London: Former British prime minister Tony Blair has become “increasingly open” about the importance of religion, and reads the Quran every day to be “faith-literate”.
Blair, who reportedly said he was not interested in religion, converted to Catholicism after leaving No.10 Downing Street in 2007.
The former Labour Party leader now says reading the Islamic holy book ensured he remained “faith-literate”, reports the Daily Mail.
“To be faith-literate is crucial in a globalised world, I believe. I read the Quran every day. Partly to understand some of the things happening in the world, but mainly just because it is immensely instructive,” he said.
Blair said a knowledge of the faith was important for his role as an envoy for the Quartet of the UN, US, European Union and Russia.
Blair earlier reportedly praised the Muslim faith as “beautiful”. He said Prophet Mohammed had been “an enormously civilising force”.
The former prime minister said the Quran was a “reforming book, it is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and way ahead of its time in attitudes to marriage, women and governance”.
Categories: CHRISTIANITY, Islam, Islamophobia, UK
Tony Blair’s sister-in-law converted to Islam after having what she described as a “holy experience” during a visit to Iran. Hopefully, Toni did not enjoy any such holy experiecne. Most important would be which translation he is studying. Reading of correct interpretation of Holy Book shall be main hall mark. Why do not you or any other community member sends him the English Translation with commentary done by Ahmadiyya? It will be a big break through if he also embraces Islam. May Allah guide him to the right path. Amin.
Dear Tony Blair, Zubair Khan wants us to gift you a copy of Ahmadiyya translation of the Holy Quran. Now mailing you something is probably wrought with technical difficulties, so let me just paste some links here for your consideration.
The official page for the Holy Quran at Alislam.org:
http://www.alislam.org/quran/
Compilation of the Holy Quran into a text:
http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/compilation-of-the-holy-quran-into-a/1qhnnhcumbuyp/54#
Tribute to Islam, the Prophet Muhammad and Quran by non-Muslim writers:
http://knol.google.com/k/tribute-to-islam-the-prophet-muhammad-and-quran-by-non-muslim-writers#
The Holy Quran as the Miracle of the Holy Prophet:
http://knol.google.com/k/the-holy-quran-as-the-miracle-of-the-holy-prophet?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.283#
My collection of articles about the Holy Quran:
http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-holy-prophet-muhammad-and-the-holy/1qhnnhcumbuyp/283#
The Holy Qur’an in the eyes of the Messiah of this age:
http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-holy-qur-an-in-the-eyes-of-the/1qhnnhcumbuyp/70?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.283#
The Holy Quran: search the English translation:
http://knol.google.com/k/zia-shah/the-holy-quran-search-the-english/1qhnnhcumbuyp/148?collectionId=1qhnnhcumbuyp.283#
We will be all ears here, for any question from Ex Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mr. Blair should also be invited to the UK Jalsa. Who can initiate this?
Invitation to UK Jalsa should be extended by UK Jamaat. Mr Shah should draw the attention of UK Editor. Time is already short so some one has to hurry it up.
کی میرے قتل کے بعد اس نے جفا سے توبہ
ہائے اس زود پشیماں کا پشیماں ہونا
Following extracts from a speech given to the Foreign Policy Center and Reuters in 2006 show that Mr Blair’s interest in the Holy Quran is well grounded. He said:
“The Qur’an “is practical and way ahead of its time”.
“The most remarkable thing about reading the Koran – in so far as it can be truly translated from the original Arabic – is to understand how progressive it is.
“I speak with great diffidence and humility as a member of another faith. I am not qualified to make any judgements. But as an outsider, the Koran strikes me as a reforming book, trying to return Judaism and Christianity to their origins, rather as reformers attempted with the Christian Church centuries later. It is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and way ahead of its time in attitudes to marriage, women and governance,” he said.
He added that under the guidance of the Qur’an, the spread of Islam and its dominance over previously Christian or pagan lands was “breathtaking”.
“Over centuries it founded an Empire, leading the world in discovery, art and culture. We look back to the early Middle Ages, the standard bearers of tolerance at that time were far more likely to be found in Muslim lands than in Christian,” .