Towards Understanding the Qur'an

English Only Edition

Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi, Zafar Ishaq Ansari

• Publisher: The Islamic Foundation
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780860376132
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Islamic Theology

An immense understanding of the Qur'an is offered here, a vast treasure of knowledge and deep insight and a valuable exposition of some social, political, economic and legal teachings of the Qur'an. But what makes this work unique is that it presents the Qur'an as a book to be lived by. With thousands of notes, an introduction and comprehensive index.

1

Al-Fātiḥah [The Opening]

Makkan Period

[1] In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

[2] Praise¹ be to Allah, the Lord² of the entire Universe, [3] the Most Merciful, the Most compassionate; [4] the Master of the Day of Recompense.

[5] You alone do we worship³ and You alone do we turn to for help. [6] Direct us on to the Straight Way, the way of those whom You have favoured, [7] who did not incur Your wrath, who are not astray.⁴

1. Al-Fātiḥah is actually a prayer, which God teaches to all who embark upon the study of his Book. Its position at the beginning signifies that anyone who wants to benefit from the Book should first offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe.

2. The word Rabb has three connotations: (i) Lord and Master, (ii) Sustainer, Provider, Supporter, nourisher and Guardian, and (iii) Sovereign, He Who controls and directs. God is Rabb of the Universe in all these senses.

3. ‘Ibādah is also used in three senses: (i) worship, prayer and adoration, (ii) submission and obedience, and (iii) bondage and servitude.

4. Al-Fātiḥah is a prayer from man to God, and the rest of the Qur’ān is God’s response to this prayer. Man prays to God to show him the Straight Way. In response to this prayer God offers the Qur’ān as the true guidance, the “Straight Way,” which man has sought and prayed for.

2

Al-Baqarah [The Cow]

Madīnan Period

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

[1] Alif, Lām, Mīm.¹ [2] This is the Book of Allah, there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the pious, [3] for those who believe in the existence of that which is beyond the reach of perception,² who establish Prayer³ and spend out of what We have provided them, [4] who believe in what has been revealed to you and what was revealed before you, and have firm faith in the Hereafter.

[5] Such are on true guidance from their Lord; such are the truly successful.

[6] As for those who have rejected (these truths), it is all the same whether or not you warn them, for they will not believe. [7] Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing,⁴ and a covering has fallen over their eyes. They deserve severe chastisement.

[8] There are some who say: “We believe in Allah and in the Last Day,” while in fact they do not believe. [9] They are trying to deceive Allah and those who believe, but they do not realize that in truth they are only deceiving themselves. [10] There is a disease in their hearts and Allah has intensified this disease.⁵ A painful chastisement awaits them for their lying. [11] Whenever they are told: “Do not spread mischief on earth,” they say: “Why! We indeed are the ones who set things right.” [12] They are the mischief-makers, but they do not realize it. [13] Whenever they are told: “Believe as others believe,” they answer: “Shall we believe as the fools have believed?” Indeed it is they who are the fools, but they are not aware of it. [14] When they meet the believers, they say: “We believe,” but when they meet their evil companions (in privacy), they say: “Surely we are with you; we were merely jesting.” [15] Allah jests with them, leaving them to wander blindly on in their rebellion. [16] These are the ones who have purchased error in exchange for guidance. This bargain has brought them no profit and certainly they are not on the Right Way. [17] They are like him who kindled a fire, and when it lit up all around him, Allah took away the light (of their perception) and left them in utter darkness where they can see nothing.⁶ [18] They are deaf, they are dumb, they are blind; they will never return (to the Right Way). [19] Or they are like those who encounter a violent rainstorm from the sky, accompanied by pitch-dark clouds, thunder-claps and flashes of lightning: on hearing thunder-claps they thrust their fingers into their ears in fear of death. Allah encompasses these deniers of the Truth. [20] It is as if the lightning would snatch their sight; whenever it gleams a while for them they walk a little, and when darkness covers them they halt.⁷ If Allah so willed, He could indeed take away their hearing and their sight. Surely Allah is All-Powerful.

[21] O mankind, serve your Lord Who has created you as well as those before you; do so that you are saved.⁸ [22] It is He Who has made the earth a resting-place for you, and the sky a canopy, and sent down water from above wherewith He brought forth fruits for your sustenance. Do not, then, set up rivals to Allah when you know (the Truth).⁹

[23] If you are in any doubt whether it is We Who have revealed this Book to Our servant, then produce just a sūrah like it, and call all your supporters and seek in it the support of all others save Allah. Accomplish this if you are truthful. [24] But if you fail to do this – and you will most certainly fail – then have fear of the Fire whose fuel is men and stones¹⁰ and which has been prepared for those who deny the Truth.

