Читать книгу Towards Understanding the Qur'an - Sayyid Abul A'la Mawdudi - Страница 40

Introduction

[ VII ]

The Qur’an is a Book to which innumerable people turn for innumerable purposes. It is difficult to offer advice appropriate to all. The readers to whom this work is addressed are those who are concerned to acquire a serious understanding of the Book, and who seek the guidance it has to offer in relation to the various problems of life. For such people we have a few suggestions to make, and we shall offer some explanations in the hope of facilitating their study of the Qur’an.

Anyone who really wishes to understand the Qur’an, irrespective of whether or not he believes in it, must divest his mind, as far as possible, of every preconceived notion, bias and prejudice, in order to embark upon his study with an open mind. Anyone who begins to study the Qur’an with a set of preconceived ideas is likely to read those very ideas into the Book. No book can be profitably studied with this kind of attitude, let alone the Qur’an which refuses to open its treasure-house to such readers.

For those who want only a superficial acquaintance with the doctrines of the Qur’an one reading is perhaps sufficient. For those who want to fathom its depths even several readings are not enough. These people need to study the Qur’an over and over again, taking notes of everything that strikes them as significant. Those who are willing to study the Qur’an in this manner should do so at least twice to begin with, so as to obtain a broad grasp of the system of beliefs and practical prescriptions that it offers. In this preliminary survey, they should try to gain an overall perspective of the Qur’an and to grasp the basic ideas which it expounds, and the system of life that it seeks to build on the basis of those ideas. If, during the course of this study, anything agitates the mind of the reader, he should note down the point concerned and patiently persevere with his study. He is likely to find that, as he proceeds, the difficulties are resolved. (When a problem has been solved, it is advisable to note down the solution alongside the problem.) Experience suggests that any problems still unsolved after a first reading of the Qur’an are likely to be resolved by a careful second reading.

xxxix