Writing and Compiling Literature on Religious Issues
The works of the scholars of the Farahi School no
longer need an elaborated introduction. Scholars all across the Muslim world are
increasingly getting to appreciate the worth these works carry. The works of
Imam Hamid ud Din Farahi, Mawlana Amin Ahsan Islahi and Mr Javed
Ahmed Ghamidi on Islamic disciplines have paved our way to discover new
horizons in the realm of research and academics. Mostly, research works of these
scholars are based on a passive approach of presentation, that is to say,
elucidating the contents of the religion in a direct and scholarly manner only.
Neither has any comparison been drawn with other Schools nor have the latter
been criticized. The style adopted in Tafaseer-i-Farahi,
Tadabbur-i-Qur’an, al-Bayan, and Mizan bears witness to this
fact.
There is no denying the fact that a ‘thought’ should
initially flourish and spread in this passive manner. It is thus essential, in
the beginning, to elaborate and expound the fundamental sources only, avoiding
comparison or documenting critiques. However, after a time, it becomes
indispensable to uproot the misconceptions rooted in the society with a vehement
emphasis on the authenticity, strength and validity of the ‘thought’ in question
by giving lucid academic arguments. It is at this point that one has to resort
to comparative study and critique — a strategy that is bound to culminate in
making the veracity and validity of this ‘thought’ apparent for people to
understand and appreciate.
This type of work has been initiated under the aegis of Al-Mawrid,
Institute of Islamic Sciences. The works of the scholars of the Farahi
School will be analyzed in comparison with other Schools so that the reasoning,
on which the former are based, becomes evident to the scholarship.
The following strategy shall be adopted in order to compile
literature:
1. Introduction and Background
The nature of the topic shall be elaborated with a detail description of the
background.
2. Explanation and Clarification
The views of the scholars of the Farahi School regarding the topic
will be detailed with an enunciation of the basis and reasoning on which these
views are based. In addition, the issues which get resolved as a result of these
views will also be delineated.
3. Critique of the Misconceptions
Misconceptions will be criticized and the actual error in the reasoning
behind them will be ascertained.
4. Comparison with the Views of the Earlier Scholars
By comparing with the views of the earlier scholars of Tafseer
(Exegesis of the Holy Qur’an), Hadith, History and Fiqh
(jurisprudence), the veracity of the reasoning behind this ‘thought’ shall be
manifested.
5. Analysis of the Contemporary Views
With the help of a comparative study, the views of the contemporary scholars
will be analyzed.
6. Analysis of the Views of the Orientals
The works of the Orientals will also be probed into in the style of a
comparative study.
7. Applied Aspects of the Topic
After the intellectual discussion, those questions will be dealt with which
inevitably arise in the mind of people in the perspective of the applied aspect
of the topic under discussion.
8. Style of Expression
While committing such thesis to writing, the following principles will be
observed:
-
Academic quality of the thesis is preserved completely.
-
Language does not take on a cumbersome style.
-
Urdu translation is provided of all the quotations, be in
Arabic or English.
-
Terms are explained in the footnotes.
-
Formatting is done according to the international
standards.
Under the aegis of Al-Mawrid, writing and compilation of such
literature on different topics is already underway. In this regard, Islam and
Music (Urdu) — Comparative study of Ghamidi’s viewpoint, has been completed.
The topics in process are:
-
Tasweer (Picture) — Comparative study of Ghamidi’s
viewpoint
-
Pardah (Hijab) — Comparative study of
Ghamidi’s viewpoint
-
Jihad (Holy war) — Comparative study of Ghamidi’s
viewpoint
These topics will also be published soon, Insha
Allah. Following is the list of some salient topics which have been planned:
-
Zakah
-
Prohibition of Interest
-
Relations with the Jews and the Christians
-
The Issue of Tamleek (exclusive possession)
-
The State System
-
Bait Sam‘ waw Taa‘at (Allegiance of hearing and
following)
-
Struggle for the Supremacy of Islam
-
Islamic Revolution
-
Belonging to a Jam‘at, Obligatory?
-
Aqamat-i-Din (Establishing the Religion)
-
Ijtihad (Deliberation on original sources to decide
about a novel issue).
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