I RECENTLY bought an Islamiat course book for my BA examinations. As the syllabus of BA for Islamiat requires a basic understanding of Quranic grammar, the book explains the kinds of verbs, tenses, sentences, etc., with the help of small examples, a procedure followed to understand the basic English grammar also.

However, after reading a few examples of the forms of verbs, I found myself frustrated. The reason was that every example used to explain the form discussed contained the word ‘beat’.

For example, ‘one man beats’, ‘I beat’, ‘we beat’, and ‘one man was beaten’.

Almost throughout the section for Quranic grammar, the word ‘beat’ and its many forms were being used as illustrations. I thought it better to consult the Internet rather than depress myself with such unpleasant examples.

However, I was at a loss for words when the first website I consulted used the word ‘kill’ and its various forms to explain the same aspects of Quranic grammar.

It is extremely baffling why such violent words are being used in connection with the Holy Quran. Have we as Muslims, by any chance, also started looking at our own religion as violent?

Any other simple word could have been selected, for instance, ‘eat’, ‘walk’, ‘run’ and myriad other short and easy words.

The more we require tolerance in today’s day and age, the more violence is being fed into our minds.

Some may not find it disturbing, but it is still being injected into their subconscious and definitely has an effect on the way they think.

I request the authors of such books and websites to please keep this aspect in mind and refrain from using such disturbing words.

IZZ GHANAA ANSARI Islamabad