Ramadan blessings

Most of us are aware of the benefits and blessings of fasting during Ramadan. A Japanese Nobel Prize winner won this coveted prize for finding out that when a sick person (refers to cancer patients here) is hungry, his healthy cells eat up the sick ones. When asked how long one should stay hungry for this effect to take place he replied that it would have to be for about 15 to 16 hours at a time for 25 to 30 days uninterrupted.

That is what the Almighty ordained for us to do during Ramadan. The Almighty has reminded us many times that nothing has been made or ordered to be done without a specific reason. We might think that it is only to make us feel hungry so we know how the poor feel but obviously there is much more to it. Here are some good religious books to read, especially during Ramadan: The first, an excellent reference, is 'Quran Search Index' compiled by Ms Shaheena Tamizuddin and published by herself. Ms Shaheena has introduced her book with the following words: “The Quran Index has been compiled according to topic so that the reader may find it easy to find the interested subject easily.” She has advised that the Quran should be read with translation. I give the same advice when I visit schools, colleges, universities, etc. It helps understand the deeper meaning of the messages contained in the Quran. She has also reminded us that the Almighty has advised us to read and reread the Quran so that we may understand and think about the messages without any external help.

Ms Shaheena has compiled this book in such a way that, if a surah deals with two or more topics, then that surah has been indexed at the bottom of the other surahs as well. With the help of this indexing, one can easily trace the subject of interest.

There is a separate section containing episodes concerning the prophets. They too, have been properly indexed. Another portion contains divine edicts regarding instructions for doing good deeds. Some surahs regarding behaviour have been clearly identified. One portion also contains the Urdu translation of the verses. Very interesting and useful is the last portion, which contains the family trees of 25 prophets.

A long time ago my dear, late friend, Zahid Malik, had also compiled a similar book named ‘Mazameen-e- Quran and Quranic Subjects’. It cannot be stressed enough that children should not only read the Quran in Arabic, but encouraged to read translations

regularly. The second, informative book is 'Tauheed Ka Qurani Tasavuur'. It has been compiled by Mr Salahuddin Ayubi (not the same one who defeated the crusaders centuries ago!) and published by Multimedia Affairs Lahore. Mr Salahuddin is a prolific writer and has 11 books to his name. Shaikhul Hadees Ahmad Haqqani Balakoti has written an excellent review, to which I need not add anything else.

The third book is ‘Ajmi Ka Mutailah Quran’, compiled by Dr A R Khalid and published by Qalam Foundation, Walton Road, Lahore. This book contains useful, in-depth analyses of various Quranic verses and is a must-read for a better understanding. Dr Khalid is a multi-faceted scholar who has been a journalist, a teacher and a prolific writer. No further introduction is needed from me.

Email:dr.a.quadeer.khan@gmail.com