Quranic Foundations And Structure Of Muslim Society
Preface
The basic purpose and function of this book is to state the
Philosophy and the Code of Life as given in the Qur’an. That Code has
developed, however, with morality as the central theme. And that should have
been so. Because, the value-system which the Holy Qur’an has given establishes
spirituality as the root, morality as the trunk, and all other aspects of life:
economic, political, etc., as offshoots of morality; —whereby it ensures the
emergence of the integrated and progressive individual and the integrated and
progressive social order.
The central importance for morality that has emerged thus
should impress upon the Muslims the central importance of moral struggle.
Viewed in that perspective, the present book forms a basic
contribution in respect of extricating Muslim society from the Crisis of
Character which has overtaken all classes of Muslims, and which is the
deadliest poison that has ever paralysed or killed any human community.
The method of exposition adopted is simple and direct.
Moreover, personal comments have been kept at the barest minimum, so that the Qur’an
has stayed in its august position free to explain itself. In the dynamic
orthodoxy that has thus emerged lies, in the belief of the present writer, the
salvation of Muslims and of humanity at large.
The typescript of the original draft
of this book was read on June 30th, 1969, and was even handed over to brother
Ghazi Nasir-ud-Din, Managing Director of Trade and Industry Publications Ltd.,
who had come forward with love and devotion to undertake the work of printing.
But subsequently it was considered necessary to expound certain topics in
detail; as a consequence of which very considerable additions were made, so
that the work is being presented finally as a two-volume publication of more
than nine hundred pages.
Certain technical discussions relating to philosophical,
psychological, sociological, economic and political themes had to be kept out
even during the course of the final effort, out of regard for keeping the book
handy, lucid and easy of comprehension by the average-educated person. Separate
volume or volumes are proposed to be presented on those problems.
The author is conscious of the fact that, although he has
availed the talent of the classical translators of the Holy Qur’an, there is
scope for improvement in respect of the translation of a number of verses. That
task is intended to be taken up in the second edition.
In his study of the Qur’an, the author had recourse to the
classical Arabic Qur’anic commentaries and allied literature. But he has quoted
mainly from the English commentaries by Abdul Majid Daryabadi and Abdullah
Yusuf Ali, because they have projected the best—in fact, the very essence, of
the knowledge enshrined in the Arabic classics. Moreover, these two orthodox
scholars’ commentaries are accessible to the average English-educated Muslim
for further study.
The author leads a
life wherein he has to perform duties of multifarious types, especially as the
President of the World Federation of Islamic Missions, which has several
projects to be looked after. Besides that, he has touring duties as an
international worker for Islam. It is, therefore, impossible for him to
accomplish literary work leisurely and with the concentration which the
research-work of the type that has been undertaken in the present book demands.
As such, the present task has been accomplished piece-meal by snatching time
forcibly from other duties over a period of time, and in consequence there is a
possibility of the occurrence of oversights and shortcomings,—even though
utmost care has been exercised. The author, who regards himself only as a
humble pursuer of Truth and as a student of Islam, will, therefore, appreciate
all genuine criticism and advice from the world of scholarship. He requests his
readers, however, not to introduce implications into his statements beyond what
has been categorically and clearly said.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
While presenting this book, I consider it my privilege
to express my deep debt of gratitude to my revered teachers: Prof. Dr. S.Z.
Hasan, M.A., LL.B., D. Phil. (Erl.), D. Phil. (Oxon.), under whose guidance I
learnt to understand the problems of Philosophy; Hadrat Maulana Saiyid Sulaiman
Ashraf, from whom I acquired, at the level of my higher education, knowledge of
the Holy Qur’an and of the Islamic theological sciences; and Hadrat Maulana
Muhammad Abdul Aleem al-Siddiqi al-Qaderi, through whom I received the
Qaderiyya Spiritual Discipline and the mission of serving the far-flung Muslim
communities of the globe.
The deepest debt of gratitude I owe, however, to my
beloved parents of revered memory: Muhammad Khalil Ansari and Husn Ara Begum,
who, through their noble character and fruitful teaching and loving concern for
my well-being, built up the foundations of my personality and sponsored and
guided my education at all stages, thereby enabling me to prepare myself for
undertaking this work. I must also acknowledge my debt of gratitude to my wife,
Begum Subhia, who, ever since our marriage, has stood by me with grace and
fortitude in all the ordeals through which I had to pass in respect of my
humble service to the cause of Islam, and without whose earnest co-operation
and sincere encouragement the present laborious task could not have been
accomplished.
I am grateful also to Mr. Muhammad Ja’fer Shaikh and Mr.
Muhammad Ilyas Khan, Joint and Assistant Secretaries respectively of the World
Federation of Islamic Missions, for the invaluable help rendered especially by
the former in the preparation of the typescript; and to my dear pupils: Waffie
Muhammad and Imran Nazar Hosein, both of Trinidad (West Indies), and Siddiq A.
Nasir of Guyana (South America): to Waffie for assistance in reading the
proofs, handling the problem of the Arabic calligraphy, and supervising the
printing during the last stage; to Imran for preparing the list of Contents and
checking the references; to Siddiq for compiling the Indexes. May Allah bless
them all with His choicest Blessings.
Muhammad Fazl-ur-Rahman Ansari
to be continued . . . . .
