which differentiates between right and wrong.

The Qur’an Shareef—which made the most eloquent ones helpless when they tried to refute it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which made the most rhetoric ones dumb when they tried to speak against it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which challenged its opponents and everyone whosoever thought of taking up this challenge, accepted his defeat.

The Qur’an Shareef—which affirmed all the previous books of Allah Ta'ala but revoked their commandments.

The Qur’an Shareef—for which even angels crave as they did not get this treasure.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is like a rope from Allah Ta'ala that leads a believer towards Him.

The Qur’an Shareef—which connects its reader directly with Him.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is the best Mu’jizah (miracle) bestowed to Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) by Allah Ta'ala. All miracles of previous prophets ended with them but this miracle of Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) continues and will remain as an ultimate miracle up to the day of judgment.

The Qur’an Shareef—which moved the hearts of even Jenies when they first heard it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which encloses Nur (Divine light) in its words, which the world could not have otherwise tolerated in unveiled form.

The Qur’an Shareef—which was safe in Loh-e-Mahfooz and whose safety Allah Ta'ala has Himself guaranteed .

The Qur’an Shareef—excellences and meaning of which are such an ocean which has limitless depth.

The ocean—which contains countless hidden precious jewels.

The ocean—which is full of miracles.

The ocean—where no devil or enemy can find way.

The ocean—which protects its believers and sailors in an enviable way.

The ocean—waves of which changed the map of the world and the fate of the nations in a very short span of time.

The ocean—the waves of which raised all the false doctrines to the ground.

The ocean—fragrant cool breezes of which revive the dead hearts, refresh the rotten minds and teach the toddlers to fly high and high.

The ocean—clouds of which bring pleasant rains which soften the barren hard land of heart.

The Qur’an Shareef—which ended the era of darkness and enlightened the mankind.

The Qur’an Shareef—predictions of which came true to the dot, and will always continue to come true.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is the actual word of Allah Ta'ala and not created.

The Qur’an Shareef—with which Allah Ta'ala perfected His Deen.

The Qur’an Shareef—which contains a complete code of life, whether spiritual, intellectual, political, social or economic.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is a code that is beyond the boundaries of time, place or nation.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is not only theoretical but also a practical book, not only moralising but also defining permissible and forbidden.

The Qur’an Shareef—the importance to understand the message of which is undeniable, only its simple recitation with the intention of seeking Allah Ta'ala’s pleasure and reward is also an act of worship and meritorious in itself.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is complete and comprehensive in all respects.

The Qur’an Shareef—which contains immense food for thought for those who ponder over it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is full of the bounties of Allah Ta'ala.

The Qur’an Shareef—whose memorisers (Hufaaz) and followers will be told by Allah Ta'ala in Jannah “ Keep on reciting and ascending (towards the ever increasing heights of Jannah)”

The Qur’an Shareef—whose learner will ascend one step at the recitation of each Ayat in Jannat and the distance between each step will be as much as between the sky and the earth.

The Qur’an Shareef—which when presented to skies and earth shivered and could not bear it, and Allah Ta'ala created the special bearing capacity in human Qalb to carry it. Thus it was only the Qalb of man that could receive it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which will intercede in favour of its reader on the day of judgment.

The Qur’an Shareef—whose reciter never feels bored in spite of reciting it daily for hours together throughout his life period.

The Qur’an Shareef—whose scholars never feel that they have mastered it but always feel that they know very little of it and its immense treasures remains unexplored.

The Qur’an Shareef—which contains complete guidance for mankind in all ages, never seems outdated and will continue to guide the mankind as long as the latter lasts.

The Qur’an Shareef—which not only resisted the onslaught of modern scientific revolution but also forced the same to prostrate before it and accept its Divine nature, instead modern science continues to take inspirations from it.

The Qur’an Shareef—which is the only thing that gives solace to human heart.

The Qur’an Shareef—whose place of recitation and the one who recites it is surrounded by angels and tranquility.

The Qur’an Shareef—which was sent through the Ameen of skies (Gabriel) to the Ameen of the earth–Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

This small book comprises of two parts viz., i. Need for Divine Guidance and ii. Introduction to Al-Qur’an. In the first part, I have tried to explain comprehensively that it is only Al-Quran through which we can understand Reality. The second part of the books deals with the fundamentals of Uloom ul Qur’an i.e., the primary terminologies required to understand the Qur’an in its proper context.

I hope the readers will find this book very useful and will make Dua that Allah Ta’ala accepts this humble work of mine and make it a means of salvation for me and all who will derive benefit from this in Hereafter

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad.
Associate Professor/ Head & Neck Surgeon,
ENT Department.
Govt. Medical College, Srinagar,
Kashmir, India.
e-mail :- [email protected]

Director:
Institute of Islamic Research,
Darul Uloom Ilahiyah.
Soura, Srinagar,
Kashmir, India.