Pages of history, secrets and profoundness of philosophy, imprints of human dignity and character, and Quranic realities and meanings provide testimony to the fact that the destinies of nations are in the hands of their new generations. The type of education and training a nation’s youth receive dictates its future destiny. This is the barometer for measuring a nation’s creativity and a standard for its life’s worth. This is the way a nation could determine its status among the nations of the world; and this is the way it can find out whether or not it is capable of moving with the rest of humanity. It may be that certain events might deprive a nation of its wealth and power, and thus it may be left behind the rest of the world in race for power and superiority. It may also be that due to certain emergency situations a nation might temporarily loose its dignity and glory and as a consequence others might be tempted to exploit it. But if it could protect its youth and give them proper education and training, then the world will see that the mental and emotional energies of its youth; their enthusiasm; their power; and the strength of their character will rise like a flood and will overcome all obstructions in its path. The destinies of nations are not decided in political arenas or battlefields. These are decided in their schools and places of training. No nation is beaten by its enemy; it is beaten by its wrong education.

This is the reason I have made youth focus of my Quranic education based on my deep understanding of the Quran. I feel as if they are always with me. I have studied their psychology and emotions with interest and deep insight. I have heartfelt sympathy for their emotional turmoil and psychological doubts; and I have tried to solve their problems with love and affection. This approach has been very successful. Students educated in modern knowledge having all kinds of doubts in their hearts about religion come to me with their minds full of rebellion against and contempt for religion. I greet them with humility and sympathy which springs from the bottom of my heart – because I know this attitude of theirs is in reaction to what they receive in the name of religion in their homes and mosques. I hear their emotionally charged criticism about Islam calmly and patiently. After listening to their complaint I explain to them the message of the Quran in a language which they can understand. I cannot believe my eyes when their doubts are turned into firm conviction and their anger into deep reverence for the Quran. They come with doubts and anger at God, revelation, prophethood, Quran, and Deen; and go with a feeling of bond to them. As I have mentioned before, we are responsible for their rebellious attitudes and hatred towards the Deen. We teach them philosophy of Whitehead and the science of Einstein. But we present a religion that has nothing to do with intelligence and rational reasoning and, therefore, it becomes an object of fun and sarcasm. If they don’t rebel against this kind of a religion then what else can they do? My experience has been that instead of presenting such a man-made religion to them (that has been passed down by our ancestors, which is taught in our religious institutions, and is repeated from every pulpit); if we present to them Al- Deen given by Allah then they will almost surely be attracted to the message of the Quran.

Saleem is the representative of such a group of modern educated class of students. And these letters are written in his name to dispel their doubts and uncertainties that have been continually reported to me for the past fifteen to twenty years. From this you can guess the importance I attach to these letters. Although the basic demands of life do not change with the change in time and place (and that is why the Quranic teaching, which presents solutions for these basic problems, can guide humanity forever); nevertheless, the problems of certain time periods become more pronounced. Therefore, searching for a solution and guidance from the Quran requires that those who present its message must be aware of current events and problems and must be abreast of the knowledge developed until that time. If someone is not abreast of the up-to-date knowledge and is not aware of the pressing issues of his time, then he cannot get guidance from the Quran. Within my limits, I have tried to understand the Quran in this way. And this is the way I present the Quran to others. Therefore, you will find in these letters signs of both -- present issues as well as demands of contemporary knowledge. (Detail discussions of these issues can be found in my other works; there is no place for detailed discussions in letters.)

