An Introduction On Initiation To The Quran

AN INTRODUCTION ON INITIATION TO THE QURAN

This book represents one of the two theses, presented on December 15^th, 1947 at “Université de Paris”, owing to them, the Author has merited the grade of “Docteur ès-Lettres” with mention “Très-Honorable”


The customary and most respectful salutation on the Prophet, “Peace and blessings of God be upon him” which is made after each mention of his name within this work has been omitted for ease of reading; however the reader is kindly requested to observe this Muslim tradition.

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This book “INITIATION TO THE QUR'AN” which I have the pleasure to present today in its English abridged version, is one of the most important books about the Qur’an, in its form and its essence.

Its author, Dr Muhammad Abdallah Draz, one of the eminent scholars of Islam, was a professor at Al-Azhar for several years before he travelled to France to obtain his doctorate. He wrote it in French under the title of “INITIATION AU KORAN” as well as the principal thesis “LA MORALE DU KORAN”, with competence and efficiency. 

In my abridgement, I maintained the author’s language and style in the whole book, I abridged or eliminated certain passages or details, however without interrupting the chain and consistency of ideas or the equilibrium of the statements, which remain positively faithful to the original.

On the other hand, I added in this summary the complete English translation of the Quranic verses which the author, in his statement, mentioned the surah and verse numbers, but did not state the text of the verse itself. This insertion, in fact, has been added in order to make it easier for the reader to instantaneously refer to a verse and to save him time from looking for an English translation of the Qur’an which may not be available at the time. These texts, as well as the verses mentioned in the content of the book, have been gathered from “The Noble Qur’an, English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary” edited and published by King Fahd Complex, at Al-Madinah, on 1404H.

The high merit deserved of this book, beyond its highly refined literary style of the French original, principally resides in its methodology in expanding different themes, in managing arguments and evidence, and in analyzing proofs and documents, in a manner so clear and so decisive, able to convince any impartial seeker of truth and virtue.

We hope that the study of such sound doctrine, the Qur’anic one, contributes in diminishing tension, hate and conflicts which infect our century.