Islamic Intellectual Tradition in the Indian Sub-Continent : (Essays in the Honour of Dr. Abdul Kader Choughley)
Edited by: Dr. Tawseef Ahmad Parray & Dr. Muhammad Yaseen Gada
Published by: K.A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University in collaboration with Brown Books (Aligarh/New-Delhi)
Publication: 2022-09-14, pages: 256, ISBN: 978-93-91601-18-8
“Islamic intellectual tradition vis-à-vis Indian Sub-Continent” can’t be described fully. Such a vast treasure can’t be estimated in a single volume. The understudy, on the one hand, is a pitiable endeavor to commemorate & to bring forth the contribution of the eminent Islamic Scholar and educationist based in Springs, South Africa Dr. Abdul Kader Choughley and to deliver on the life and legacy of some Islamic Scholars of the Sub-Continent, on the other hand. K.A.Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU in collaboration with Brown Books Aligarh brings-out this commemorative volume In order to get the attention of the English readers of the sub-Continent. The volume has been edited by Kashmir based two young scholars of Islamic Studies. The work is comprised of three parts along with the introduction (By Editors) and a foreword (By Prof. Abdul Raheem Kidwai, Honorary Director, K.A.Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, AMU). The book discusses on specific themes of Islam viz. Quranic Studies, Seerah Studies and Islamic Intellectual Tradition vis-à-vis Indian Sub-Continent. Part-1 entitled as “Quranic Studies and Seerah Studies” is comprised of five chapters (Chapters 1-5). Among these, the first three chapters focuses on exploring diverse dimensions of Quranic Studies while as the other two chapters demonstrates on Seerah Studies. The first chapter entitled as “English Translation of the Quran: Trend and Issues” authored by Prof. Abdur Raheem Kidwai is a “critical analysis” and the introduction of the “trends and issues” of Quranic English Translations viz. Oriental & Sectarian trends, Pleasant & positive trend including the “Qadyani” and “Other Deviant Translations”. Besides, it also demonstrates towards the limitations that are visible in “Modern Scientific Developments” within the English Translations. Moreover, the author has briefly described the appearance of the English Translations of Quran from between 2000 & 2022 (over 60 translations) and compares the number with that of between 1649 & 1999 (70 translations). “Words Divine, Interpretation Human: An Analytical Study of Kidwa’s and Choughley’s Selected Works on Quranic Studies” is the 2nd chapter compiled by Dr. Tauseef Ahmad Parray—co-editor of the book. In this chapter, the author critically evaluates the works of Prof. Abdur Raheem Kidwai and Prof. Abdul Kader Choughley on “Quranic Studies” and “critical evaluation of the English translations” of the Quran. The 3rd chapter is written by Ms. Juneefa Bilal entitled as “Recent Approaches to the concept of I’jaz al-Qur’an” is meant (she claims) to understand the miraculous nature of Quran as well and the contribution of Indo-Pak scholars to the realm of I’jaz al-Qur’an. She focuses on the works of some prominent Muslim scholars of the Sub-continent. Theses scholars have been divided on the basis of advocating approaches of “traditional” & “modern”. The former comprises the works of Mufti Shabir Ahmad Uthmani, Syyid Sulaiman Nadvi, Mufti Taqi Uthmani and Dr. Rafiq Ahmad Pampori and in the later, she includes, Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, Shibli Naumani, Abdus Salam Nadvi, Dr. Abdul Aleem and Abul Hassan Ali Nadvi. The 4th chapter entitled “Writing Seerah in the light of Quran: A Study of Abdul Majid Daryabadi’s ‘The Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon you) Life in the light of Quran” is contributed by Mr. Aadil Hussain Malik. Daryabadi’s work is originally in Urdu (pub. 1960) which has been translated into English by Abdul Kader Choughley in 2021. The author acknowledges that Majid Daryabadi is prominent in the field of Quranic exegesis. At the same time, he argues that his contribution in the field of Seerah literature is so commendable and substantial. By demonstrating the content analysis of Daryabadi’s work on Seerah and labeling it as “Quranic Seerah”, he govern to bring to light the contribution of Daryabadi in the field of Seerah studies and the role played by Choughley by translating it into English. The 5th chapter is again authored by Dr. Tauseef Ahmad Parray which is entitled as “Modern Trends in the Seerah and the contribution of Yasin Mazhar Siddiqui (1944-2020): An Appraisal of selected works”. The chapter describes the life and contribution of Prof. Siddiqui in academics especially in “thematic Study of the Seerah” and evaluates two of his works on Seerah viz. “The Prophet Muhammad (SAW): A Role Model for Muslim Minorities” (2006) and “How the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Earned and Spent Money: A Critical Study”. The author concludes that the subject-matter of these works deals with various socio-politico-economic aspects of the Seerah; therby being impeccable samples of 21st century Seerah works on the style of ‘thematic’ and thus different from the traditional Seerah-writing.
