Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :Literacy, education, and research in different spheres of knowledge leads a nation to rise. The Muslim history is an example of this. Once the Muslims dominated the globe as they were enlightened with the tradition of seeking knowledge and research. They reached the peak of civilisation through this best medium. The Holy Quran has verses on Signs of Allah for people of wisdom, who think for believers, who listen, take heed, steadfast and thankful.The Holy Quran reveals : “By the Quran,/Full of wisdom,–“(Sura Ya-sin 36:2) “…Are those equal, those who know/And those who do not know ? /It is those who are/Endued with understanding/That receive admonition. …” (Sura Jumar 39:9) “This is the Way/Of thy Lord, leading straight:/We have detailed the Signs/For those who/Receive admonition.” (Sura An’am 6:126) “Say : Behold all that is/In the heavens and on earth ;/But neither Signs nor Warners/Profit those who believe not.” (Sura Yunus 10:101)The Holy Quran is the fountain of all knowledge. It teaches us to go on research in different branches of science and technology. It contains verses on Signs of Allah in His creations. There are verses on Anatomy, Astronomy, Cosmology, Geology, Meteorology, Mineralogy and Metallurgy, Agriculture and Horticulture, Pisciculture, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Farming, Storing and Rationing of foodgrains, Bee keeping, Navigation and Communication, Ship building, Pearl diving, Trade, Commerce and Business dealing, Science of war-fare, Defense tools and equipment, Drainage and other subjects.The Muslim Ummah must dedicate themselves to follow the dictates of The Holy Quran Mazid, which once enabled them to rise to the peak of civilization. The present man-made disaster and tragic catastrophe of world-wide aggression and inhuman atrocities can be averted and successfully checked if they could pursue knowldge-oriented lives, complete literacy and research on the verses of The Holy Quran including enriching them with the latest developments in different spheres of Science and Technology. They are to be united to face all evil designs and odds. These might help to protect themselves against easy vulnerability and tragic destiny.We should, thus, in this holy month of the Revelation of Al Quran, put our attention to the first revealed verse of the Divine Message: ” Proclaim ! (or Read)/ In the name/ Of thy Lord and Cherisher,/ Who created – /Created man, out of / A (mere) clot/ Of congealed blood:/ Proclaim : And thy Lord/ Is most Bountiful,–/ He Who taught! (The use of) the Pen … ” (Sura ‘Alaq: 1-4)Allama Yusuf Ali in ‘Holy Quran : Translation and Commentary’ writes : “Iqra mean ‘read’ or ‘recite or rehearse’, or ‘proclaim aloud’, the object understood being God’s Message.” “… The Arabic words for ‘teach’ and ‘knowledge’ are from the same root. It is impossible to produce in a Translation the complete orchestral harmony of the words for ‘read’, ‘teach’, ‘pen’ (which implies reading, writing, books, study, research), ‘knowledge’ (including science, self-knowledge, spiritual understanding) and ‘proclaim’, an alternative meaning of the word for ‘to read’ ……..” “And this kind of comprehensive meaning, as we have seen, runs throughout the Qur-aan–for those who will understand. ” This analysis makes it clear that knowledge with reading, writing and research is an obligation for all Muslims, The Holy Quran advises us to pray : “O my Lord, advance me in knowledge.” Rasulullah (Sm) said, “Seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim male and female.” He said, “Allah shows the way of Paradise to him who travels in search of knowledge.”We should go deep into the message of learning and research and revive our glorious culture of seeking knowledge for a better life here in this world and Hereafter.According to the verse of Al-Quran, the importance, significance and superiority of Holy Ramzan lies in the fact that Al-Quran itself was revealed in this month. Ramzan thus bears a special place in the Islamic calendar. Recitation (tilawat) of the Holy Quran is a great virtue. It is more virtuous in this month. There is a Hadith in the Sahih Bukhari that Rasulullah (Sm) used to recite the Holy Quran more and more in this month in comparison with other months. He said, “…whoever recites an ayat (verse) from the Holy Quran (in Ramzan) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the whole Quran in other months.” “He said. ” ….. .Invoke your Lord in right earnest with hearts that are free of sin and evil, to enable you to fast and to recite His Book (Al-Quran).” (Prophet’s Sermons : Uyun Akhbar Al-Ridha) Imam Baqir (R) says, “Everything has a spring time and the spring-time of the Quran is the month of Ramzan.” The Holy Quran has oceanic treasures of gems — unique message for the Muslims and the humanity. It needs to be pondered and discovered. We should recite the verses and also try to go deep into treasures of the Quran.
