It is hoped that this book will fulfil the need that was being felt.

It is hoped that this book will fulfil the need that was being felt. With Sincere Wishes Syed Muhammed Hussain Shamsi Nairobi, Kenya November 15, 1956 Translator's Foreword The present booklet on biographical sketches of the Prophets of Islam mentioned in the Qur'an is one of the three books compiled by my late father, when he was teaching Muslim youth at a Sunday School in Nairobi. Initially this consisted of notes and hand outs to the students.

Later these materials were organized in the form of books. For many years after his death, these manuscripts remained unpublished. While spending her last days in Pakistan, my late mother took the initiative to have the first of these manusripts published in Urdu language. She wished that the years of research and experience invested in these books should not go waste and the young and new Muslims should continue to benefit from his writings.

Unfortunately, she did not live long enough to see the publication of the remaining manuscripts. All copies of the first print in Urdu have been distributed by now, and reprinting of the book is being planned for the continuation of this noble mission. I most dearly cherish the memories of being associated by my father in the preparation of these teaching materials. I was then a teenager and enjoyed these assignments. I felt happy to carry out the research projects.

It is a long time since my youth that I was again given an assignment to teach Muslim youth at a Sunday School in Englewood, New Jersey. This has also gone on for several years now. I felt that the need for educational materials for young children is no different now than it was about half a century ago. This prompted me to embark on translating my father's works from Urdu to the English language. I have tried to adhere to the style and the spirit of my father's original works.

He tried to keep his narratives of all Prophets before within the confines of information provided in the Qur'an. Occasionally he added information from the authentic Islamic traditions. His intention was to avoid confusion arising from controversial traditions, and to make the narratives brief enough for the children to memorize them. He did not quote the exact ayas of the Qur'an just to maintain the continuity of the text.

He preferred to give references of the relevant Suras at the end of each narrative. In doing so, he intended to assist the curious reader towards personal research from the Qur'an.