Part-2 “Islamic Intellectual Tradition vis-à-vis Sub-Continent” is based on four chapters (Chapters 6-9). 6th Chapter “Mawlana Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi’s Educational Thought and Philosophy” is co-authored by Dr. Sheikh Jameel Ali & Dr. Tauseef Ahmad Parray. The educational philosophy of Nadvi is based on his experience including socio-cultural, historical and intellectual developments of his life as a student and a teacher. Secondly, it argues that educational thought and philosophy revolves around the axiom that ‘knowledge can’t be divorced from faith’ in Islam. Hence, he was the staunch advocate of the ‘integration’ of education and rejects the ‘compartmentalization’ of education. The chapter doesn’t include the ‘conclusion’ part. Dr. Samee-Ullah Bhat wrote 7th Chapter entitled as “Sayid Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi’s Contribution to Islamic History” An analytical study of his Tarikh-i-Dawat-o-Azeemat”. The chapter describes the contribution of Nadvi as a historian, a biographer and as an author who has demonstrated the life and times of saints, scholars, and thinkers of the classical, medieval and modern eras. The 8th chapter “Abdul Kader Choughley’s Works on Fazlur Rahman Ansari: An Analysis” is written by Dr. Muhammad Yaseen Gada (co-author of the book). Here the author analyses Choughley’s works on the life and intellectual legacy of Fazlur Rahman Ansari by exploring some major themes viz. Islamization of Knowledge, response to oriental seerah writings, religion—science conflict, the supremacy of Quran & Sunnah as harbingers of world civilization. The Chapter 9 entitled “Contextualizing Jihad (Striving in the path of God): A Study of the Approaches of Wahidudddin Khan and Javed Ahmad Ghamdi” is written by Dr. Mohd Younus Kumar. This chapter demonstrates the interpretative approaches of two contemporary Muslim thinkers of the Sub-Continent Wahiduddin Khan (1925—2021and Javed Ghamdhi (b. 1951) on diverse interpretations of the concept of Jihad. The author argues that unlike ‘Islamists’ both the scholars follow a distinctive approach to, and (re) interpretation of, Jihad by considering both the socio-political; context of the modern Mulsim world and by contextualizing it within the historical framework of the Prophetic era.
In the concluding part (part-3) “Appendix”, a brief biographical and academic profile of Dr. Choughley including the list of his works—whether authored, edited/co-edited or translated by him—as well as a list of articles/reviews on his works are provided by the editors.
The book co-authored by two young scholars comprises of Quranic Studies, Seerah Studies and Islamic Intellectual Tradition vis-à-vis Sub-Continent. The book is an addition in the field of the above mentioned areas. Though, the work has been devoted to Dr. Abdul Kader Choughley but most of the chapters of the book are based on other than the life and contribution of Dr. Choughley. The contents of the book are diverse ranging from Quran and Seerah studies and Islamic intellectual tradition and the lives and legacies of some prominent Islamic scholars of the Indian Sub-continent. Indeed, the work is valuable for the students and the scholars especially of Islamic studies.
(The author is an Assistant Professor at Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University; Rajouri-J&K. Views are his own)
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