Introduction to the Study of The Holy Quran - Ahmadiyya Muslim

452 Pages·2005·5.1 MB·English

Introduction to the
study of the holy quran

Published by

ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LIMITED
Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran
First Published in U.K. in 1985 (ISBN: 0-85525-035-6)
By The London Mosque
Several impressions of the book have appeared since.
Present Edition Published in U.K. in 2016
© Islam International Publications Limited
Published by:
Islam International Publications Limited
Islamabad, Sheephatch Lane,
Tilford, Surrey GU10 2AQ
United Kingdom
Printed in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc
No part of this translation and commentary may be reproduced in any
form without prior written permission from the Publisher, except for
the quotation of brief passages in criticism.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:
Ahmad, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud, 1889 – 1965 Introduction
to the Study of the Holy Quran
1. Islam. Koran. Critical Studies
1. Title II. Dibachah Tafsir-ul-Quran.
English.
297’. 1226
ISBN: 978-1-85372-203-0
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
On the publication of the English Translation and Commentary of the Holy Quran
Vol. I, friends expressed a wish that the introduction, which I wrote, be printed
separately. In compliance with their desire, it is here presented in the form of a book,
entitled Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran. It will thus be within the reach of
a greater number of people, so that benefiting by it they may acquire the
understanding of the teachings of the Holy Quran.
The criticisms of the translation and commentary of the Holy Quran, made by
various scholars, will be dealt with subsequently.

