Since leaving Downing Street in 2007, Tony Blair has become increasingly open about the importance of religion.Mr Blair, who converted to Catholicism months after leaving Number 10, has now spoken of how he reads the Quran every day.Reading the Islamic religions holy book - considered by Muslims to be the exact words of God - ensured he remained 'faith-literate, the former Labour leader said.

In an interview with the Observer magazine, published yesterday he said: 'To be faith-literate is crucial in a globalised world, I believe.'I read the Quran every day. Partly to understand some of the things happening in the world, but mainly just because it is immensely instructive.Mr Blair believes that a knowledge of the faith informs his current role as Middle East envoy for the Quartet of the United Nations, United States, European Union and Russia.

The former PMs work, which has cost British taxpayers more than 2million, aims to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Mr Blair has previously praised the Muslim faith as 'beautiful and said the Prophet Mohammed had been 'an enormously civilizing force.In 2006 he said the Quran was a 'reforming book, it is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and way ahead of its time in attitudes to marriage, women and governance.

But Mr Blair has also faced the devastation wreaked by violent jihadists who interpret the Quran as a call to arms.He was Prime Minister when the July 7 suicide bombers attacked London in 2005, murdering 52 innocent people.Not only does reading the Quran support his peace envoy role, it also gives him something in common with sister-in-law Lauren Booth.Journalist Miss Booth - Cherie Blairs half sister - raised eyebrows after announcing last October that she had converted to Islam after what she described as a 'holy experience during a visit to a shrine in Iran.

Mr Blair also used the Observer interview to dismiss claims he was on a Christian 'crusade when taking Britain into the highly divisive war in Iraq.His former constituency agent John Burton said two years ago that Mr Blair 'believed strongly at the time, that intervention in Kosovo, Sierra Leone Iraq too was all part of the Christian battle; good should triumph over evil, making lives better.But the ex-Premier said: 'People still ask me if military decisions in Iraq or Afghanistan were based on some kind of divine instruction. Its rubbish.'Of course not. Just as I couldnt go into a corner and pray to ask God what the minimum wage should be.