Please note that according to our system of counting Quranic verses, the verse Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, Ever Merciful) is counted as the first verse of the chapter which it precedes. Some publishers of the Holy Quran, however, begin counting following Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. Should the reader not find the relevant verse under the number mentioned in this book, he or she is advised to deduct 1 from the number. For example, if this book quotes Ch. 35: Fatir: 25, then some copies of the Holy Quran will list the same verse under Ch. 35: Fatir: 24.

Where necessary, translation of the Arabic text has been elaborated by additional words to explain the meaning. Such words are in italics. The word and at the commencement of a translated verse has been omitted.

The form ibn has been used in both initial and medial position in the names of persons, in order to conform to current usage, although bin also occurs medially in some original texts (abbreviated usually as b).

Quotations from the Holy Bible are from King James version.

The name of Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of Islam, has been followed by the symbol sa, which is an abbreviation of Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wa Alihi Wasallam (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his progeny).

The names of other Prophets(as) are followed by the symbol as, an abbreviation of ‘Alaihissalam/‘Alaihimussalam (on whom be peace). The actual prayers have not generally been set out in full, but they should nevertheless, be understood as being repeated in full in each case.

The symbol ra is used with the name of the Companions of the Holy Prophet(sa) and those of the Promised Messiah(as). It is an abbreviation of Radiyallahu ‘anhu/‘anha/‘anhum (may Allah be pleased with him/with her/with them).

We have used rh for Rahimahullahu Ta‘ala (may Allah’s blessing be on him).

Finally, aa stands for Ayyadahullahu Ta‘ala (may Allah, the Almighty help him).

In transliterating Arabic words we have followed the system adopted by the Royal Asiatic Society.

The Royal Asiatic Society rules of transliteration for names of persons, places and other terms, could not be followed throughout the book as many of the names contain non-Arabic characters and carry a local transliteration and pronunciation style which in itself is also not consistent either.