AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCES OF THE QUR’AN

By: Azfar Uddin

GAME-PLAN

Provide a synopsis of the 17 sections we will cover

WHAT ARE THE SCIENCES OF THE QUR’AN?

1. AN INTRODUCTION

The definition

The benefits

The history

2. THE WORD “QUR’AN"

Linguistic and technical

The names of the Qur’an

A description of the Qur’an by the Qur’an

A description the Qur’an by the sunnah

The status of those who recite the Qur’an

The historical “kalam" debate of the 2nd and 3rd centuries of Islam

3. THE CONCEPT OF WAHI

Meaning

Procedure

With/without an intermediary

Revelation to the angels

Revelation to the Prophet from Jibreel

The difference between Hadith Qudsi and the Qur’an

4. GRADUAL REVELATION

Stages

The quantity of revelation

The wisdom behind the gradual revelation

5. THE FIRST AND LAST REVELATION

Connection

6. THE MAKKI AND MADANI VERSES

Definition

Common themes

Benefits

Is it possible for a surah to have both Makki and Madani verses?

7. THE CAUSES OF REVELATION

Definition

Books

Why are there multiple causes of revelation for one verse?

Why are there multiple verses for one cause of revelation?

Rulings?

Benefits

8. THE COMPILATION OF THE QUR'AN

During the Prophet's (upon him be peace) life

The first compilation

The Uthmanic compilation

The different mushafs

9. THE BEGINNING OF THE SURAHS

Why is it important to know

The disjointed letters

Unique style of the beginning and ending

Relationship?

10. THE “AHRUF” OF THE QUR’AN

Meaning

Number

Still in existence?

Wisdom

11. THE QIR’AH OF THE QUR’AN

Meaning

History

The conditions of an authentic recitation

The different types of recitation

The relationship of the ahruf with the qira’ah

12. THE CLEAR AND UNCLEAR VERSES

Definition

Specific vs unspecific

13. ABROGATION IN THE QUR'AN

Definition

Books

Proof

Conditions

Sources

Rulings

Blessings of Naskh

Benefits of knowing abrogation

14. THE MIRACULOUS NATURE OF THE QUR'AN

Definition

Proof

The challenge

Miracle

Types

15. TAFSIR

Definition

Necessity

History

Principles of tafsir

Famous tafsirs

The dangers of improper tafsir

16. THE TRANSLATION OF THE QUR'AN

Conditions

History of translations

English translations by Muslims

A review of some translations

Importance of Arabic

17. THE QUR’AN AND ORIENTALIST

Books

Their arguments

CH. 1 AN INTRODUCTION

Definition

The knowledge of those sciences that have a direct bearing on

Recitation

History

Understanding

Implementation of the Qur’an

WHY IS STUDYING “'ULOOM AL QUR’AN" IMPORTANT?

1. This is the knowledge that is required to know to properly interpret the Qur’an.

2. More expansive than ‘Ilm usool al-tafsir

3. Enables the reader to realize the wealth of knowledge that exists

WHY IS STUDYING “'ULOOM AL QUR’AN" IMPORTANT?

4. Better understand the Qur’an

5. Increase their faith.

6. Be able to defend the Qur’an

–Ml. Ubaidullah Saleem

“Once you learn the essentials of the religion, the first knowledge you should turn to is the knowledge of the

Qur’an and its sciences.”

THE HISTORY OF ‘ULOOM AL-QUR'AN

Initiated with the Prophet (upon him be peace)

“Those who believe and do not mix their belief with injustice, only they will have security and they are the rightly guided” (6:82)

What is the primary meaning of the word ظلم in this verse?

it can also refer ظلم Due to the meaning of the word .شركto…

COMPANIONS WHO WERE FAMOUS FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE QUR’AN

Khulafa al-Rashioon

‘Aisha

Abdullah ibn Masood

Abdullah ibn Abbas

Ubay ibn Ka’ab

Zayd bin Thabit

Abu Musa al-Ashare

Abdullah ibn Zubair

HOW WAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE QUR’AN PASSED ON?

“The knowledge of the Qur’an was passed on by trustworthy scholars of the ummah who protected it from the alterations of the heretics, the false claims of liars and the false interpretations of the ignorant”

DID THE EARLY SCHOLARS WRITE ON ‘ULOOM AL-QUR’AN?

General knowledge was high and din't warrant the extensive writing down of knowledge

Oral transmission of knowledge

EARLY SCHOLARS WHO WROTE ON TAFSIR

Sufyan al-Thawree (d 161 A.H.)

Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (d. 198 A.H)

Wakee’ ibn al-Jaraah (d. 197 A.H)

Shu'bah ibn al-Hajjaj (d. 160 A.H)

Muhammad ibn Jareer al-Tabare (d. 310)

OTHER SCIENCES OF THE QUR’AN

‘Ali al-Madeenee (d. 234 A.H)

Abu Ubayd al-Qasim ibn Salam (d. 224 A.H)

Ibn. Qutaybah (d. 276 A.H)

Ibn Darstawayh (d. 330 A.H)

Abu Bakr as-Sijistanee (d. 330 A.H)

OTHER SCIENCES OF THE QUR’AN

Abu Bakr al-Baaqilanee (d. 403 A.H)

Imam al-Nasa'ee (d. 303 A.H)

Abu al-Hasan al-Wahide (d. 468)

Bukhari and Muslim

CLASSIC WORKS

البرهان في علوم القرآن

الحاوي في علوم القرآن

اإلتقان في علوم القرآن

MODERN ENGLISH WORKS ON

An approach to the Qura’nic sciences by Mufti Taqi

An introduction to the sciences of the Qur’an by Ahmed Von Denffer

RECAP

We went over a brief introduction of the sciences of the Qur’an

Definition

Benefits

History

NEXT WEEK: THE WORD “QUR’AN"

Linguistic and technical

The names of the Qur’an

A description of the Qur’an by the Qur’an

A description the Qur’an by the sunnah

The status of those who recite the Qur’an

The historical “kalam" debate of the 2nd and 3rd centuries of Islam