Islam: A Comprehensive Introduction (Hardbound)  (English, Hardcover, Javed Ahmad Ghamidi)

Islam: A Comprehensive Introduction (Urdu title: Mizan) is an extensive study of the contents of Islam by the author. It is an effort which spans almost two decades of both creative and critical thinking. The entire endeavour is a fresh interpretation of Islam from its original sources. In his own opinion, the reason that he has undertaken it is that interpretation of sacred texts is a human endeavour and since this can never remain fault free, the process should never discontinue. It is as a result of this principle that the author has continued to evaluate and re-evaluate even his own findings. This attempt to expound the contents of Islam is not a new one. Preceding Ghamidi is an illustrious series of names who have ventured forth to present Islam the way they have understood it. All these efforts are commendable and merit deep deliberation. A serious student should perhaps conduct a comparative study to gauge the approaches followed by each. The author is a prominent pupil of Amin Ahsan Islahi (1904-1997), a profound exegete and a distinguished student of the prodigious Quranic scholar: Hamid al-Din Farahi (1863-1930). Ghamidi draws heavily on the approach and research of his two eminent predecessors. However, he has not only developed and lent precision to their approach and views, he has also made some original contributions in this regard. The entire effort is a fresh interpretation of Islam from its original sources on the basis of the principles delineated in the first preamble. The reason that it has been undertaken is that interpretation of sacred texts has always remained a human endeavour and thus can never remain fault free. It is as a result of this principle that the author has continued to evaluate and re-evaluate even his own findings. He is of the opinion that no view or interpretation is acceptable if it cannot stand up to criticism. It should not have any value merely because a certain great scholar or authority presented it. