This is very easy. All you need to do is remember God wherever you are. You do not need to do anything special. At all times, you must think how your needs are getting fulfilled – discovering, realizing and making up your mind on these lines is all that is required.

Source: The Seeker’s Guide

The story of the Prophet Joseph who lived some 3500 years ago, appears in both the Quran and the Bible. In his time, Egypt was under monarchical rule, and the kingdom was an agrarian economy. The king of Egypt ruled as the political authority and appointed Prophet Joseph as the administrative authority. According to the Quran, the law of the land remained with the king, while the agricultural economy was under Prophet Joseph’s control. The Bible describes this arrangement in the words of the Egyptian king as: “Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Genesis 41: 40)

Prophet Joseph got this opportunity because of the personal bent of mind of the king as an individual. In terms of applied understanding of the Quran, one can say that in today’s age this same opportunity is available to all believers in general, because of the changed times. Democracy gives an elected ruler a few years to rule. Today, the role of government is essentially to manage the governance of a country. All fields other than governance, such as businesses, education, media and religion, are free and open to all. Every individual now has the right to do as he pleases in all the many non-governmental spheres, provided that in seeking his goals he uses peaceful methods and does not foment conflict against anyone else, whether ordinary citizens or the government.

As a result of the global changes that have taken place through the ages, the ‘best story’ has become a universal principle, an applied living guide for people today. This is a case of applied reflection and understanding of this chapter of the Quran. This same method of applied interpretation is desirable for the whole Quran. In this way, the Quran becomes a book of guidance for humanity today, whereas if the Quran is studied in the light of the earlier-cited principles of exegesis, it will only appear like a story of an age long past.

Source: Spirit of Islam November 2015

There are two levels of Quranic comprehension—the first is the Quran, and the second is the applied Quran. The first level in understanding the Quran is to know how those who lived at the time when the Quran was being revealed understood it. The second level is to try to understand what its applied meaning is in the context of the changed conditions of today.

These conditions for understanding the Quran can be helpful only at the first level of understanding. But, for the second level of Quranic comprehension—the understanding of its applied meaning in the contemporary context—these conditions are wholly insufficient. The only benefit of understanding the Quran at the basic level is that the Quran becomes an understandable book in the historical sense. But as far as the present age is concerned, the current generation will not gain any guidance from it. They may accept the Quran only as a matter of belief, but it will not be possible for them to make the Quran a living guide, although the actual significance of the Quran is its guidance meant for all times and for all people.

Source: Spirit of Islam November 2015

To understand the Quran, you need to know the language, the occasions of revelation of different verses, and so on. These are the basics for understanding the Quran. To progress to a higher level of Quranic comprehension and application of its principles in one’s life, the reader must have developed a “prepared mind”.

This intellectual preparation is a pre-condition for comprehending the Quran. The “prepared mind” that you need for this purpose can be developed through study, reflection, contemplation, discussion, etc. Through such rigorous intellectual activity, you can acquire additional knowledge that can help you develop a certain taste, which will lead you to discern the interpretation and veracity of a particular verse.

Conventional Quranic sciences familiarise you with the technical aspects. On the other hand, intellectual preparation can enable you to get an in-depth understanding of the aspects of the Quran that deal with the realization of God and higher realities. You will be able to draw spiritual lessons from the Quran and develop to be a Godfearing person with a strong affection for God. Your study becomes a creative one, and the Quran becomes for you a means to discover new meanings. Studying the Quran now becomes a moment of meeting God.

Source: Spirit of Islam November 2015