INTRODUCTION

My interest in studying Islam had its beginning in my childhood. While everyone around me read or learnt to read the Qur'aan in Arabic without understanding what one read, I found myself going through the meaning of what I read in the language I knew. [Arabic is not my mother tongue.] This I did without any promptings from anyone.

This interest, however, remained dormant for many, many years thereafter till I retired from govt service and did a stint of consultancy in a taxation law. I did continue reading the Qur'aan along with its translation, but couldn't find the time for deeper study. In the back of my mind, the desire - to find out why Muslims continued to occupy back seats in almost all developmental matters of this world, while the Qur'aan assured all who sincerely followed its instructions to be successful here & in the Hereafter - became more & more intense.

I, therefore, gave up consultancy around 1998-1999, and devoted time available to me for a deeper study of the Qur'aan. It is 20 years since, almost, but I still cannot claim my study to be complete. A human mind can never ever study any divine work completely!

But I think I have come to know why Muslims, the custodians of the Qur'aan, have become backward. They have, generally, abandoned the Qur'aan! They are more interested in mundane matters. Allah Almighty has withdrawn His helping Hand from them.

It's amazing how even the greatest of the Islamic scholars have come to think that the Qur'aan, by itself, does not define certain things like Ar-Riba which Allah has prohibited. They are thus contradicting the very Book they claim to abide by. The divine Book repeatedly asserts that its Muhkamaat are made clear for all to follow.

In my Tafsir, published as the 1st page of this website, I have tried to point out several such matters in which Muslims contradict the Qur'aan. All the other pages too are the results of my studies of the Holy Book. I have reproduced one page, Salaah in the Qur'an, from another website (owner's permission taken) since I find myself in agreement with its content.

Nevertheless, I cannot claim I have made no mistakes. Readers, I hope, will graciously bring these to my notice whenever they find any.

Mohammad Shafi

9th August 2018.