[25] (O Prophet), announce glad tidings to those who believe in this Book and do righteous deeds (in accordance with its teachings), that for them are gardens beneath which rivers flow. Their fruits will have such resemblance to those of the earth that whenever they will be provided with those fruits they will say: “It was this which was granted to us on earth before.” For them there shall be pure spouses, and there they shall abide forever.

[26] Behold! Allah is not ashamed to propound the parable of a gnat, or even of something more lowly.¹¹ On hearing these parables the believers know that it is the truth from their Lord, while those bent on denying the Truth say: “What does Allah mean by these parables?” Thus He causes many to go astray just as He directs many to the Right Way. And He thereby causes to go astray only the transgressors,¹² [27] who break the covenant of Allah after its firm binding,¹³ and cut asunder what Allah has commanded to be joined,¹⁴ and spread mischief on earth. They are the utter losers.

[28] how can you be ungrateful to Allah Who bestowed life upon you when you were lifeless, then He will cause you to die and will again bring you back to life so that you will be returned to Him. [29] It is He Who created for you all that is on earth and then turned above and fashioned it into seven heavens.¹⁵ He knows all things.

[30] Just think when your Lord said to the angels: “Lo! I am about to place a vicegerent¹⁶ on earth,” they said: “Will You place on it one who will spread mischief and shed blood while we celebrate Your glory and extol Your holiness?” He said: “Surely I know what you do not know.” [31] Then Allah taught Adam the names of all things and presented them to the angels and said: “If you are right (that the appointment of a vicegerent will cause mischief) then tell Me the names of these things.” [32] They said. “Glory to You! We have no knowledge except what You taught us. You, only You, are All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [33] Then Allah said to Adam: “Tell them the names of these things.” And when he had told them the names of all things, Allah said: “Did I not say to you that I know everything about the heavens and the earth which are beyond your range of knowledge and I know all that you disclose and also all that you hide?”

[34] And when We ordered the angels: “Prostrate yourselves before Adam,” all of them fell prostrate, except Iblīs. He refused, and gloried in his arrogance and became one of the defiers.

[35] And We said: “O Adam, live in the Garden, you and your wife, and eat abundantly of whatever you wish but do not approach this tree or else you will be counted among the wrong-doers.” [36] But Satan caused both of them to deflect from obeying Our command by tempting them to the tree and brought them out of the state they were in, and We said: “Get down all of you; henceforth, each of you is an enemy of the other, and on earth you shall have your abode and your livelihood for an appointed time.” [37] Thereupon Adam learned from his Lord some words and repented and his Lord accepted his repentance for He is Much-Relenting, Most Compassionate.

[38] We said: “Get you down from here, all of you, and guidance shall come to you from Me: then, whoever will follow My guidance need have no fear, nor shall they grieve. [39] But those who refuse to accept this (guidance) and reject Our Signs as false are destined for the Fire where they shall abide for ever.”

[40] Children of Israel!¹⁷ Recall My favour which I had bestowed on you, and fulfil your covenant with Me and I shall fulfil My covenant with you, and fear Me alone. [41] And believe in the Book which I have revealed and which confirms the Scripture you already have, and be not foremost among its deniers. Do not sell My signs for a trifling gain,¹⁸ and beware of My wrath. [42] Do not confound Truth by overlaying it with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the Truth. [43] establish Prayer and dispense Zakāh (the Purifying Alms) and bow in worship with those who bow. [44] Do you enjoin righteousness on people and forget your own selves even though you recite the Scripture? Have you no sense? [45] And resort to patience and Prayer for help. Truly Prayer is burdensome for all except the devout, [46] who realize that ultimately they will have to meet their Lord and that to Him they are destined to return.

[47] Children of Israel! Recall My favour which I bestowed upon you, exalting you above all nations.¹⁹ [48] Fear the Day when no one shall avail another, when no intercession will be accepted, when no one will be ransomed, and no criminal will receive any help.

[49] And recall when We rescued you from the slavery of Pharaoh’s people²⁰ who had afflicted you with dreadful suffering, slaying your males and sparing your females. That was a tremendous trial for you from your Lord.

[50] And recall when We split the sea, providing passage for you, and thus saved you and caused Pharaoh’s people to drown before your very eyes.

[51] And recall when We summoned Moses for a term of forty nights,²¹ and then you set up the calf as your god in his absence. You indeed committed a grave wrong. [52] Yet We pardoned you that you might be grateful.

[53] And recall (that while you were committing this wrong) We gave Moses the Scripture and the Criterion²² that you are guided to the Right Way.

[54] And recall when (on returning with this favour) Moses said to his people: “My people! You have wronged yourselves by taking the calf for an object of worship, so turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves.²³

This will be best for you in your Creator’s sight.” Thereupon He accepted your repentance. Indeed He is Much-Relenting, Most Compassionate.

