Digital version of Quran launched

A Mumbai entrepreneur has introduced a multi-lingual digital version of the Quran for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslims in the country.

It comprises a digital pen and reader in over a dozen Indian languages, said Haji Arafat Shaikh, head of Yasser Arafat Charitable Trust and vice president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Shaikh presented the first set to MNS chief Raj Thackeray Tuesday night.

Impressed by the user-friendly digital version, Thackeray assured that he would study it to understand the teachings of the Muslim holy book and Islam, Shaikh said.

The pen can be placed on the Quran and it will automatically start reading it.

"This digital Holy Quran reader is available in some Muslim countries and can be used with ease by children and elders, as well as those Muslims and non-Muslims who do not understand how to read the Holy Quran in Arabic language," Shaikh told IANS here Wednesday.

Four years ago, Thackeray had been gifted a Marathi version of Quran on the occasion of his 43rd birthday by Shaikh.

Explaining the digital version, he said that it is available in a 'pen' form with earphones, along with battery and charger, with which the user can listen to the Quran and also get the meanings simultaneously.

Among the Indian languages it is available in Hindi, Urdu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam and in French, Chinese and Pashto among foreign languages.

Shaikh said market sales would start Jan 9 to mark his mother's 60th birthday.

He plans to provide specialised training to educated Muslim youth for the marketing and sales of the digital Quran across India.

"They will get a certain commission and a percentage - which will go to the trust - will be used entirely for charitable purposes like educating poor Muslim children, among others," Shaikh said.