The Islamic Bulletin Volume XX No. 26 Page 25 Continued from page 5 sententious expressions, and in many places, especially where the majesty and attributes of God are described, sublime and magnificent; of which the reader cannot but observe several instances, though he must not imagine the translation comes up to the original, notwithstanding my endeavours to do it justice.” — from “A Preliminary Discourse”by George Sale. These attitudes again came into conflict with Jefferson’s vision in 1788, when the states voted to ratify the United States Constitution. One of the matters at issue was the provision—now Article vi, Section 3—that “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Some AntiFederalists singled out and opposed this ban on religious discrimination by painting a hypothetical scenario in which a Muslim could become president. On the other side of the argument, despite their frequent opposition to Jefferson on other matters, the Federalists praised and drew on Jefferson’s vision of religious tolerance in supporting uncircumscribed rights both to faith and to elected office for all citizens. As the historian Denise Spellberg shows in her examination of this dispute among delegates in North Carolina, in the course of these constitutional debates “Muslims became symbolically embroiled in the definition of what it meant to be American citizens.” It is intriguing to think that Jefferson’s study of the Qur’an may have inoculated him—to a degree that today we can only surmise— against such popular prejudices about Islam, and it may have informed his conviction that Muslims, no less and no more than any other religious group, were entitled to all the legal rights his new nation could offer. And although Jefferson was an early and vocal proponent of going to war against the Barbary states over their attacks on us shipping, he never framed his arguments for doing so in religious terms, sticking firmly to a position of political principle. Far from reading the Qur’an to better understand the mindset of his adversaries, it is likely that his earlier knowledge of it confirmed his analysis that the roots of the Barbary conflict were economic, not religious. Sale’s Koran remained the best available English version of the Qur’an for another 150 years. Today, along with the original copy of Jefferson’s Qur’an, the Library of Congress holds nearly one million printed items relating to Islam—a vast collection of knowledge for every new generation of lawmakers and citizens, with its roots in the law student’s leather-bound volumes. Article obtained from Saudi Aramco World. Answers Answers Answers Answers Answers Across: 2.Fatimah, 5.Ark , 7.Medina, 9.Maryam, 12.Fatiha, 14.Musa, 16.Seven, 17.Adam, 19.Yunus, 20.Ali, 21.Ibrahim Down: 1.Dawood , 3.Ten, 4.Benyamin, 6.Read, 8.Yaqub, 10.Zamzam, 11.Yaseen, 13. Injeel, 15. Khadija, 18.Green THE EXCELLENCE OF READING THE QURAN The benefit of reciting the Quran are numerous, but the most important aspect is our relationship with Allah through His revelation. Ramadan is the ideal time to get ourselves and the children to do it. We access the meaning of the Quran not by understanding by our intellect but by being moved by the beautiful aural recitation, which can penetrate our hearts when no logic or argument can. Being able to recite it fluently, beautifully and correctly can enhance our faith especially during the month of Ramadan. The beauty of the vocal experience is not about mere sound we project, but the continuous trial we undertake to perfect Allah’s revelation in our voices. The prophet (SAW) said: “Read the Qur’an, for it will come as an intercessor for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection.’’(M) “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.’’ (T) “It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Read and elevate (through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in dunya! For verily, your position in Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!” (Ab & T) “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur’an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur’an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.’’ (B & M) “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.’’ (B). Do you want To Finish The Quran Every Month? Spend few minutes after each prayer Read 4.5 pages X 5 prayers a day X 30 days = 604 pages (Number of pages in the Qur’an ) If you are in a real hurry you can finish it once every two months by reading just 2 pages Room 3B By Fawzia El Tareb SHYLY HE SITS ON THE FIRST DAY OF 3RD GRADE QUIETLY I SIT IN THE BACK LISTENING CLUMSILY SHE STUMBLES ON HIS NAME NERVOUSLY HE LOOKS AROUND POLITELY ON HER THIRD TRY HE CORRECTS HER COLDLY SHE ASKS, “DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME?” UNCERTAINLY HE ANSWERS, “YOU CAN CALL ME EDDIE.” UNCARINGLY SHE RESPONDS, “OH, THAT’S BETTER.” MECHANICALLY SHE ORDERS, “GO TO THE BACK FOR READING TUTORING.” HAPPILY I WAIT AND SMILE CONFIDENTLY I PRONOUNCE, “EDUARDO” PROUDLY HE BEGINS.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjQ1