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Aligarh: Under the Extra-Mural Lecture Programme of the Department of Islamic Studies, AMU, an interesting and thought-provoking lecture was delivered on 27 August 2004, by Dr Abdul Aziz, associate professor at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, on the easy methodology of teaching Arabic. The function was presided over by Prof. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli, president, Idarah-e Ulum al-Qur’an.

In his introductory speech, Dr. Zafarul Islam Islahi, convenor of the Extra-Mural Lecture Programme, complemented the guest speaker, saying that although he was an expert in chemistry, he has chalked out an easy methodology of teaching the language of the Qur’an without burdening the learner with Arabic grammar. He has also authored a book on this subject, Understand Quran – The Easy Way, in which he has simplified the method of learning and teaching this language using modern techniques.

In his welcome address, Prof Abdul Ali, chairman, Department of Islamic Studies, highlighted the importance of reading and understanding the Qur’an in its original Arabic, saying that the miraculous nature of the Book could be understood and enjoyed only in its own language. He further elaborated that it was quite easy to learn the logically developed scientific Arabic language by following modern methods of learning and teaching the language.

Dr. Abdul Aziz spoke about the easy method of learning the language of the Qur’an and stressed that one could get full benefit from the Book only if he understood it in the original language. And with that end in mind, he has prepared a 30-hour short-term course comprising 60 lessons, which he demonstrated in a lively and interesting manner by means of slides and projector. Currently, he is busy preparing CDs of this course in Arabic and Urdu. He added that Muslims could improve their conditions only by understanding and implementing the commandments and injunctions of the Qur’an.

In his presidential remarks, Prof. Ishtiyaq Ahmad Zilli shed light on the fact that the Qur’an was revealed not merely to be read and recited without understanding, but to be studied, reflected upon and implemented in practical life. He further pointed out that so long as Muslims practiced the teachings of the Qur’an, they were successful in all walks of life, and they also provided the world with a stable society based on the principles of peaceful co-existence comprising tolerance, freedom of faith and conscience, and universally accepted principles of humanism. Prof Zilli appreciated the efforts being made by the speaker in spreading the message of the Qur’an. «