After 13 years of teaching pure monotheism and breaking down racial and class divisions, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was rejected by the leaders of his hometown in Makkah. Many of his followers were tortured and killed. He, eventually migrated to Al Madinah in the north of Arabia and began developing an Islamic society. He laid the foundations of this society in three major ways:

1. Muhammad (pbuh) strengthened the relationship between the Muslim community and God Almighty by building an all-purpose house of worship that provided services for religious, educational and social affairs.
2.  He strengthened the relationship between the Muslims, one to another, by developing a type of social contract that provided an operational unity and a source of love and personal bonding. They intermarried, shared their wealth and even engaged in a form of share cropping as a means of economic empowerment.
3. He strengthened the bond between Muslims and people of other faiths by developing a constitution that enabled the young city-state to meet the needs of minorities. This new arrangement included other faiths in the development and defense of society without compelling them to accept Islam.

Muhammad’s teachings transformed people’s character by bringing out the best in humanity. He was quoted as saying:

“Extend peace greetings among yourselves, provide food to the needy, maintain close relations, observe prayer at night while people are asleep, then you will peacefully enter Paradise.”

“He will not enter Paradise, he whose neighbor is not secure from his wrongful conduct.”

“To remove something harmful from the road is charity.”

“Charity erases sin just as water extinguishes fire.”

“ Show mercy to people on earth, so that Allah will have mercy on you in Heaven.”

“The Believers in their mutual love are like the human body, where when the eye is in agony, the entire body feels the pain. When the head aches, all the body parts will suffer.”

“Provide food and extend greetings to whom you know or do not know.”

These concepts in 6^th century Arabia, they were a total revolution in human affairs. No wonder they spread so fast throughout Arabia and beyond. It is no surprise that they continue to inspire people of all nations, languages and ethnicities even in today’s troubled world.

The Quran’s Influence on Everyday Life

The Quran is the heart and soul of Islam. For believers it is an unending source of timeless wisdom. The Quran brings serenity to the distraught, strength to the weary, purpose to those who wander aimlessly and an unshakeable certainty in a Single Supreme Being who is absolutely Unique and always Near. The reader’s mind is opened up to the wonders of the universe … from a majestic constellation of stars to the tiniest organism on earth, the Quran paints awe-inspiring images that consistently summon our attention to the power and majesty of the Creative Force that fashioned the cosmos.

Do they not then contemplate on the Quran? If it had come from some other source than God, they would have found a great deal of contradiction in it. (4:82)

The Quran is regarded by Muslims as the very Speech of God. Each word is believed to be revealed by the Creator to Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace). Many people who read the Quran often feel that they are in the presence of the Divine. To paraphrase a contemporary author, after reading the Quran for a time you get the feeling that the Book is reading you – asking you essential questions about what you truly believe, what your purpose is in life and whether you will sincerely follow the path God has laid out for you.

The Quran is a book of guidance that was revealed by God as a mercy to humankind. It advocates a life that is based on God consciousness, piety, moderation and compassion. The Quran does not ignore the worldly lives of human beings nor does it neglect our spiritual dimension. It recognizes worldly blessings such as family, wealth, and achievement as part of God’s mercy and grace and it also stresses that the greatest success is to receive God’s good pleasure and acceptance in the Hereafter.

But you prefer the life of this world. While the Hereafter is better and more enduring. (87:16-17)

Indeed those who say: Our Lord is God, and afterward are upright, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not nor grieve, but receive glad tidings of paradise which you are promised. We are your protecting friends in the life of the world and in the Hereafter. There you will have (all) that your souls desire, and there you will have (all) for which you pray. A gift of welcome from (God) the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (41:30-32)

The Quran is a living book that continues to guide people from virtually every race in worldly and spiritual matters. The impact of the Quran extends to all aspects of a believer’s life – from religious tenets, to worship, social etiquette, business transactions, charity, personal relationships, dietary needs and more. Muslims express their love and reverence for the Sacred Text in various forms: through its melodic recitation; in splendid works of calligraphy and in decorative art found in Islamic architecture, metalwork, pottery, stone, glass, wood, and textiles. Memorizing as much of the Quran as possible is considered a great act of virtue and there are literally millions of people living today who have committed the entire Book to memory. One of the best known English translators of the Quran, Marmaduke Pickthall, was also an esteemed English novelist;  in the foreword to his translation Pickthall describes the Quran as “that inimitable symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears of joy and ecstasy.”

Recommended Reading

• The Story of the Qur’an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life
• Koran for Dummies
• Approaching The Quran
• Request A Quran