Towards Understanding the Quran is a an English rendering of Syed Maududi's original Urdu Tafhim-ul-Quran, an enduring and impressive translation of the Quran into Urdu. This abridged version contains selections from his commentary in Tafhim-ul-Quran. This books can be said to be one of the best modern commentaries on the Quran. Maududi gives some fo the historical background behind the verses in the Quran along with a broad introduction and background for each chapter. Many contemporary issues are dealt with in the commentary.