Contents

Title Page

Copyright

A Word From the Author

General Introduction

Need of a New Translation and a New Commentary

Present Translation Fulfils the Need

Special Features of this Commentary

Other Revealed Books

Need of the Quran

God of the Bible-A National God

Vedas Also a National Scripture

God Is One

Religion–Not a Product of Human Imagination

Revealed Teachings Always Against Current Ideas

Why Teachings of Various Religions Differ

Islam Teaches Oneness of God and of Humanity

Jesus—Not a Universal Teacher

Meaning of Civilisation and Culture

Different Periods of Civilisation and Culture

Jewish and Christian Cultures

A Pertinent Question

Contradictions in the Old Testament

Savage Teaching of the Old Testament

Irrational Teaching of the Old Testament

Prophets Defamed by the Bible

The New Testament Examined

Jesus’ Own Admission

Testimony of Christian Scholars

Contradictions in the New Testament

Superstitions in the Gospels

Doubtful Ethics of the New Testament

Interpolations in the Vedas

Savage Teaching of the Vedas

Superstitions in the Vedas

Contradictions in the Vedas

Number of Vedic Gods

God’s Promise to Abraham

The Prophecy in Deuteronomy

Faran—Part of Arabia

The Quraysh are Ishmael’s Descendants

The Holy Prophet Mentioned in Habakkuk

The Prophet’s Advent Foretold by Solomon

Isaiah’s Prophecies

Prophecies of Daniel

Prophecies in the New Testament

The Holy Prophet—A Life Sketch

Life of the Prophet an Open Book

Arabia at the Time of the Prophet’s Birth

Holy Prophet’s Marriage with Khadijah

The Prophet Receives His First Revelation

First Converts

The Faithful Persecuted

The Message of Islam

Emigration to Abyssinia

‘Umar Accepts Islam

Persecution Intensifies

The Prophet Goes to Ta’if

Islam Spreads to Medina

First Pledge of ‘Aqabah

The Hijrah

Suraqah Pursues the Prophet

The Prophet Arrives at Medina

Abu Ayyub Ansari as Prophet’s Host

Life Unsafe at Medina

Pact between Various Tribes of Medina

Meccans Preparing to Attack Medina

Battle of Badr

A Great Prophecy Fulfilled

Battle of Uhud

Victory Converted Into Defeat

Rumour of Prophet’s Death Reaches Medina

Encounter with Banu Mustaliq

Battle of the Ditch

Fight against Heavy Odds

Treachery of Banu Qurayzah

The Confederates Disperse

Banu Qurayzah Punished

Sa‘d’s Award in Harmony with the Bible

Did The Prophet Seek To Continue Warfare?

Teachings of Judaism and Christianity about War

The Quran on War and Peace

The Prophet’s Precepts about War

Sporadic Attacks by Disbelievers

The Prophet Leaves for Mecca with 1500 Companions

Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

Prophet’s Letters to Various Kings

Letter to the King of Iran

Letter to the Negus

Letter to the Ruler of Egypt

Letter to the Chief of Bahrain

Fall of Khaybar

The Prophet’s Vision Fulfilled

Battle of Mu’tah

The Prophet Marches on Mecca with Ten Thousand Followers

Fall of Mecca

The Prophet Enters Mecca

Ka‘bah Cleared of Idols

The Prophet Forgives His Enemies

‘Ikrimah Becomes Muslim

Battle of Hunain

“The Prophet of God Calls You”

A Sworn Enemy Becomes A Devoted Follower

The Prophet Distributes Booty

Machinations of Abu ‘Amir

The Expedition of Tabuk

The Last Pilgrimage

The Prophet Gives Hints of His Death

Last Days of the Prophet

The Prophet Passes Away

The Prophet’s Personality and Character

The Prophet’s Purity of Mind and Cleanliness of Body

The Prophet’s Simple Life

Relationship with God

Disapproval of Penance

Attitude Towards His Wives

High Moral Qualities

His Self-Control

Justice and Fair Dealing

Regard for the Poor

Safeguarding the Interests of the Poor

Treatment of Slaves

Treatment of Women

Attitude Towards The Dead

Treatment of Neighbours

Treatment of Relatives

Keeping Good Company

Safeguarding People’s Faith

Overlooking Faults of Others

Patience in Adversity

Mutual Cooperation

Truthfulness

Inquisitiveness

Frank and Straightforward Dealing

Pessimism

Cruelty To Animals

Tolerance in Religious Matters

Bravery

Consideration Towards The Uncultured

The Fulfilling of Covenants

Deference Towards Servants of Humanity

The Compilation of the Quran

Devices Adopted To Safeguard the Text of the Quran

Instructors of the Quran

Reciters of the Quran

The Quran Committed to Memory

The Quran Collected in One Volume

Standardized Copies of the Quran

Practice of Committing the Quran to Memory Continued

Arrangement of Chapters and Verses

Some Prophecies of the Quran

Characteristics of the Quranic Teachings

Belief in a Living God

The Quranic Conception of Salvation

Miracles

Worship of God

The Mosques of Islam

The Islamic Fast

The Pilgrimage

The Zakat

Islamic Form of Government

The Quran on Slavery

The Human Soul

The Quranic Plan of Spiritual Universe

God of All Peoples

God—the Ultimate Cause of All Creation

Principal Divine Attributes

Other Attributes of God

Three Categories of Divine Attributes

Divine Attributes Not Contradictory

Man—the Centre of the Universe

The Culmination of Process of Evolution

The Object of Man’s Creation

Law of Nature and Law of Shariah

Evolution of Spiritual Universe Completed in the Holy Prophet

Quran—the Perfect Scripture

Principles to Establish Social Order

Life After Death

Ahmad—the Promised Messiah

The Messiah’s Promised Son

Translations Into Other Languages

Acknowledgements