MIRZA BASHIR-UD-DIN MAHMUD AHMAD
(Khalifatul-Masih II)
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CONTENTS
A Word from the Author c(cid:31)
Contents d(cid:31)
GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1(cid:31)
Need of a New Translation and a New Commentary 1(cid:31)
Present Translation Fulfils the Need 1(cid:31)
Special Features of this Commentary 2(cid:31)
Other Revealed Books 4(cid:31)
Need of the Quran 5(cid:31)
God of the Bible-A National God 5(cid:31)
Vedas Also a National Scripture 6(cid:31)
God Is One 7(cid:31)
Religion–Not a Product of Human Imagination 7(cid:31)
Revealed Teachings Always Against Current Ideas 9(cid:31)
Why Teachings of Various Religions Differ 11(cid:31)
Islam Teaches Oneness of God and of Humanity 11(cid:31)
Jesus–Not a Universal Teacher 12(cid:31)
Meaning of Civilisation and Culture 14(cid:31)
Different Periods of Civilisation and Culture 16(cid:31)
Jewish and Christian Cultures 18(cid:31)
A Pertinent Question 19(cid:31)
Contradictions in the Old Testament 24(cid:31)
Savage Teaching of the Old Testament 28(cid:31)
Irrational Teaching of the Old Testament 29(cid:31)
Prophets Defamed by the Bible 32(cid:31)
The New Testament Examined 35(cid:31)
Jesus’ Own Admission 37(cid:31)
Testimony of Christian Scholars 37(cid:31)
Contradictions in the New Testament 42(cid:31)
Superstitions in the Gospels 43(cid:31)
Doubtful Ethics of the New Testament 47(cid:31)
Interpolations in the Vedas 50(cid:31)
Savage Teaching of the Vedas 54(cid:31)
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CONTENTS
Superstitions in the Vedas 56(cid:31)
Contradictions in the Vedas 57(cid:31)
Number of Vedic Gods 58(cid:31)
God’s Promise to Abraham 59(cid:31)
The Prophecy in Deuteronomy 62(cid:31)
Faran—Part of Arabia 67(cid:31)
The Quraysh are Ishmael’s Descendants 68(cid:31)
The Holy Prophet Mentioned in Habakkuk 71(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Advent Foretold by Solomon 73(cid:31)
Isaiah’s Prophecies 75(cid:31)
Prophecies of Daniel 87(cid:31)
Prophecies in the New Testament 90(cid:31)
The Holy Prophet—A Life Sketch 98(cid:31)
Life of the Prophet an Open Book 100(cid:31)
Arabia at the Time of the Prophet’s Birth 101(cid:31)
Holy Prophet’s Marriage with Khadijah 105(cid:31)
The Prophet Receives His First Revelation 107(cid:31)
First Converts 108(cid:31)
The Faithful Persecuted 108(cid:31)
The Message of Islam 112(cid:31)
Emigration to Abyssinia 114(cid:31)
‘Umar Accepts Islam 115(cid:31)
Persecution Intensifies 116(cid:31)
The Prophet Goes to Ta’if 118(cid:31)
Islam Spreads to Medina 120(cid:31)
First Pledge of ‘Aqabah 123(cid:31)
The Hijrah 124(cid:31)
Suraqah Pursues the Prophet 125(cid:31)
The Prophet Arrives at Medina 126(cid:31)
Abu Ayyub Ansari as Prophet’s Host 127(cid:31)
Life Unsafe at Medina 129(cid:31)
Pact between Various Tribes of Medina 130(cid:31)
Meccans Preparing to Attack Medina 132(cid:31)
Battle of Badr 134(cid:31)
A Great Prophecy Fulfilled 138(cid:31)
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CONTENTS
Battle of Uhud 140(cid:31)
Victory Converted Into Defeat 141(cid:31)
Rumour of Prophet’s Death Reaches Medina 145(cid:31)
Encounter with Banu Mustaliq 151(cid:31)
Battle of the Ditch 153(cid:31)
Fight against Heavy Odds 154(cid:31)
Treachery of Banu Qurayzah 156(cid:31)
The Confederates Disperse 161(cid:31)
Banu Qurayzah Punished 162(cid:31)
Sa‘d’s Award in Harmony with the Bible 164(cid:31)
Did The Prophet Seek To Continue Warfare? 166(cid:31)
Teachings of Judaism and Christianity about War 168(cid:31)
The Quran on War and Peace 169(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Precepts about War 174(cid:31)
Sporadic Attacks by Disbelievers 176(cid:31)
The Prophet Leaves for Mecca with 1500 Companions 177(cid:31)
Treaty of Hudaybiyyah 179(cid:31)
Prophet’s Letters to Various Kings 181(cid:31)
Letter to the King of Iran 185(cid:31)
Letter to the Negus 186(cid:31)
Letter to the Ruler of Egypt 187(cid:31)
Letter to the Chief of Bahrain 189(cid:31)
Fall of Khaybar 190(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Vision Fulfilled 192(cid:31)
Battle of Mu’tah 194(cid:31)
The Prophet Marches on Mecca with Ten Thousand Followers 197(cid:31)
Fall of Mecca 198(cid:31)
The Prophet Enters Mecca 200(cid:31)
Ka‘bah Cleared of Idols 204(cid:31)
The Prophet Forgives His Enemies 205(cid:31)
‘Ikrimah Becomes Muslim 206(cid:31)
Battle of Hunain 208(cid:31)
"The Prophet of God Calls You" 209(cid:31)
A Sworn Enemy Becomes A Devoted Follower 211(cid:31)
The Prophet Distributes Booty 212(cid:31)
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CONTENTS
Machinations of Abu ‘Amir 213(cid:31)
The Expedition of Tabuk 214(cid:31)
The Last Pilgrimage 216(cid:31)
The Prophet Gives Hints of His Death 219(cid:31)
Last Days of The Prophet 220(cid:31)
The Prophet Passes Away 222(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Personality and Character 225(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Purity of Mind and Cleanliness of Body 226(cid:31)
The Prophet’s Simple Life 226(cid:31)
Relationship With God 230(cid:31)
Disapproval of Penance 236(cid:31)
Attitude Towards his Wives 237(cid:31)
High Moral Qualities 237(cid:31)
His Self-Control 238(cid:31)
Justice and Fair Dealing 239(cid:31)
Regard for the Poor 241(cid:31)
Safeguarding the Interests of the Poor 243(cid:31)
Treatment of Slaves 244(cid:31)
Treatment of Women 245(cid:31)
Attitude Towards The Dead 247(cid:31)
Treatment of Neighbours 247(cid:31)
Treatment of Relatives 248(cid:31)
Keeping Good Company 250(cid:31)
Safeguarding People’s Faith 250(cid:31)
Overlooking Faults of Others 251(cid:31)
Patience in Adversity 253(cid:31)
Mutual Cooperation 253(cid:31)
Truthfulness 254(cid:31)
Inquisitiveness 255(cid:31)
Frank and Straightforward Dealing 255(cid:31)
Pessimism 256(cid:31)
Cruelty To Animals 256(cid:31)
Tolerance in Religious Matters 256(cid:31)
Bravery 257(cid:31)
Consideration Towards The Uncultured 257(cid:31)
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CONTENTS
The Fulfilling of Covenants 257(cid:31)
Deference Towards Servants of Humanity 258(cid:31)
THE COMPILATION OF THE QURAN 259(cid:31)
Devices Adopted To Safeguard the Text of the Quran 260(cid:31)
Instructors of the Quran 261(cid:31)
Reciters of the Quran 263(cid:31)
The Quran Committed to Memory 263(cid:31)
The Quran Collected in One Volume 265(cid:31)
Standardized Copies of the Quran 266(cid:31)
Practice of Committing the Quran to Memory Continued 267(cid:31)
Arrangement of Chapters and Verses 269(cid:31)
Some Prophecies of the Quran 271(cid:31)
Characteristics of the Quranic Teachings 276(cid:31)
Belief in a Living God 276(cid:31)
The Quranic Conception of Salvation 279(cid:31)
Miracles 280(cid:31)
Worship of God 284(cid:31)
The Mosques of Islam 285(cid:31)
The Islamic Fast 286(cid:31)
The Pilgrimage 287(cid:31)
The Zakat 287(cid:31)
Islamic Form of Government 288(cid:31)
The Quran on Slavery 289(cid:31)
The Human Soul 290(cid:31)
The Quranic Plan of Spiritual Universe 293(cid:31)
God of All Peoples 295(cid:31)
God—the Ultimate Cause of All Creation 295(cid:31)
Principal Divine Attributes 297(cid:31)
Other Attributes of God 299(cid:31)
Three Categories of Divine Attributes 303(cid:31)
Divine Attributes Not Contradictory 305(cid:31)
Man—the Centre of the Universe 306(cid:31)
The Culmination of Process of Evolution 308(cid:31)
The Object of Man’s Creation 310(cid:31)
Law of Nature and Law of Shariah 310(cid:31)
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CONTENTS
Evolution of Spiritual Universe Completed in the Holy Prophet 312(cid:31)
Quran–the Perfect Scripture 313(cid:31)
Principles to Establish Social Order 313(cid:31)
Life after Death 315(cid:31)
Ahmad, the Promised Messiah 315(cid:31)
The Messiah’s Promised Son 317(cid:31)
Translations into Other Languages 319(cid:31)
Acknowledgements 320(cid:31)

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