Al-Bayan, Discourses on the Qur'an

Jul 10, 2024

Al-Bayan, Discourses on the Qur'an

By Javed Ahmad Ghamidi

Preamble (Part 1)

Gratitude and Introduction

  • Gratitude is only for God
  • Peace and mercy on Muhammad
  • In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful.

Introduction to the Study of Al-Bayan

  • Translation of the Qur'an in the Urdu Language
  • Aim: A translation that clarifies the coherence of the discourse
  • This translation strives to be semi-commentary clarifying relations between passages
  • The chapters of the Qur'an are likened to sermons
  • Impossible to translate the majesty and grandeur of the Qur'an word-for-word
  • Qur'an: A divine, literary masterpiece with unique style and diction

Challenges of Translation

  • Literary works have their own vocabulary and sentence formation, creating a unique diction
  • Attempting to transfer this into another language is challenging
  • The goal was to preserve the coherence of the discourse
  • Translation includes necessary implied words using brackets
  • Marginal annotations mostly summarize Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi's exegesis
  • Translation reflects needs of Urdu readers while retaining Qur'anic style

Purpose and Methodology

  • Objective: Convey the sense and stylistic features cohesively in Urdu
  • Focus on narrative structure: beginning, trajectory, culmination, audience
  • This is the first translation focusing on Qur'anic coherence
  • Concept of Nazm (Coherence) from Imam Hamid al-Din Farahi and reiterated by Ghamidi

Differences with Mentors and Annotations

  • Differing from his mentor Ustaz Imam's view occasionally
  • Comparative study needed for serious readers to understand differences
  • Translation avoids overly lengthy discussions

Goal and Structure

  • Providing three forms of the Qur'an's message: Simple translation, notes, and extensive commentary
  • Explanation of Qur'anic nature will be in another work, Meezan
  • Assumption: A thorough understanding of Qur'an's nature is required for studying it

Understanding the Qur'an

Misconceptions and Structure

  • The Qur'an is often misunderstood as a random collection of credal, ethical, and legal statements
  • Qur’an’s most prominent feature: Chronicle of a Prophet's warning (Rasool's inzar)
  • Muslims must understand the nature of the text and the context in which it was revealed

Role of a Rasool

  • Rasool: Delivers God’s Judgment on his people, different from a regular Nabi
  • Nubuwwah (Prophethood): Conveys divine guidance and laws
  • Risalah (Messengership): Brings divine judgment to his people

Principle of Trial

  • This world operates on the principle of trial
  • Judgment Day is where this trial culminates
  • Inzar (Warning) leads up to this in a Rasool’s lifetime
  • A Rasool's warning results in a miniature Day of Judgment in this world

Phases of a Rasool's Mission

Stages of Inzar

  1. Inzar (Warning): Begins individually or in small gatherings
  2. Inzar A'am (Public Warning): Full public revelation of the message
  3. Itmam al-Hujjah (Final Word): Message is made unmistakably clear, leaving no excuse to deny
  4. Hijrah and Bara'ah (Migration and Acquittal): Rasool announces completion of his duty, migrates
  5. Daynunah (Judgment): Divine judgment is implemented in this world

Simplified Understanding

  • Minor Day of Judgment: A Rasool's nation witnesses judgment in this world, as a microcosm of the final Day
  • Accountability: Clear separation of believers and disbelievers in the nation
  • Consequences: Believers rewarded, disbelievers punished accordingly

Two Scenarios of Verdict Implementation

  1. Small Followers with No Migration Place: Nation purged but no large-scale migration e.g., Lot, Noah
  2. Substantial Followers and Migration Place: Establishing a collective order e.g., Muhammad in Yathrib

Specific Laws of God Concerning a Rasool

  • Example from Surah Yunus (10:47): Every community had a Rasool, and their fate was decided with justice
  • Importance of understanding Rasool’s role in implementing divine judgment in this world

Summary

  • The Qur'an's nature and structure need to be understood to comprehend it fully
  • The translation attempts to clarify this while retaining the literary beauty of the original text
  • Further details and principles are discussed in Meezan