The Story of the Qur’an

smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah le or sahbihi omada obod So then why they come up with Allahu wa barakato plays and thanks to God Allah subhanho wa Taala traces peace blessings and salutations upon our Master and exemplary Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam Allah No sir no more haven't become. I am very honored this evening and we all are we have very special guests with me live here in studios of Han Allah. None other than Manas Acharya Philander Jagmohan for joining us My name is Monica cinema Hello. I'm very happy to be your first live in studio in studio socially distance the guests Yeah, we must add that because you know then people

are going to say look, we are having a live thing but there's no mosques and so on. So that is enough distance. But I appreciate the proximity more than the distance Alhamdulillah.

Tonight we are discussing the story of the Quran more specifically, the book that Mona nadie simply authored the story of the Quran recounting the first 13 years of revelation by Manas, Acharya Freelander, and of course Subhan Allah, this is something that I was very excited to see. I'm sure many others out there, as well. I saw when Marina posted the pic of you with a book on Facebook. It's just that just spreading like wildfire. Subhan Allah, and I think the community is really excited about this. And I, you know, particularly I was I was excited because I mean, we've I have a long, quite a long history with Mona and I was very proud. You know, martial law, one of my teachers

authored this book, and I know it's about something that you're really passionate about. So before we get into the book itself, I'm more interested in I think of us as well in the author of the book. So you know that very tough questions wanna tell us? Who is Modena zecharia Fela In fact, I should say this, but it sounds a bit disrespectful, I should say, who is Zachary f allender. Is Malina viscerally.

You want to give me a starting point?

Where do I start? As finally that that's like cheating? I remember when I was asked this question, in one podcast, and then I was he to success, like, how do you how do you even answer that question? Yes. You know, if if you were to define yourself,

if you were to define yourself to people who don't know you from above soap, they've never heard of you before. But they're really interested in getting to know you because they want to read your book. Yes. How would How would you say, you know, this is who I am? Bismillah. Okay. Mother, Shannon, tough question.

I think I'll start

with my desire to wanting to study the deen.

I've always wanted to know more about Islam.

And the thinking behind Islam.

I never wanted to become an Imam. Because when I was young, I didn't want to grow a beard.

But fortunately, that wasn't enough of a reason to keep me from studying.

And

I got to

it at a very young age, I started to become a half. I fell in my teenage years, in fact,

and I completed while still a teenager.

And

at the time when when it wasn't as popular to be studying and to be taken out of school for that reason as well. Yes, at the time, actually, we I as a youngster feel that I was.

I was unfairly eye to eye to field questions by adults, were asking me so what are you going to do in future?

You know, you're asking a 1516 year old kid who decided that he wants to become Hatfield and his parents are backing him up and they're supporting him. And then you're cornering him asking him what you're going to do with your future? how you're going to love what you're going to eat food on the table. Yeah, so those were those were some of the challenges but but luckily, the support outweighs the the naysayers support and that our community has for the plan. So that was an amazing journey. difficult but amazing. And so whose decision was that? Was that like, okay, I want to do this or was it like a suggestion from our last parents? No, it was something that I wanted to do. Like luckily

my father was on board involved with the masjid wanting growth in the masjid as well.

So, so my themes aligned with what he was busy with as well. And then as you know, Padilla, Allah decreed. And I was very happy to go into firstly a part time program. And then a full time program, I couldn't decide, by the way for anyone else wants to wants to know, I was very bad at visitation. I was very bad at memorization. And I actually wanted to give up, and I gave up and I told my father, this is for other people. So heinola They are people who are able to do this, right. I've seen them. I've heard them resign, and they are the people of the corner. This is not for me. I think I have to go study and do something that like normal people.

Yeah, my father didn't accept anything. He just told me go back to school tomorrow. Yes. So that's where it started. Yeah, yeah, I'm on and

I ended up skipping a few years. I ended up

going to Donald Orlan, in Newcastle. I was a married man. And by that time, I'd work experience. But I was still drawn to wanting to study the dean and I to make the difficult decision of living a life of a student with a family and trying to support them at the same time.

But I made the decision I ended up in a room in Newcastle, it was probably the best six years of my life

to be a student of Dean.

And that is that is played a major role in my growth. Because they they over a three year period, the telogen model the translation of the Quran that happened there, I was just in love with it, I would spend every free moment with the translation of the Quran and with the English tafsir of the Quran to bolster the Arabic understanding. And I think that the rest is history. I came back and

we wanted to teach what we what we knew we wanted to get involved in the community

that now empties into the opportunity for me to continue my passion.

Yeah, we spent how long with myself and wanting to add. And, and I think that is we, we I began to understand

that this love that I was having, that I owe this love of a worthy

of mine wasn't unique, right?

They began to understand but this is everyone's infatuation. And, and everyone is actually seeking this relationship. Right. Right. And, and now I've been put actually in as a teacher, and our school was actually focusing around Quran as a teacher, I was, I was put into this, I don't know why I'm going this way of using this metaphor of love and things, but I think it's a good one. And, and I was actually doing the introduction.

You know, you had the infatuated student, you had the sublime word of Allah subhanaw taala. And yummy. The humble teacher during the introduction. And what I saw happening, they,

in the,

you know, when I looked at the students what I saw happening, it continued to amaze me. It continued to amaze me and, and it propelled me to want to continue the saucer. I think I was I was at that time very passionate about what I was doing.

I think the students were extremely passionate to the extent that in our first year,

not having planned to translate the entire call. We translated the entire call. And it was it was it was phenomenal. You know, it was phenomenal. And so yeah, I can I can go on and on and on. Now, you know, I actually I'm not going to skip through those years, just like that there's some interesting bits there that we really want to know about. So look, the decision. It's kind of a common thing nowadays. I shouldn't say common, but it's more prevalent nowadays for youngsters to be taken out of school, and then they go and study.

But now, after that, Melissa, we're married men. And then although we do have to study in Newcastle, that must have been some level of sacrifice because the life of a student isn't the easiest ending to have a family on top of it. Tell us a bit about that decision. And where did that come about? You need a support structure. And my wife was obviously

the backbone. You know if you have a spouse that's willing to walk the mile with you, and then half of the battle is already won. Yeah. The other half was seeing how we're going to put food on the table at the same time. Sorry, I recall mala telling us a story about how mighty bus gets used to be like a luxury in those days. Yes, it was amazing. Yeah. If I could afford to to to

Other specs of halloweekends magic? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. So So I the amazing support from from from my wife and but I think actually, I'm glad that I went to study as a young married man because my focus from day one, I was extremely focused, I knew what I gave up to be there. I knew what I wanted to achieve, I couldn't waste time. When I was in class I needed to I needed to apply myself when I was out of school I needed to, to build on what I've learned in the class. So I you know, it was time it was valuable time being a person that you know, you have a family you know, what you're giving up so you make the most of it today, NASA handle that I can I can relate that So, I mean, the

morning I decided to study and the highlight of Molina's 60s the I suppose, you know, this, from what I gather many who have either gone to study the Quran, it's like a revelation and a half when they come to find out the meanings of that which they actually memorize. Take us through that experience. Like what what is what does that actually like? Yes, so um so Donal loams program

of translation I think happened over a period is awesome many moons ago, but it happened over a period of two or three years. Now we you started the translation you do about seven or design then again, and then. And then you finish the entire Quran. So initially, it's obviously you coming to terms with with Arabic, you're coming to terms with the Arabic language, and you're translating, and, and you're just trying to understand the book of Allah subhanaw taala, right. And then slowly, you start becoming comfortable. And then some of those obstacles, they just disappear. Because you add it all the time. So some of those difficult things that you're having with regard to your number

one yourself, and how do I translate that? And how do I translate this, when it's module or whatever the case may be? It just becomes second nature. And this is when you start actually you starting to enjoy it. So being a half, you don't have the stumbling block of of the recitation, because it's it's Yeah. So so so you're flowing. So what I would do is I would recite slowly, because I once I, once I felt that I mastered a particular piece in terms of translation, then I would resign slowly and not translate. And then I would allow myself to process right, the translation in Arabic in Arabic. So I was, I would do that. And that was for me. The highlight that is that is when I

understood that. I absolutely was where I needed to be at that point in my life. Nothing was too big a sacrifice. We have reached that point. Yes. Yeah. And

it was more than I never had desires of becoming a teacher becoming a writer of the Quran. That wasn't, I didn't have ambitions to that during that time. It was me wanting to know firsthand, not via someone what Allah subhanaw taala is saying, I wanted to process it's an amazing feeling. I recall being in the same kind of process, the journey, yes, all the hard work. And the hours that you put in an entity is difficult. So students out there listening, you know, if you're listening to this right now, and you're studying Arabic, go through that difficulty, because eventually, I know, like many students worked really hard that that I came across, then at the end of the first year,

this is a Darwinian program, when it comes to Ramadan, and Ramadan is a bit later on in the year, a few years ago. And then it's like everything just based off when you're when you're able to stand in taraweeh. Yes, and, and and listen to what is recited and actually know what's going on, like, without having to stand at the translation or something like that. I don't think anything in the world can compete to that. Yes. And that's the journey. That's the that's the journey mana and

and you don't feel saturated yet. I was inserted. That wasn't enough. No. Yeah, it was it wasn't enough. It was an amazing milestone today. So I had this English stuff. See it? I think it's called tafsir with money. Okay, it was three volumes. And what I would do, I would go through this English tafsir and it was it was a really good tafsir i don't i don't know if it's available yet. But if students are busy with a translation of the Quran, and they want a reliable Tafseer they can use this one.

And I would and this was in addition to what we were doing in class, okay. And then I felt Okay, I felt a bit more confident that at least my understanding is is backed up by by by a scholarly work Right, right. I was unable at that stage to read all the stuff.

And, and, and like I say that that's part of the journey.

And then what I need to add here that in hindsight, it was an amazing milestone to reach. But it was by no means the end of the journey. Of course. Yeah, it was really just, oh, I have reached a particular a very important juncture on this journey. Right. But now, so many other things open up that I that I realized that was a shortcoming that was preventing me from having the full experience now. Yeah, I think that's such a pertinent pointed man, I like the day because, you know, while these this growth in Quran education in Cape Town, and in South Africa, maybe even in the world, it does come with a bit of a problem in that many people are unfortunately left with the impression

that after I've done my understanding of Quran in the basic level that I am no Quran, yes. And actually don't realize how much they still lift, you know, after that, which is a bit dangerous, because, you know, there's no, there's no end to the sea of knowledge that is the Quran, yes. And the more you learn, then you only realize how little you know, like, I'll never forget that feeling like getting through first year, and then you reach second year, like,

actually there anything. And when you go to the next year, and the next year, and the higher up you go, so to speak, the more this realization sets in, and that's such an important element to give the students humility, that makes an I remember, Manila, is quite a bit, a little bit of knowledge is dangerous. Yes, definitely. You know,

we shouldn't forget that people who study the deen full time, they don't study subjects in isolation of the other scientists. Right. So So while you're while you're studying a particular subject, you're studying several other subjects related to the Dean of Islam at the same time? Yes. So so your knowledge of the subject matter is multi dimensional, if you choose it to be, so if you choose to look at the subject in silos, as individual components, that's up to you. Yeah. But But if but if you, the CD students that that that wants to understand how this knowledge is integrated, then you're, then you are going to be learning much more from every individual subject, subject, because

of what you're doing in the other subjects now, so. So it doesn't matter what you're doing, whether you whether it's home, or sort of whether it's physical school fit, whether it's mostella, whether it's normal, or

whether it's Hadeeth. And and we know that our loans are Hadid centric. So we do we do Heidi's, like, you know, you wake up with how do you eat honey?

So So, but but all of that, all of that actually builds you. So by the time you reach the text again. So you start with a text and you go there, and then you come back to the text of Allah because the text of Allah gave birth to all of that now, and then you come back here. And then when you're back here, then and then you're reading it, with this appreciation of this of this vast ocean of knowledge that the Quran gave birth to. And then you realize, Oh, my opinion and my understanding is I am but a drop in the ocean. When it comes to when it comes to the to the spa, spa handle, I must say every time on SS addresses me and says Mona, it's weird. I must say that I must put that

out there. And the reason I was put this at the is because, you know, like I'm in my 30s now, and modern I was my age when I first make Montana as a often madrasa teacher. And that that is that's actually really important because technically, Montana was the first mowlana that that ever came across in my existence. You know, before that it was like a mom's and chefs and so forth. And the term I was saying the other night in another episode of the podcast that the term itself was like difficult to deal with because it's three syllables. It's like mo learn, as opposed to like a mom or shake, just like one or two. So the reason I'm mentioning this is because when mom and I came back,

Melinda did not enter into like your Darul uloom, and you're opening up your own madrasa and so on. Why don't I get right down to the grassroots and taught kids in often in madrasa? Yes. The likes of me. Yes. And, and and that is, I mean, that gave me access to a real scholar of Islam, as opposed to just like, you know, not to belittle anyone out there. But we often find people who do part time Islamic studies they did a year. They did a year somewhere and they did another year somewhere. They went to nightclubs in some way. They ended up being the afternoon madrasa teachers, and those who are really qualified. they pursue the most sought after positions with higher paying salaries in the

light

What made Mona and I get down to the grassroots at that level, in your own community retreat? You know, we all grew up and so on. What what pursued, you know, what made you pursue that endeavor, as opposed to something much? Yes. so to speak. It wasn't the money, right?

That is a joke. Yeah.

What happened? I think what had an impact on me was, I was sitting in class one on a possum. Sima Rahim, Allah, the founder of dark room, the first room in South Africa, I had the good fortune of him being my teacher of Buhari.

And one of the advices he gave us in our last year. He said, You, you students now are going to be addressed his alma mater. And you all probably have aspirations of going out there and teaching people all these subjects that you've learned in all these fancy subjects that you've learned all these sciences.

And he said, but I'm telling you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you going and he called it a muck, I'm going to recall it. The mother was going to thalassa sitting with kids and imparting your knowledge they said,

he said, it's no shame. That stuck that stuck with me. that stuck with me, and and I took the advice. He said, If there's an opportunity to teach kids and teach them,

obviously, I didn't appreciate the the wisdom that he had, right. At that time. I didn't understand it. But But I followed it. Nonetheless, I came back and there was an opportunity in the community, my community. And that was,

at that time, the only way that the community so I could serve them. And I and I, I obliged. And what a wonderful time I had behind Allah, what a wonderful time I was, I was there, there was about 200 kids. I couldn't I could engage him with dafis. Yeah, things that I thought needed to be happening in a madrasa revelation. I could jack up the teachers and get everyone and put the put the program in place. Create milestones for the kids to reach and, and, and, you know, I look back at

memorizing Heidi. I remember the first couple of ideas that I ever memorized was was the yes like in the melanoma leukemia of the whole chatroom. He man, I remembered those Heidi from those days. And to you know, I don't know how it is right now. But at that time, it was a newbie

What's his Melendez teaching the people so that is Han Allah, Allah reward well enough for that. And I know that it was then

shortly after that, Muller decided with the late one in a sheriff's office, Rahim Allah, to have an Arabic program at night, which I've enjoyed as well. And then that was my doorway into

studying Arabic at the level. So you know, Subhan, Allah, how many others were also affected in this way?

This is a bit of a political question. But what was it like being a mowlana? In the days we they were hardly modern as and it was kind of not not a very popular thing to be among, in, what does that like?

Look, if you had aspirations of,

perhaps of of leadership or leading a community,

the odds weren't necessarily stacked in your favor?

I think they will. There were certain perceptions about the school of thought that we that we come from

sometimes misinformed perceptions.

And, and I think that, that created a climate of confusion. People wouldn't necessarily show where to locate us, it was often Okay, so, I know that's any Mom, I know, that's a shift. So what is a mowlana? Like a type of a collapse? Why do they have like a type of a condescending thing? Like, like, explain yourself? Like, like, why, you know, and those are some of the things and, and, yeah, I wouldn't want to get stuck into it besides saying that, that, at times communities gave gave, give the, especially the older mother give them in general to give them a tough time. And I saw that side of our community. I was given my fair share of tough times. And but we made it through it, it made

us It made us stronger.

It made us recognize what we need to do as a community to grow. And eventually when when people do start listening,

it puts us in a position to be able to then to then say that the right type of things to make it better than for for for the new generation shall now I mean, I mean, there's some nice comments coming through my

Let me maybe have a look at this. You have some people sending hearts. The ladies love sending hearts and sometimes the men also seen hearts. You have monitor a sack with mine saying my link ECU in beneficial knowledge and all our teachers have qumola you touched our lives monitor. And he also says he remembers one day when when I cried almost the entire period. The saying money I mean dictating owner's equity just like all of us. I agree 100% Subhana Allah

Molina's time at dharana him it was it was for me that was also like another journey I wanted to leave school minister came to speak to my father about you know, what are we going to do about this youngster? You know, St. Louis school? Yes, lm she's bringing back so much memories, Rahim Allah. And then when I got to dharana him,

it was initially very difficult to relate to someone like Manali Goda. For me, I was scared of millennia ago, it was like the Sahabi walking away, you know, but what Mona did more, I think

I didn't I didn't even know how to explicit what to call it. But when I had a way of linking, you know, the haves and the have not if I can put it in that way and I'm not talking about money.

Because on the one hand, yes, Molinar is an alim and mowlana etc, teaching the Quran. But on the other hand, yeah, we can talk to this guy, you know, we can talk to him, he can see us and we can see him and we can relate. And then Allah transitioned, as in, you know, via the Quran. And that was that was profound because it allowed the Quran to speak to us, you know, on our level. I think if anything, you know, it was it was the moments in which it felt like this Quran is alive and speaking to me that that's really the transformation catalyst that it was for me, and I'm sure it was for others as well. We did monitor this from, you know, is this something that you've got from a

particular teacher? Or is this just a style that you developed of your own?

I think

I think I saw my purpose as facilitating other people's journey as well.

I saw that as my purpose today. So I didn't only see myself as a, as a teacher that's transferring knowledge.

And the student as a vessel that needs to absorb that knowledge. I saw myself as a conduit, I was on a journey, this thing did something for me and I was still on the journey, being given the privilege to teach these students who, who had decided that they also want to embark on the journey. It was a privilege for me.

And, and, and I think, I think that played a huge part in our approach the students because it meant that I needed to approach them with a certain humility span, because they had made the decision that they want a relationship, a closer relationship and a link with Allah subhanaw taala. And they were willing to sacrifice the time some people left their work, some people gave up other studies and so on and so forth. And and they gave the time to come sit there in the masjid with me. So, so I had this huge sense of Amarna.

And I felt I couldn't waste their time. But it was also a journey. And I wanted them to experience because, you know, our Beloved Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the Quran was, was was alive in Makkah. The Quran was a text that spoke to the community. It when the Prophet Allah is when the when the verses were revealed, and and the Prophet that he rehearsed and recited those verses. It was the Quran they were listening to it was Allah's color, it was Kala Mala. It was no longer the Prophet speaking. It was he was no longer speaking. The moment he started to recite the moment he said, Allah revealed, yeah, you will move on for under a buck Africa.

You see?

Yes. Yeah. So So when he does that, what happens? What happens? He is then responsible for the kingdom of Allah and the people don't use him anymore. He disappears. So he disappears into the background and the Lord is speaking with them. And the prophet and this living this living column is living document and affecting the lives of the people and impartial

and spoke to everyone. The Quran spoke to Abuja Abuja wasn't bad, so bad that the Quran chose no known. This Quran is a pious document. It only speaks to pious people. Or it only speaks to people whose thoughts are open. No, no, no

Put on is impartial. ly Andrew Isla Swati kumala I decided to come while I can Leandra qhubeka

illa Illa, Swati kumala. In unwelcome, none of these artificial determinants of what successes and, or what failure is, Allah doesn't look at that. Allah presents the message.

And unless and if you deny, the message doesn't stop, the message continues. And it challenges your denial, but in a way that is compassionate, that it challenges your denial, without eating you with a stick. It challenges you denial, telling you the consequences, but also reaching out to you and telling you, and this is another opportunity only for you to come back. So if this was what I understood the Quran to be my seminal understandings of what the Quran was in Mecca.

This is what I then wanted to recreate in class for my for my students. Awesome. You know, I know it's a, it was a big

issue to conquer to recreate MCI, but but, you know, aim for the aim for the stars, and maybe you'll just reach the mourners of a handler.

Now, gee, that was it was quite an experience. And when I did it in, in a, in a very unique way, with everything. I mean, I remember sort of Adam Ron was, was the one we had, obviously the most deep interaction with because it was the first one that we did with one another. And it was just profound, like, I remember those lessons as clear as day, you know, it's like it happened yesterday.

And it it really instilled a sense of love for the Quran. You know, when we spoke about, say, either Maria Maria said to a Salaam and experiences and so on, I don't know, it's just something that you can't relate without. It's like when you go and hide, you can't tell someone what it was like to be on Hajj until they go and hide and then you can be like, yeah, you know, and you can just automatically relate and this is the beauty of the Quran. The Quran is not one dimensional, when it speaks to the Quran speaks to man, at so many levels, that you know, you it is going to it is going to impact on you one way or the other, the Quran is going to impact on you, right? you're mentioning

the story of Miriam. So it's definitely the process of of the Quran is playing a role, the narrative, the story part, how Allah subhanaw taala draws the reader in. But there are other things is this the logical aspects of the Quran is the Muta shall be heard of the poor and other people in the notice of Wolf and so on and so forth. There is the fit of the Quran which which which, which the Maha the Ahmed with, with, with these is a fit, for example, there's the there's the idea that speaks of eschatology of the of the last day of tiama, of Jannah, of jahannam, these things that are unseen, and these people that that, that when they read this type of thing, this is what they want,

they want to know what is out there, besides this dunya so they there is enough for them, these people who are just so fascinated to be living on this planet. And the Quran is there for them. It tells him how how the wings bring rain, how the raindrop breaks through did Earth, our seed sprouts forth. So behind Allah, over the permission of Allah subhanaw taala. It speaks about that biology. It speaks about it speaks about man and man's own conception. So for the one who's interested in science, who is interested in scientific inquiry, he's going to find that he is going to find this passion in the Quran. For the one who's interested in castles in stories in history. He's going to

find his passion in the Quran, for the one who's interested in the unseen and he wants to know more is going to find his passion in the Quran. So behind Allah it you know, I can go on forever.

I don't know one of the one of the quotes that I read was about your late father, Mahalo to Allah. And he made a comment. I don't know if he knew what he was talking about at the time, but he spoke about how every verse what you know, was revealed for a reason and so on. Tell us a bit about that incident and your father's influence in your journey.

So before the masjid was built in the retreat,

the squill a community with a retreat community, they own the building in Third Avenue in the retreat. And at that time, it was referred, they called himself the squiggle Islamic educational society now, so there was a madrasa D in Third Avenue in the retreat that the masjid didn't exist. And I attended that madrasa as a youngster. My father was actually a teacher the that madrasa at night Okay, himself and do some studying that lived in Plato's theory, right? He was studying Islam that time through UniSA.

And my father had a love for reading a love for books I love with Dean and had a knack to tell stories. Okay, yeah.

And, and I would go with him at night. Very small.

I would sit on the table and I wouldn't be very chuffed because my father is the one giving the lecture.

And I'm looking at all these students. So I used to enjoy that. But also, I listened to some of the things that they say. And if and when him and his colleague when they spoke, I was listening to some of the things they were saying.

And when I started to learn the Quran, he relayed some of the conversations he started to relate to me.

And this is when the, the topic came up about tafsir. Because what is every time I hear the stumped of cffc. If you don't know the Quran until you notice, it tells you what is tafsir there was no Google that time now.

You know, so so you couldn't just google Tafseer and Wikipedia gives you an answer. So Hannah, yeah, yeah. So so you just you just have to remain confused until until like to * on this. And in suburban new zone.

And he introduced me to the idea that is tafsir that there are people who actually endeavor to explain the Koran so that we can have a proper understanding. And he introduced me to this one concept with a new normal clone, known as Babu that know, every single verse in the Quran. We know perhaps not every single verse, but in the imagination at that time, it was every single verse in the Quran as a reason for revelation. And until you understand the reason for the revelation, you haven't understood the Quran properly. So that's what you told me, I thought, oh my god, I got my work cut out for me, right? If ever I want to understand this Quran, then I'm going to have to

understand tafsir Yeah. And then I went, I went to go try to find lessons. I was teaching tafsir.

And I came across a few scholars and I sat in a Tafseer class, but it didn't do it for me. Because because they were explaining the Quran from the point of view from from the contextual understanding of the Quran, not necessarily from from a text in tafsir text. So that's why if I could understand what what it was actually what it meant. And this also played a huge role in me finally deciding No, no, I have to go find out myself what the subject is. Yeah. Yes, no, you know, that that was a, you know, something that that I also found very motivating. It's like, there were so many people saying so many different things. If that, if that sort of lights a fire in you of curiosity, and it makes

you confused, maybe that maybe that's a sign that Allah is telling you, you need to go learn more, yes, you know, because other people who are not finding that same confusion, they're not going to be bothered by it. So they're not going to pursue anything further. You know, as opposed to the other, the other side of the spectrum where somebody becomes confused, and they just run away, you know, that's obviously the other outcome. So now you you've you've done, you've taken us through your your, your Davina Indies, and you now move on to discovery slam and a few other

stops in the road, so to speak. That's how those ventures your recent few years, how those played a role in

the resultant work that you see before us this evening. So

when you were involved in education, so I think it was that my involvement in education, I taught madrasa

and I wasn't happy with a model that I that I found. And

and it's starting to get me thinking around educational matters. And that's where my passion for education started.

And then, uh, during that time, I was further challenged with having to teach course material that had to be taught that I thought I needed to adopt new skills.

So

it came to it came to a point where we I felt Alhamdulillah I felt sustained. I felt Okay, I've got a good grip of the of the of the material, I've got a good understanding of how to import the material. Yeah.

But a lot of the things that I'm talking about here, it seems very practical. Some of it you can do your your your your pillars, you can you can perform your son I give you like our force in the month of Ramadan in theoretical Hajj. But there's certain other things that the Quran speaks about the striving,

you know, and and,

and I found Am I am I Is this enough is sitting in the classroom, is it enough, obviously then I decided to join discover Islam. And I became, for lack of a better word doctor quick until the law came squeak under study.