[55] And recall when you said: “O Moses, we will not believe in you until we clearly see Allah (speaking to you).” Thereupon a tremendous thunderbolt struck you before your very eyes. [56] Then We revived you after your extinction, that you might be grateful.

[57] And We caused a cloud to comfort you with shade, and We sent down upon you manna and the quails, (saying): “Eat of the good wherewithal that We have provided you as sustenance.” And by their sinning (your forefathers) did not wrong Us: it is they themselves whom they wronged.

[58]...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Transliteration Table
• Foreword
• Editor’s Preface – Zafar Ishaq Ansari
• Introduction
• 1: Al-Fātiḥah
• 2: Al-Baqarah
• 3: Āl ʿImrān
• 4: Al-Nisā’
• 5: Al-Mā’idah
• 6: Al-Anʿām
• 7: Al-Aʿrāf
• 8: Al-Anfāl
• 9: Al-Tawbah
• 10: Yūnus
• 11: Hūd
• 12: Yūsuf
• 13: Al-Raʿd
• 14: Ibrāhīm
• 15: Al-Ḥijr
• 16: Al-Naḥl
• 17: Banī Isrā’īl
• 18: Al-Kahf
• 19: Maryam
• 20: Ṭā’ Hā’
• 21: Al-Anbiyā’
• 22: Al-Ḥajj
• 23: Al-Mu’minūn
• 24: Al-Nūr
• 25: Al-Furqān
• 26: Al-Shuʿarā’
• 27: Al-Naml
• 28: Al-Qaṣaṣ
• 29: Al-ʿAnkabūt
• 30: Al-Rūm
• 31: Luqmān
• 32: Al-Sajdah
• 33: Al-Aḥzāb
• 34: Saba’
• 35: Fāṭir
• 36: Yā’ Sīn
• 37: Al-Ṣāffāt
• 38: Ṣād
• 39: Al-Zumar
• 40: Al-Mu’min
• 41: Ḥā’. Mīm. Al-Sajdah
• 42: Al-Shūrā
• 43: Al-Zukhruf
• 44: Al-Dukhān
• 45: Al-Jāthiyah
• 46: Al-Aḥqāf
• 47: Muḥammad
• 48: Al-Fatḥ
• 49: Al-Ḥujurāt
• 50: Qāf
• 51: Al-Dhāriyāt
• 52: Al-Ṭūr
• 53: Al-Najm
• 54: Al-Qamar
• 55: Al-Raḥmān
• 56: Al-Wāqiʿah
• 57: Al-Ḥadīd
• 58: Al-Mujādalah
• 59: Al-Ḥashr
• 60: Al-Mumtaḥinah
• 61: Al-Ṣaff
• 62: Al-Jumuʿah
• 63: Al-Munāfiqūn
• 64: Al-Taghābun
• 65: Al-Ṭalāq
• 66: Al-Taḥrīm
• 67: Al-Mulk
• 68: Al-Qalam
• 69: Al-Ḥāqqah
• 70: Al-Maʿārij
• 71: Nūḥ
• 72: Al-Jinn
• 73: Al-Muzzammil
• 74: Al-Muddaththir
• 75: Al-Qiyāmah
• 76: Al-Dahr
• 77: Al-Mursalāt
• 78: Al-Naba’
• 79: Al-Nāziʿāt
• 80: ʿAbasa
• 81: Al-Takwīr
• 82: Al-Infiṭār
• 83: Al-Muṭaffifīn
• 84: Al-Inshiqāq
• 85: Al-Burūj
• 86: Al-Ṭāriq
• 87: Al-Aʿla
• 88: Al-Ghāshiyah
• 89: Al-Fajr
• 90: Al-Balad
• 91: Al-Shams
• 92: Al-Layl
• 93: Al-Ḍuḥā
• 94: Alam Nashraḥ
• 95: Al-Tīn
• 96: Al-ʿAlaq
• 97: Al-Qadr
• 98: Al-Bayyinah
• 99: Al-Zilzāl
• 100: Al-ʿĀdiyāt
• 101: Al-Qāriʿah
• 102: Al-Takāthur
• 103: Al-ʿAṣr
• 104: Al-Humazah
• 105: Al-Fīl
• 106: Quraysh
• 107: Al-Māʿūn
• 108: Al-Kawthar
• 109: Al-Kāfirūn
• 110: Al-Naṣr
• 111: Al-Lahab
• 112: Al-Ikhlāṣ
• 113: Al-Falaq
• 114: Al-Nās
• Glossary
• Biographical Notes
• Subject Index
• Name Index