Addressing the opening session of the 10th Islamic Summit Conference in Malaysia on October 16, 2003, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad, lamented that the Muslim Ummah is divided into several groups and sub-groups. "Over the last 1400 years the interpreters of Islam, the learned ones, the ulamas have interpreted and reinterpreted the single Islamic religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), so differently that now we have a thousand religions which are often so much at odds with one another that we often fight and kill each other," Mahathir said...

In order to understand the true message and spirit of the Holy Quran, it is essential to know the language it has been revealed in. The first step is to understand the meaning of individual words. One needs to understand how words were used by the ancient Arabs by the time of Quranic revelation, and not depend on anyone's explanation or understanding as to what they mean today. Along with proper understanding of Arabic grammar, the true meanings of Quranic words, and their use with respect to the context in which they have been revealed in, one student of Quran may get closer to the Truth....

In order to understand the true message and spirit of the Holy Quran, it is essential to know the language it has been revealed in. The first step is to understand the meaning of individual words. One needs to understand how words were used by the ancient Arabs by the time of Quranic revelation, and not depend on anyone's explanation or understanding as to what they mean today. Along with proper understanding of Arabic grammar, the true meanings of Quranic words, and their use with respect to the context in which they have been revealed in, one student of Quran may get closer to the Truth....