The first day on the job. I came there and he said, right, we're going to own mutual metropolitano one of these financial houses I said, What are we going to do? He said we're going to present Islam to them. Yes. I said oh my word. I was only ever speaking to Muslims right to lovers of

Allah is Dean, and Allah His book. And now I was going to go to a financial institution, corporate culture, where people are walking with the power suits and whatnot. And I was going to enter that environment. As a scholar.

It's totally out of character. You don't do things like that. Yes, you stay in your domain. You're not noticing that because if you're out of your domain, you're gonna get eaten by the lions, right? That was my perception. A little did I know Dr. Creek was was very well acquainted with how to deal with the lions. Right? Right. Right, and seeing how he was handling

how he was presenting Islam. And another world open up for me, I realized, but Islam is not

our, our intellectual property.

We love Islam now. Yes, but that doesn't mean we are allowed not to share Islam. And, okay, that was the catalyst for the world of the world of Dawa opened up for me from there.

I started to address non Muslim audiences on mass.

Over the years that I spent there, we developed the various presentations and various ways of engaging people of hamdulillah It was an amazing journey. It was an amazing journey with with with Allah's permission.

I've got this, I was given the opportunity to see things to CPL, people embrace Islam, from all quarters, you know, from from top executives, from Europe, flying down from Joburg to Cape Town, just to meet me at Discovery is now to embrace Islam, to a homeless man in an outlying area in stand, who just happened to come to the masjid when there was a presentation. And we went when we wanted to offer him food, he said, He's not here for the Food Show. He came for the message and he embraced Islam.

So so so behind Allah, and everything in between.

So so that played a huge part.

In in, in me getting to understand I think our community, but outside of our cape, Muslim community, it I think it gave me an understanding of the broader community and, and how to engage them.

Yeah, that time also, I decided to embark on studies, I decided I needed to, to maybe do a degree, I embarked on the degree, I believe you're studying as well keep keep it short.

And no comment. Yes. And,

look, it was it was a security degree. But it was the study of Islam.

And the person that I was, I don't even know if I want to get stuck into this topic. But the person that I was, is that I was I was I wanted to know more, I was curious. And there was something on offer. I embarked on that. And, and one of the modules was obviously around Hades, there was one around the Quran, and there was others as well. The one that on the Quran particularly drew me in and it was

it just opened up. Another another aspect. Another another world, I would say that there are actually people out there who view the Quran in a very different light.

Sometimes they are Muslim, something they are not Muslim, you know,

but but they exist, and they are there. And no matter how much I wish for them to be there or not to be there. They are. Yeah. So you still you still need to deal with them. So we need to deal with them. And, and, and what why do these people view the Quran in a particular way?

Is the substance to some of that which they are saying. So this is going to upset you. Or it's going to make you grow as a as a scholar. Um, it didn't upset me. I think I would like to believe I grew I grew as a scholar. And, and there's only, you know, gave me

I think I think by that time already, the idea of starting to want to write a book

started to come to my mind, right? Yes. And that's what handle I can I can really appreciate the journey that Mandalay speaking about because every

every stop that one makes on this road.

It adds to who you are as an individual, and it adds to your journey of Ireland and the acquisition of Ireland as well. I'm particularly now interested coming to the book. Yeah, I think first thing that caught my eye was audio at the time.

The first thing that caught my eye was the the subject matter, not the not the main heading, but the subheading recounting the first 13 years of Revelation. Now it's very difficult to you know, when one speaks about Docker and to kind of speak about my favorite surah and my favorite idea, and I really like this, because it's not that you don't like the others. It's just that something particularly stands out for you and

When I teach the Mackie SWAT in particular, I get a bit more excited

for a number of a plethora of reasons. So my question is, what made Muller decide on recounting the first 13 years of revelation? Like what was the Delta now I got the I wanted to tell the story of the time from the beginning, what I thought the beginning was

right into the era of the of the greed of a city

which was an encyclopedia, which is basically an encyclopedia then I thought, This is way too much. This is way too much. I'll never when when I finished this, then I decided okay, maybe I need to do the Quran from from the beginning of what I deemed the beginning until the the demise of the prophets on large. So,

I thought that that is a good thing. And then I started

trying to formulate my ideas and start to think how I would approach the subject matter what my angle is, because I suppose I had a very definitive idea of of what I wanted to do now. Then I realized No, no,

even that is too much. Even that is too much. I think I have to I have to confine myself to due to a shorter period. Right. So I went first initially wanting to spend quite a number of years and I to do to deciding that no, let me tackle the first 13 years of Revelation. I think there's, there's, there's an important story there. And I need to do justice to this, or at least to the best of my ability to to do justice to this era. And, and that is where it started. Now the challenge was how I was going to unpack the story. And those were, we might talk about that. But that's how I came to this idea of the first 13 years only right okay, now, Mashallah. I was like I said, I was very

excited. I think, especially for our community, like if we were to compare ourselves to a time beaded in the life of the Prophet so I said, I'm, I don't think it would be the Medina phase. Like for us as a Muslim minority in Cape Town. Even though we've been here for so many years. We still very much in the Macan phase, because of our status as a minority, not the same as other minorities, baps But still, and then also the challenges that we face, you know, on a day to day basis as opposed to the later challenges. So

when Molina okay settled on this, this is going to be a try.

status in the neuroses had Yeah, yeah. So.

So the story of the Quran, the title, the story of the Quran, I told this to someone and I said, Oh, not the story is in the Quran and the story of the Quran I said, Yeah, the story of the Quran. The Quran also has a story. That is what I believed, and

I wanted to present the Quran.

While it is very difficult to separate the Quran from the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa Salaam.

In our scholarly understanding, we have done it we have said that which the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa Salaam had said, done, tacitly approved or which applies to his physical characteristics and so on and so forth is called Hadeeth.

When we comment on his life and how we loved it, and through historical lens, we call it the seal.

But when we refer to the column of Allah, we refer to it as the Quran. We refer to it distinct from the Prophet, although it is married to the Prophet, because he was the main conduit, he is the Messenger of Allah. Right?

It still had a distinct voice.

It spoke separately from him that in fact at times, he didn't know what the Quran was going to say he waited.

He waited and then when the Quran spoke, and then he heard also, and I think I that is what I wanted to capture. I wanted to capture that the Quran had its own voice. Although it came through the medium of the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa Salaam it had its own voice, and sometimes it's spoke to the prophet in NACA la Hola. Hola. Can you Oh, Mohammed, you know, it speaks to him sunlight and in many other solo Doha, Alameda Kaya team and for our Yeah, it speaks to the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa Salaam directly and when it speaks to him, he is also then in Ahmed era. He is also the ally speaking to me. These verses are my ones you know

And there had to be a very distinct, a feeling that that was happening at the time and Allah was speaking to him directly. It wasn't as if he was inventing this he wasn't we as Muslims, we believe the Quran cunnamulla How do you tell that story of how the Quran unfolds in a community where there are people who are going to go up against it with the people who are going to embrace the message of the Prophet Alayhi, salaatu wa Salaam

and everyone in between? How is the I'm going to respond to them? How did the Quran respond to them? How did it speak to them? How did it single them out? How did it begin to categorize them because they categorized himself that it was this tribe and it was that tribe man of this and that and the other? The Quran, came up with its own way of looking at the community. And in these makin verses, then we see the Quran starting to speak, speak to the community in a very, very particular way.

And I believe that is the story of the Quran. Once we start to unpack how the Quran was addressing these individuals, and at times the Quran, you know, the the drama was so intense, that at one point in the end, the persecution of the Prophet alayhi salaatu wa Salaam was so intense, that at one point the Quran, Allah subhanaw taala directs his Kalam at one individual Tabitha Vila hub, a be la be singled out.

The Quran chooses to speak to one individual. But that that one individual, why does the Quran choose that specific one?

You know, I believe that he then the one explanation that I would offer for that is that that people are archetypes? Right? Right. And and sometimes you just find this ideal archetype. You know, in terms of a denialist a person who's really prepared a rejecter, but the person is willing to go the full,

the full nine yards, and, and he epitomize that. And the Quran, then singles him out, you know, you we singled you out by name, and we deal with you, but they all have Bula hubs in this world. And like we deal with Abu lahab, we will deal with all the Ebola hubs after after this one. And, and I see, and I see a story evolving, and then it became the challenge. How do I tell this? Because you know, you imagine, when you want to sculpt something, then you imagine this beautiful thing. You take clay and you say I'm going to sculpt the Ferrari. But when you're done, it looks like a child that was playing with dough. Yeah, I think that was my story as well, I had this amazing idea of

what I wanted to do. And when I started to write the Initially, I saw Oh, no, this is not what I was thinking. This is not it's not coming out, like supposed to. Yeah, so then the work started in the works not Yeah, it would be nice for for even students who are interested in one day writing a book to come in, sit in and just get to hear what the experience, the actual writing experience was, like, you know, that perhaps that wouldn't interest everyone. But Subhanallah, I would certainly be interested in the journey after my first manuscript when i when i when i got my first constructive criticism. I didn't visit the writing again for four months. Wow. Yeah, I was I was putting I needed

a four month sabbatical, just just to come to terms with the information that I received.

But it was actually good. That's part of the process, actually, you need to distance yourself from your work. And then you need to don't say that to me. Too much distance from my work. Because when you revisit it, you revisit actually with fresh eyes, and then you say, Oh, the the criticism was, was was? Yeah, it was well founded. So behind Allah. Okay, so just I don't know if this question is going to make sense. But what would Muller like to achieve with this book.

I want the reader to

I wanted to transport the reader back into the market period.

But I did not only want to talk to him or her about the historical happenings.

So I had to be very selective in choosing which historical events during the mock up period, which the Quran addresses, I was, I wanted to highlight

that the other thing was, there are themes that comes up in the market period that the Quran is addressing, right. And so I would highlight historical events. And at other times I would highlight themes.

And with a hope that with these two things, with what you get the actual happening, and then you get the feeling and the motivation and the climate

that goes hand in hand.

With these with these happenings, right, so with that, I was hoping that the reader is going to get a sense of all this was MCQ

Oh, and when the Quran said this, it spoke to that situation so so I try not to quote the verse and then give a long explanation of the verse, I tend to do with the other way, I tend to speak about the history, the theme, the happening the incident, and then insert the verse, how the verse spoke to that incident, or to that individual. And so so I'm hoping that if the reader is getting to see how dynamic the Quran was, that it is actually a conversation piece, that when they then embark on the reading of the Quran, and opening the Quran, then they will realize that it is the conversation piece now that the Quran is actually speaking to their lives. And so that they can appreciate that

actually, because it is timeless, in order for you to understand the Quran in your own context and for the Quran to speak to you. I believe that you need to understand the Quran in the context that it was revealed. Once you have that, then you can say now an hour will appreciate I was going to speak to me so so if the reader gets that, then then I would have achieved but if it was just a good read and the reader felt motivated to want to visit the Quran, read the Quran and find out about the translation then mission accomplished as well. Hey, Mashallah, you know, I don't know, perhaps we have some of those who read the book. Watching and joining us here tonight. Let us know what your

experiences were like and let us know what you thought of the book. Perhaps you can share some of your insights and you know, to benefit us all being the light either. Let's also just take a quick look at some of the comments on and now we've got

this minute smile samsudin singer hamdulillah Shakira from Ordonez continuous inspiration of the rasa coins wants me to remind Mona of the time when Marina was speaking about surah teaching surah Allium Ron and in speaking about modern his mother, this one lady call ethnicity.

My mother obviously played a big role in my in, in my life, I didn't have around for as long as I would have liked, I was about 16 when she when she passed away 1617 but um, my my, I don't remember the exact incident.

But my earliest memories of her with the Quran is when I was very young.

And I would be hungry, like we all are in the afternoon. And if you're hungry, you go to your mother, you know, because you know, we can't do anything for ourselves. And then she wouldn't be making us

don't know what I would be doing, I would not be

a youngster. And then then I would wait till she's done. And then I would go check again. And then she's sitting with a corner. So I

and then sometimes I would wait by the door

and she would be reciting and she was actually a good recite the Quran.

And I would sit in I would listen.

So, so this is my, this is my loving introduction into the chorus.

You know,

and, and I want to encourage mothers who are listening, you plays such an important role in the formative years of your child's life, what they are exposed to in the home, that is possibly who they're going to become, or at least is going to become a very big part of who they are going to become. I was exposed to the Quran. We weren't into particularly scholarly family when it came to dealing with shoe Candace. But my mother decided that she decided with a passion, and it was on love. And she dedicated her time to it. And a son could wait for his sandwich a little bit longer, until she finished her dissertation. So it had to mean something to her. And because you love your

mother, and something means something to her, then you start to question what is this thing that she loves?

You know, what is this thing that's important to her? And if she starts to encourage you and tell you so when are you going to read the Quran? You in the solar now for two years, we know you're going to now get get to read the When am I going to listen to you? Then you feel that this this this compassionate pressure? Right? You know, of wanting to wanting to basically please your mother. So you know to the to the ladies who are out there who are listening, please you play an important role one lie in the formative years of the child's development, read the quote, you don't need to become a scholar, a more fussy, even a translator of the Quran, but become a person who reads the Quran in

your home. And don't forget to read my book and and that is going to inspire you even more. Absolutely, absolutely with the copywriting. Oh, before I forget, I really need to make sure I get my autograph in this book. Yeah, so it's been it's been this has been the

story I didn't know if you write a book that you actually needed to practice your signature also Yes, I've been practicing my signature

in a normal people will get the signature by dinner students that have been with us for so many years mosquito bites coffee will say yes. And that is why I'm not going to do it when I was speaking because I want to give it I want to give it proper thought.

