The Gracious Qur’an may be studied from different angles

The Gracious Qur’an may be studied from different angles

The Gracious Qur’an may be studied from different angles, but they all lead to two principal subjects: language and thought. The Gracious Qur’an is a literary and a doctrinal book at the same time and with the same degree.

With respect to “thoughts”, this treasury of ideas which is revealed through its high-level literary style, we shall present three groups of ideas. First: the nature of its call, that is to say, the group of solutions which the Gracious Qur’an presents for the two everlasting problems of knowledge and behaviour. Second: the ways of convincing which the Qur’an uses to prove the truthfulness of its Doctrine. Third: the evidence by which the Qur’an proves the divine and sacred character of its Message.

In fact, the present study aimed originally at extracting the Qur’anic Law of Moral separately from what attaches this law to the Gracious Qur’an, which was the theme of another book in French under the title of LA MORALE DU KORAN. Nevertheless, we viewed that it was beneficial to consider the main outlines of this towering doctrinal construction that is the Qur’an, to point out the place of the moral element inside the whole framework and to extract the main ideas existing in each part of the Book of Islam.

In addition to certain indispensable historical points added in accordance with the worthy proposal of Mr. Maurice Patronnier De Gandillac, the professor at Sorbonne, the essential theme of our book is considering the message of the Gracious the Qur’an as a whole and as it is expounded upon by the Qur’an itself: not as it was more or less loyally transmitted through judgements, interpretations or applications throughout history. As we progress, we shall meet some severe judgements to correct and some precocious conclusions to rectify in relation to the Qur’an. In all this, it is the Qur’an in principle which we shall leave to defend itself and to present proof after proof. Thus the reader will have the opportunity to value such arguments historically and philosophically.

It is worthy to note that the extraction of the ideas of the Qur’an from their envelopes, separating them from their local frame and bring them closer to the European intellect, which is remote from the Arabic language, is a fulfilment of a part of the true mission of the Qur’an. As the Qur'an aims man wherever he is and whatever race he belongs. Constantly appealing to reason, to the good sense and to man noble feelings. The Qur’an is a universal invitation aimed at purifying habits, clarifying creeds, bringing them closer to one another, eliminating racial barriers and national chauvinism and replacing the law of brute force with the law of truth and justice.

Paris, February 21^st, 1947.