The Quran serves to guide Muslims but to me, it serves a greater purpose than religious guidance. When I moved to New York at the age of six, my mother brought her Quran. This religious book has created a connection between my life in Bangladesh and my life here. Bangladesh is a primarily Muslim country and given that religion is such a strong driving force, much of Bengali culture is centered around religion. By understanding the stories contained within the holy book, you can see that many of the morals and ethics are extensions of the lessons the stories teach. For example, a well known story is that of King Solomon. King Solomon’s test to find the mother of a lost baby is indicative of his wisdom and intelligence, and the moral of the story is based around the love a mother feels for her child. Through this story, I learned about the importance of selflessness and compassion. The Quran served an important purpose in my life, as it taught me the truths that I believe in. The Arabic language became a second language, as I picked up the Quran at the young age of five. Though it sits atop a book stand in the closet, collecting dust, its literary and sentimental value is still preserved. Lessons taught by stories in the Quran are valuable so this book, which is associated with religion and God, serves as my moral compass and helps me stay in touch with my culture.

– Jannatul Pahi

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