And then Okay, just looking again at some of the comments, actually, when asked about who the book is for, so that people can know exactly, you know, is this a book that I should go out and get the iPhone and experience Allah granted my place?

Marina, I was one of your students. This is from Mr. J. I don't know almost a jvzoo better pseudonym. He says I was one of your students during your brief stint at Islamia college. monona is still at islamiat again at this time.

I was inspired in that short time 100 ama Allah preserve and increase both. I mean, I mean, sure. And brother moody Kimani says, I should ask what to know about the few years you spent at Habibi a boy's college the late 1980s ama with the icicle

and so hydrilla Mani Molina can recall the brother and the time that he's talking about I suppose. Yes, Islamia. That's why I did it was a baby at that time. It I yeah, I did my high schooling day. So after after Heath mana, Ali Adam, obviously,

the giant educationist who pioneered Islamic schools in South Africa and I believe in in many minority Western Muslim countries. So he was my principal Actually, I had the good fortune of him being my principal Mashallah. And, yeah, it was the it was the first day I was there in the very earliest of Islamia of Habiba. Okay, it was a good school. Yeah, that's all I can say that they had the challenges that time now Alhamdulillah but I was glad to be part of the project. At least it provided an environment for me. Where I couldn't sit in the masjid if I didn't want to go to class.

And I could decide to call on whatever gets you a good and I could justify my mind not being in class today because I'm sitting with a color read between the lines Hey,

can we get your Matthew says he's really enjoying the podcast style content. shukran appreciate it. highly relevant and engaging. hamdulillah

Nam Braddock's man Sam students, he is excited to read your book in sha Allah schrute Abrams. The book is really good. I'm on page 80 and the reading is going too fast. Mashallah

Zubaydah Parker, this is good. This is a groundbreaking read Allah may be Blissett Shukla. Mashallah. Okay. Hey, Mona. So, who should buy this book? Who is this book for? I mean, it's it if I look at it and page through it, it doesn't look like an overly

convoluted book, you know, with big words and fancy academic style. It doesn't look like I really want to get into this beginner some books, you know, just like I need to, I need a Ramadan dedicated for that. Yes. So So when Marina has a target audience in mind, who are you writing for who should buy this book, it is an easy read. On the intention was never an academic 40 to be an academic work to be a theory on only for students. I wanted to be an easy read on Sunday afternoon.

during Ramadan, if you have an issue, while you're hungry, and you want to still do something good, you pick up the book. And,

and I was also very aware that I might be writing for a non Muslim audience. So I try to keep that in mind that if a person who is not Muslim reads the book that they are actually going to, I'm not going to exclude them.

They

they are contained in the story of the

old Kitab

the Christians and Jews are actually part of the story of the Quran. And so because of that, I realized that I actually have to write keeping in mind that audience, and then I have to keep in mind our rivets, people who had embraced Islam and who are interested in wanting to know the story of the Quran. So I couldn't write it in a way that I was going to exclude all these people. Because the Quran is an inclusive book by nature, how can I write a book that makes it exclusive?

And so yes, that being said, I do challenge you sometimes. I challenge the reader sometimes for something that perhaps for the it will be the first time that they come across something. And that's the learning process. Maybe a urine day I'll make you uncomfortable, right. And, but it's good. What once you get uncomfortable, it means the learning process is happening. It means it means

Something has made you uncomfortable. So you're processing and thinking about something. And so yes, while it's a comfortable read, it does it. There are some page Turners day that makes it a bit exciting. And then there are some things that I address that actually challenges you. I do add my own my own take

on certain matters happening in our time in the 21st century. So I reflect on the mcmicken period, obviously, largely, but then I do add my own reflections of what is happening in how in our time, and how there's actually so many parallels between the Macan period. And life is we are experiencing it currently. Great, great. Michelle are very excited to read it, I must say. And okay, well know what what's next. With is Muller planning to do any classes on this lectures perhaps? Yeah. You know, COVID has wreaked havoc. Yeah. So so I would have liked to, to meet audiences.

Before they read the book, and after they did the book, while they are reading the book, I would have liked to have the readings of the book.

Possibly. So I'm exploring the options of doing some of them online.

I'm also exploring the option of if a friend or a friend of a friend invites me to their home or to a venue and they get 10 people 15 people social properly, socially distance, in a nice open a venue, then I'm willing to pitch up and read. I think it's about me wanting to connect with with the audience. I didn't and I'm only starting to understand this now that once you wrote a book, you want to understand, you want to understand how your your audience is digesting the book. You actually want you want actually want feedback, you want discussion. So hopefully in future

those platforms will will will come about where I can actually engage the readers

of the book inshallah. inshallah, I'm just busy adding to the screen, because people want to know, we can purchase the book at www dot secretaria, philander.com. Did I get the spelling, right? They?

Yes, it's like, okay, so I'm gonna add that to the screen so people can know, the book is selling for a ridiculously inexpensive price of 159. I don't think that's, I don't think it's fair to be selling the book at that price better. I'm sure Marina has reasons for that. In fact, I believe somebody even commented that it should be you should be setting if you double the price, and I don't think they know.

But

the book is also available at Timbuktu. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So. So you can you can? I don't know, I don't think they stock at the moment. Okay. But you can you can place your order there. If you know me, then if you want to inbox me directly, and you prepare to pick it up. It's a very dangerous thing. Right now. Yeah. No, no, I don't mind. I mean, if you're purchasing my book, you know, I don't mind seeing who the whoo my readers are. Yes, then it will be. It's, it's a pleasure for me, David. So so so if people want to inbox me via my Facebook page, it's a career Philander, I can't accept any more friends, I've reached my maximum many, many moons ago. But you can follow me on my

official page, which is mine as a carrier for lander, please follow me You can, you can send me a message there that you would want, you've come pick up the book at the designated place. And then that would save you the delivery cost if you do it online today. No fit. And I'm glad Mila mentioned the possibility of doing some online readings, or whatever the case is, we should we should explore some of those options, we have the facility here with these NAD Academy, or perhaps we can just assist in getting that out there because as I said, I'm really happy that one of my teachers as in as a company that's very excited to see what's coming up next. Next is the Medina period in Sharla.

