'rUN DR.

MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

November 18, 2009

Mr Muzaffar Iqbal
General Editor IEQ and
President Center for Islam & Science (CIS)
349-52252 Range Road 215
Sherwood Park
AB T8E IB7 Canada
Fax: 00-780-922-0926

~Q.
Project to Produce the Integrated Encyclopedia of the Quran (IEQ)

The project to produce the Integrated Encyclopedia of the Quran is worthy of support by all Muslims. This is so especially as for centuries the stress is for reading the Quran without understanding its contents. The average Muslims understanding of Islam is confined to the interpretations by the learned ones only. These interpretations often differ greatly, causing confusion among Muslims and dividing them into numerous sects. Yet we h..nu'W thei'C is only one Islam that was brought and taught by the Prophet. It stands to reason that when we Muslim find ourselves confused and divided we should go back to the Quran and the veri fied Hadiths in order to rides cover the original teachings of Islam. While the real Quran is written in Arabic, it is obvious that the non-Arabic speakers who make up the majority of Muslim can only obtain guidance from the Quran when it is translated into their languages. Indeed their Islam is based on what they are taught in their own language.

No.1. Jalan PSH.l'resint 8, 62250 PUTRAJAYA

Tel' 603-8885 8900 Fax: 603-8889 1114

This being so they would find greater understanding with the availability of the IEQ. Thank you.

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad