This is the 6th Edition and 5th revised version of this translation.
The Qur'ān is, in its own words, "light," which means that it is self-manifesting, with no need of an external source of illumination, other things need light to become visible and manifest. With it God guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace, and brings them out from darkness into light by His will, and guides them to a straight path (5:16).
Of course, the Qur'ān is not an exception among revealed scriptures in that it is a source of light and guidance. According to the Qur'an, so were the Torah and the Gospel, scriptures given to Moses and Jesus. All scriptures of Divine origin are a source of light and guidance.
Nothing is more important for man than the knowledge of the very Source of reality. Any knowledge that is not informed with this awareness is just a kind of ignorance. All effort that does not derive from this knowledge is ultimately fated to end in futility and failure. The Qur'ān claims to be the most reliable source of this knowledge and the best guide for human endeavor. It teaches that the Source of being is also the chief Source of guidance.
