| 06 January 2010
BOOK REVIEW
Name of the book: The True Purpose of Life
Author: Yaqeen Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander
Publisher: Adam Publishers, New Delhi
Year Of Publication: 2009
Price: Rs 125; Pages: 115
Reviewed by: Iesha Javed
A wonderful book. Well begun, precisely written and gracefully concluded. The greatest riddle of human existence solved with all its intricacies, within a condensed space of just 115 pages, resembling in this feature the human DNA. Each strand of this book can be separated and volumes could be written on every single topic
Delving into subjects ranging from Islam and Comparative religion to Science, Philosophy and Metaphysics, covering the sayings from the Holy Quran and Bible and quoting great men like Albert Einstein and Sir Fred Hoyle, this book comes as a surprise from a person so young, having authored the book at the age of just seventeen, making him one of the youngest Islamic writers of the world, perhaps drawing us closer to the truth “And…a child shall lead them”.
Words fall short to introduce the author of this book, Yaqeen ul Haq, from the vale of Kashmir, President and founder of the virtual Dawa Center, Call of Islam (www.callofislam.ning.com) who constantly strives towards the unification of various Islamic Jamats (groups) especially among the youth and has the distinction of having a deep understanding of Semitic religions enabling him to interact with many Christian Pastors. He is currently studying the Usul-Ad-Deen (Islamic Disciplines) under prominent Scholars from the Islamic University of Medina.
Being true to his motto “Islam does not need reformation. It needs to be addressed in a relevant style”, he has more than demonstrated this in his wonderful first book.
As the title suggests, this book discusses the very Purpose of Human life. This book is all about finding the way to the truth and a hope to reach that truth and that we just need to keep walking while being conscious of our ultimate purpose.
The book has received excellent comments and wide applause from distinguished personalities from the Indian subcontinent and as far as U.S.A and Malaysia.
In the words of Moid Siddiqui, a Management-Guru turned Islamic writer, “I used to believe wisdom comes with age but after reading this book…(I believe) wisdom comes in flashes. Yaqeen ul Haq’s chronological age might be seventeen but he has the wisdom of an old master of seventy years..”
This book is no joke. It is meant for serious reading and is “intended for serious and mature person of any religion” says Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed the President of Islamic Research Foundation, USA. Further he expresses his astonishment in these words “It is astonishing to me that a teenager like Yaqeen ul Haq has done extensive research to write this book.”
One is really filled with awe on finding material of research quality while reading the book. As Dr. Yunus Gilani from Malaysia comments: “..Yaqeen ul Haq deserves applause for producing this book. He has researched and compiled valuable material on the subject with a view to help the common but serious reader to understand the purpose of man’s life. ”
Though there may be some errors in the sphere of type-setting and some factual mistakes the writer intends to rectify them in future editions and deserves to be excused as he humbly accepts in the outset “If there is anything good in this book it is from God. All mistakes are mine.”
What is more astonishing is that despite being a subject over which philosophers have argued and counter argued, Yaqeen ul Haq effortlessly guides the reader through the maze, leaving no room for doubt, finally arriving at the answer to life’s greatest riddle- its purpose. And this answer that resonates through out the book, echoing louder and louder towards the end is nothing but… “Return to your Creator…the purpose of life is to live it on his terms. Life is but a purposeful creation”.
After reading this book we realize that this is nothing alien about this truth and in the words of a poet, “the answer is blowing in the wind my friend, the answer is blowing in the wind…”.
This book gives one the feeling of having rediscovered oneself. Life gains meaning and the mind begins to weave dreams anew being filled with the belief that a purposeful life is possible. This book draws a unique relation between the Exiatence of God and the Purpose of Life. It proves not only the Existence of a Creator but also proves Life to be A purposeful creation.
Certain chapters of the book like The existence of a Creator, Essence of Religion, What is Life?, Life as a Purposeful creation, Concept of the After Life and Concept of Life in various religions will stimulate curiosity in any reader. This book deserves five stars and is a must read for any sensible human. So just get up and grab a copy, and discover The true Purpose of Life.