By
Mushtaq Ul Haq Ahmad Sikander, New Age Islam
5 February
2021
Quran is
the fundamental text of Islam. Every Muslim has a special relationship with
Quran, the divine text that defines what it means to be a Muslim. Every Islamic
revivalist movement has based its efforts and struggle on the basis of this
text. From the last fourteen centuries since its revelation the Holy Quran has
been translated and its message commented upon in different languages of the
world.
The process
is still continuing and in every age scholars have tried to understand the
meaning of the divine message and interpret it according to their own
intellect, era and acumen. This process will go on till eternity as message of
Quran is universal and timeless. Every age will attempt to understand the
divine message and the current book as the title suggests explores the various
contours of this divine message, written by a young academic Tauseef Ahmad
Parray. He is a new emerging scholar and prolific writer whose writings and
research papers are regularly published in different journals and newspapers.
This book establishes Parray as a serious scholar of Quranic studies.
Exploring The Qur’an:
Concepts and Themes
Author: Tauseef Ahmad
Parray
Publisher: Kitab Mahal
Publishers, Srinagar, Kashmir
Year of Publication:
2019
Pages: 244 Price: Rs
1199
In his
Foreword Prof Abdur Raheem Kidwai, an academic and doyen of Quranic studies
writes that Quran has its own discourse and its own idiom that many readers do
not fathom. Prof Kidwai is all praises for Dr Parray’s intellectual efforts,
“More importantly these bring out the relevance and timeliness of the Quranic
guidance in our times. Dr Parray is to be complimented for raising and addressing
these concerns of the day……Dr Parray has enriched the field admirably and
facilitated a better understanding of the eternal source of guidance. So doing
he has accomplished a task which promotes goodness and makes this world a
better place to live in.” P-12
In his
Preface Dr Parray writes about his work in these words “The present book is a
humble effort in the thematic study of the Sacred Text. It consists of twenty
two (22) topics on various key terms, basics concepts, vital and vibrant themes
of Quran and things Quranic and some (constantly contested) contemporary
issues.” P-24 the understanding that we get from reading this book is that
Quran’s interpretation cannot be universal and needs perpetual interpretation
and a new one in every age. Dr Parray has done the literature review of Quranic
studies, both of the works of orientalists and Muslim scholars. He engages with
the epistemology of how the Quran was approached in different periods by
various scholars. The engagement with this scholarship makes the book quite
unique.
The
subsequent chapters deal with Ibadah, Ikhlaas, Aql, Tadabur, Taffakur and many
such themes. These all are Quranic terms and he has documented how many times
they have occurred in Quran thus indicating their essence and emphasis. The
topics about Ethics, morality, universal values like Justice, Peace and
Pluralism have been engaged alongwith pertinent questions related to marital
relations, obedience towards parents and conduct with relatives and neighbors
too have been commented upon in the light of Quranic message.
Quran aims
to build and construct a moral society so the rights of others and one’s duty
and responsibility towards family, neighbors, relatives and society becomes
very essential. The relationship with God is the basis of faith but one who
fails to fulfill the rights towards others is condemned by the Quran and Islam.
Being dutiful towards others and carrying out one’s obligations is what renders
a person as true Muslim. Any negligence on this account renders one guilty of
sin, further any violation of the rights of others is severely admonished and
consequences in the form of grave punishment in the Hereafter have been
announced by the Quran.
The
principle of rise and fall of nations too has been articulated and different
values that are responsible for the progress and prosperity of a nation and
variegated vices like corruption that lead to the fall of nations are
discussed. The Quranic principles do not exempt muslims and they too are
experiencing and existing in decline because they have disregarded the true
message of Islam and fundamentals of the Quran. The real strength of Islam is
in its creative application of reason to answer the contemporary challenges, a
concept known as Ijtihaad. But since the last many centuries, Ijtihaad has been
put on back burner and not implemented due to number of reasons. This non
application of Ijtihaad has resulted in the stagnation of the Muslim mind. Plus
few scholars who do indulge in Ijtihaad are being condemned by the redundant
Muslim clergy.
Pluralism
is the essence of the current century and Islam too advocates it, as Quranic
principles do enshrine it. But the problem with pluralism is that it is a new
phenomenon and the society in which Islam evolved was quite alien to what
pluralism stands for, as it was a period of religious persecution not freedom
to practice any religion. To define Islam as advocate of pluralism is quite
problematic, contextual and relative. It is a principle of Quran to offer
freedom of religion to everyone, and in Muslim societies this principles is
still prevalent but then juxtaposing this concept of pluralism on the tribal
society of Arabia is exaggerating it too much. Modern civilization has resulted
in birth of many new ideas and values and it does not go well to interpret
Quran in the shade of every new ideology and trend of the times. The question
of pluralism needed more explanation and analysis, that author has avoided.
The book is
a very good contribution to the Quranic studies and offers the reader a basic
understanding of divine book. The principles, concepts and themes of the Quran
have been explained in a lucid manner that adds to the merits of the book. The
cover of the book is quite attractive and the publisher needs to be
complimented for publishing such an attractive work. Dr Parray has a verve and
penchant for writing and we hope in future he will continue his literary and
academic works for the general benefit of the masses.
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M.H.A.Sikander
is Writer-Activist based in Srinagar, Kashmir.
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/exploring-principles,-concepts-themes-quran/d/124232
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