So I'm, I'm excited to start on that. But I need to just, I need to just take this in, of course, because, um, you know, you set goals for yourself. And you hope that it's in line with what Allah subhanaw taala decreed for you. And in this instance, Alhamdulillah I set the goal of writing a book and and it coincides with the decoded decree of Allah that I actually completed. So I'm very grateful to my Creator. So so before, so I'm still in that grateful, very grateful face. You know, and before I'm going to start embarking on the second one, which will which will tell you the story, because it it, it ends basically on a cliffhanger. And I think even though everyone knows what

happens next, I think it is written in a way that you would that you that you would want to hear it from the perspective that had been written. Mashallah, yeah, I don't know. I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this but I think it's something that might have had

The role to play in in relation to the writing of the book. But recently, you've experienced some issues, health wise and so on. How I know that must have impacted you tremendously. If you are comfortable with answering the question, of course, we can just move straight past. But how did that play a role? How are you now and we do see yourself going, you know, through this experience now, you know, I'm very comfortable with it. It was about last year, this time, I think that I did that I came on live because it was COVID. lockdown. And I mentioned in that I was I was talking about a topic, but then I mentioned that I'm actually going through a struggle myself, because it was about

struggle. And I mentioned my, my diagnosis with of cancer. And, and it was a tough period. So so so so lockdown, I, you know, I was dealing with with coming to terms with this. And many things happened, health wise, and Alhamdulillah. I'm on the path to recovery. I'm Sharla shala. It's a it's a continuous path to continuous battle. Well, gronckle Daffy, but but what it presented me with an opportunity, and lockdown even presented me with an opportunity to say, you know what, I've got this, this book outstanding. And now I have time. And even though I'm not feeling well, it takes nothing to sometimes just to get to the keyboard, and to just start refining my ideas and working on

this book. And I utilize the time, and you're doing COVID

and during my recovery period,

from from, from from the operations and so on and so forth. And

it was a blessing. And I hadn't had it not happen to me and had COVID. Another happened. I don't know if it would have been done yet, I think I would have still been refining because I would have had to find time today. So you know, it's really a situation of enamel or city you saw verily with a with a difficulty there is ease. And there was ease in avenues that I didn't even expect it to be easy. So the East gaming, finishing finishing the book, I was worried that I might not be able to ever finish it. I must say that was motivated. Let me start writing. Yeah, I don't know how long I have left. And I think that should be the approach of all of us. Really, absolutely. If you if you

have an aspiration. If you ever dream, if there's something that you're working towards, that you want to achieve. You don't know how much time you have. Don't wait for the wake up call. Take it from a man who has

walked the path. And he's telling you work on your dream. Start right now, after you will listen to this podcast. Right? Think about what it is that you want to achieve. And think about how you're going to achieve it. And then you'll be sitting here with them on a night shot. And he'll be interviewing you very soon. Melinda era shed spine was just tingling at the back now because your words penetrated straight into them into the heart now. I'll accept this endeavor from your honor. And we do hope and pray that you have the best of health going forward. And that you see the fruits of your labor is really coming to fruition. I mean, that made many people benefit from the book. I

know they will and I know that you've poured your heart and soul into it and I'm sure that people will benefit in Charlotte and like I said, we have some people asking about copies. Unfortunately, we don't have a shortcut here tonight as far as the as far as the copies are concerned, but you can either get it directly from on an app or on the website inshallah to Allah, I will I will try and find out try to be a source for those who are interested in sha Allah. klaidman, any closing remarks from your side. Look, this is my first book, I'm sure I'm going to be looking back at what I've done. Yeah, and think, Oh, my word I could have done better. But it was important for me to get out

of the blocks. Thus far, I want to say I appreciate the support of our community. It's been overwhelming in terms of in terms of the words of encouragement in terms of the words of support in terms of supporting me in purchasing the book, and so on and so forth.

And it speaks to the love our community as for the Koran. Once again, I'm a child of this community. I'm not some I'm nothing outside. So So when the community does something,

and which is in support of me, I feel very humbled, because actually, I'm actually one one of them. So when they come out in support of me, I feel very humble. So I want to say just like Allah, to everyone, that's why when purchased the book, Allah subhanaw taala reward you and continue to support endeavors of the inshallah to Allah and let us become a reading community. It has become a community of readers. And more importantly, this become a community of writers. Every individual has a book in them. Everyone has a book in them

and everyone has a story in the detail. It's up to the individual to decide

You need to put pen to paper, right? So, at the very least, you know, if you feel at the very least buy the book, you know, at the very most, if you're inspired, started, I think

that's my message, I think I think we should challenge our community and we should push the boundaries. Absolutely. Here. I'm tired of thinking that we are living just in a mediocre community when I see astounding, amazing things being done by this community every day. So I'm not going to sit here and make like I'm speaking to some mediocre community, we have an amazing community. Absolutely. Well, within us. It's strange one a week, we have a tradition, I should even call it tradition. We have an entire Deen in all of its meanings and all of its glory, that was initiated with the word ikura.

But here we are talking about how people should become reading people. How strange is that? Yes. It's a weird, like, if anything we should have been the the monotheistic faith with the most avid readers. Yes. But we know statistically we know that's not true. At least in some parts of the world, because you're going to book shops, you ask exclusive books, or whatever the case may be. This is not in a promotion or any way, in any way by any means. You ask, why are these so few books on Islam, they'll ever book your book, The maybe nothing, and actually say that nobody buys those books. If you want to book we'll have to audit it for you because they simply just don't buy those

books. So it's, it's strange, but I hope and pray that this will be a contributing factor for that, the spirit of Accra to once again be resurrected among us enough people shall unite and we look forward to the readings, we look forward to the audio book, some of us are waiting for that. Yes, inshallah. inshallah We look forward to the class perhaps around it to the enhancement that Ramadan will already receive because of it in sha Allah, and also to the next one, the Medina be good, even like, I mean, I'm initial, I think I think the greatest compliment that I can be paid is, is if someone is going to read the book and and even get a little benefit from it. I think I think that

would make it all worthwhile. So it's all shukran Molyneux shadow No. Are we wrapping up? Yeah, we had Fei. So she'll come to you for the opportunity, she'll come to you for the opportunity, I think it should go on to the show to everyone who tuned in, and is supporting is not Academy also, and this platform, these big things to come from this platform. So let me be the first to congratulate you to say that I that I foresee the success of this platform in Sharla. And I and I succeed, the multitudes of people that are going to the 1000s and the 10s of 1000s are going to be joining this platform in future that are going to be benefiting. And I'm glad I could be your very first guest

that is in studio with you. Yes, I shall. Yeah. And thank you for being from the very first viewers of the very first case that is instead. Yeah, absolutely. And don't forget to like and subscribe so that you can, you know, follow our our events, our free content, as well as our online courses, which is essentially it's an educated guess about that, in case you're wondering, it's a platform for online learning matters pertaining to Islam and other methods as well. And our website will be launched hopefully very soon we'll be like Allah with your eyes. But until next time, again, jacamo hiren. Allah Allah grant you all the feta and Baraka in all your endeavors with Allahu ala Sayyidina

Muhammad Al hamdu, lillahi Rabbil alameen saramonic or

patola Shukla