How To Approach and Understand the Quran

Rating:
Summary: Well Written and Informative
Review: Before I began reading this book, I expected the usual slow read that you find in academic books. However, although undoubtedly academic in nature, the book is very well written, and for the first time since reading such a book, I was actually drawn into the book. I found it very informative, interesting, and very beneficial in understanding how Muslims should approach their holy book. Further, it details information that makes it easy for a non-Muslim to understand the fundamental difference between how a Muslim views his holy book and how a non-Muslim would view his. What's most striking is that there is a great respect by Muslims for their book, as it viewed as the pure word of God, and this shows in how they approach it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand the Muslims' approach to their holy book, as it will likely give much insight into why the Qur'an is viewed as it is.

Rating:
Summary: Valuable Book Prepares One to Read the Qur'an
Review: This book is not solely a collection of virtues of reciting the Qur'an. This book is not a reference on the sciences of the Qur'an ('Ulum al-Qur'an). Rather, it is a book that strives to build the relationship between the reader and the Qur'an; it sets a perspective for him and makes him realize what he is about to engage in.

The author discusses the manners (aadab) of reading the Qur'an and its relationship to benefiting from it, like the proper time, place, posture, and intention. He discusses the change brought by the Qur'an among the Arabs and then tackles the issue of why does not the Qur'an have the same effect today? Was the physical presence of the Prophet Muhammad the key or is it something else?

The book aims to give the reader the major goals of the Qur'an, it instructs him in what the Qur'an is trying to achieve so he may not be sidetracked. The author discusses the secondary reasons for which many people generally read the Qur'an like reciting it merely for blessing, or using it as source of healing for physical ailments, or studying its scientific miracles, or studying it as a source of culture, or reciting it as a protection from evil. He then turns on to explaining the primary reason for its revelation: teaching the creation about Allah, His oneness and attributes, showing the creation the Path and way of life that is pleasing to Allah, creating the complete and balanced Islamic individual, bringing about an Islamic society, guiding Muslims in their struggle against the enemies of Islam, and imparting proper concept and application of Tauheed.

In the end he turns to one of the most important sections of the book: interpreting the Qur'an in a proper manner. Explaining its importance he writes,

"If the reader does not apply the proper principles and methodology of Quranic exegesis (tafseer) during his reading and study of the Qur'an, it will be likely that the Qur'an will be saying one thing and guiding him to one path while the reader gets contrary ideas from it and thereby, follows a way other than the one that Allah is showing him in the Qur'an."

He then delves into the proper sources and methodology of tafseer.

Some of the distinguishing points of this work:

(1) He profusely quotes from various scholars of past and present like al-Tabari, al-Razi, al-Ghazzali, Ibn al-Qayyim, Maududi, Qutb, Murad, Israr Ahmad, and others.

(2) He painstakingly references the prophetic hadith in his footnotes.

(3) The Arabic text of the verses of the Qur'an and hadith are clear and readable.

Overall I will recommend this book wholeheartedly to one who would like to study the Qur'an. The book is thought provoking, original, and well written.