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

One of my friends (whose sincerity I value) has said that the name "Saleem" does not reflect bold ideas and strong character that are assumed to be present in Saleem, the addressee of these letters. This criticism is worthwhile and worthy of my attention. The fact is the word "Saleem" does not have the same meaning in the Quran as it is normally understood in Urdu language. Quran says that Prophet Ibrahim (P) had the "Saleem -like" heart (37:84). At the same time the Quran has also described the main features of Prophet Ibrahim’s character -- that he carefully observed natural phenomena (6:76); and that he never adopted a path which he was not sure of. First, from careful observation of nature, he (P) concluded that changing physical phenomena couldn’t be the bearers of permanent values (6:77). Second, he wanted to know how to revive life into dead people, before he could present God’s life giving message to his own people (6:260). He embarked on a path without delay with self-confidence and steadfastness only when he became sure of its truthfulness -- and then, no power could stand in his way, and no difficulties insurmountable to him. First, Prophet Ibrahim (P) warned his father and asked him to leave the wrong path he was following and adopt the right one. It was obvious that opposition to his father could deprive Prophet Ibrahim (P) of the status and power that he would inherit automatically by being the son of a royal head priest. And if his father were to accept Prophet Ibrahim’s message then the family could loose the dignity and power of priesthood. But Prophet Ibrahim (P) did not care about any of these things. Beyond his father, he warned his people of bad consequences of following a wrong path. Then, he directly challenged the king who, in those days, was considered god; and who was so proud of his power that he ridiculed Prophet’s Ibrahim’s God by saying: Which God are you talking about, O Ibrahim? The one who gives life and death? "I give life and death. (2:258)". I control life and death. Prophet Ibrahim (P) challenged him openly and jumped without hesitation into the fire of the king’s rage. When he saw that the environment of his own people is not conducive for his message, he left his birth place with all its attractions by saying, "I am going to a place where I could implement my God’s program of Rububiyyah (37:99)." For this purpose, when a sacrifice as a great as that of a son was required, he did not hesitate to take out the knife and put it on the throat of his dearest son. And when "Allah’s house" needed to be built, he took his son to the moisture-less barren desert and settled him there in order to carry God’s work.

These are the characteristics of that shining and bold heart which was driving Prophet Ibrahim (P) as the bearer of God’s message. What were the results of the above mentioned characteristics of Prophet Ibrahim’s heart? The Quran has summarized these in two words when it says that he had both power and vision (38:45). This is the personality of the addressee of these letters named Saleem, i.e., having both power and knowledge. Because in the words of Iqbal:

Therefore, Saleem’s personality reflects Prophet Ibrahim’s character in the prevailing "Aazar-type" environment of today. And it is obvious that:

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

As far as the letters are concerned there is no need for an introduction because they will introduce themselves. We might just mention that in the arrangement of these letters, a gradual evolution of knowledge and thought have been assumed.

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

There are many things in these letters that may appear to the readers for the first time. This may come as a surprise to those unfamiliar with this type of literature and they may be tempted to discard it at first sight. But I would request such readers to pay a careful attention and re-read the material several times with an open and objective mind. I am sure they will be intellectually as well as emotionally satisfied with this approach. However, I would like to point out that in the matter of Deen, the Quran is the final authority. Please do not judge this work as being wrong because it is against the path which Muslims have been following for centuries. When we have the light of the Quran and our mind’s eyes, then why shouldn’t we make sure ourselves whether or not the path we are following is a right one or a wrong one?

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

You will find some repetition in these letters. There is no doubt that repetition of subject matter in a book is considered its weakness. However, do not forget that this book is a collection of letters that were written at different times, each reflecting the importance of an issue of that particular time. Therefore, the collection of such letters is bound to have repetition. This repetition while in poor taste for some literary minds, might have a beneficial effect on others by clarifying new concepts. This is the reason the Quran also uses this method, which it calls "tasrif-e-ayat," of explaining its message by repetition of verses.

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

As I have said before, the aim of my effort is to present to the youth whatever I have been able to learn from the Quran. If few individual youth become determined to carry the torch of spreading the light of the pure Quranic message; and that they develop conviction in their hearts to implement the system of Allah’s Rububiyyah; then I would think that I have received the compensation for my sleepless nights and endless effort. I am perfectly aware that present Muslims will hardly accept the Quranic thought I am presenting. However, I can sense the signals sent by the "Nature’s silent hints" that the world is yearning desperately to adopt the Quranic concept of life. May be the time is near regarding which the Quran says:

"The earth will start shining with the light of it’s Sustainer"

We will have to see which nation establishes the Quranic sytem of Rububiyyah (the Quranic economic and social order). Whichever nation is fortunate in this respect, will inherit the leadership of the world.

--------------------------------x---------------------------------

Since these letters have produced positive effects on the youth of the nation, I will try diligently to continue this work. However, alongside, "letters to Tahira" will also be started because she is entitled to these benefits equally well, in fact, even more so than Saleem.