M. H. Shakir, The Holy Quran; Arabic Text and English Translation; Foot-notes by M. H. Shakir (1974)

For easy daily recitation, the Quran is divided into 30 equal parts. One part takes only 24 reading minutes, and the whole Book requires 12 reading hours. There are 114 chapters, and 6226 verses, containing 99,464 words made up of 3,30,110 letters.

Millions of Muslims read the Quran-e-Majid daily. Imam Jaafer Sadiq has said, that the minimum daily reading of the Quran should be 50 ayats or 1/4 part, about 5 minutes reading.

Historical and scholarly foot notes have been specially avoided to keep the volume from becoming cumbersome. Those interested in deeper studies, should have recourse to several libraries.

ISLAM AND MUSLIM

The word Islam means submission to the Will of Allah and a Muslim is he who submits to the Will of Allah.

Islam is a religion, which can be followed easily by everyone, everywhere, in a day to day life.

It is the religion of every Prophet of Allah from Adam to Muhammad, and is as old as humauity. In fact, every child that is born, is a Muslim. It is the parents that make him a Jew, Christian or Hindu.

Allah has sent numerous Prophets to all the nations and races. As the human race progressed, the Prophets were sent with the laws that suited the requirements of that time. Each new Prophet brought a new Divine Law, which abrogated or cancelled the previous Law.

Muhammad is the last Prophet of Allah and he has brought the last and the most perfect Law in the Holy Quran. History shows us, that this Law has suited the requirements of the people for the last 1400 years and shall continue to do so till the Day of Resurrection.
Islam is a way of life. It is a simple and uncomplicated religion, giving one maximum freedom without encroaching on the freedom of others. It enjoins one to believe in One God, and do good; to keep up prayers and pay the poor rate; to fast during the month of Ramzan; to perform the Haj and to fight for the sake of Allah whenever necessary; to believe in the justice of Allah, in the life after death, in the prophethood of Muhammad and the teachings of the twelve Apostolic Imams. Islam forbids evil and tyranny, prohibits intoxicants and games of chance, adultery and indecencies, and blood and flesh of swine and dead animals. “There is no compulsion in religion” and there are no harsh and hard rituals or unreasonable dogmas in Islam.

Among many reforms which the Prophet of Islam gave to the world, he taught that all human beings whether brown, black, red, white or yellow, are sons of Adam and no man had any superiority over another man because of his colour, rank or riches. He taught:—

“The most honourable man in the sight of Allah, is he, who is most careful of his duty to Allah and that man has rights only to the extent of the duties, he performs.”
M. H. SHAKIR

Cite this page

M. H. Shakir, The Holy Quran; Arabic Text and English Translation; Foot-notes by M. H. Shakir, R. A. Juma, 1615 Pech Rd., Apt. 26C, Houston, Texas 77055. Presented by World Organization for Islamic Services (WOFIS), P.O. Box No. 2245, Tehran, Iran, 1974 Edition, Consulted online at “Quran Archive - Texts and Studies on the Quran” on 29 Mar. 2024: http://quran-archive.org/explorer/m-h-shakir/1974?page=7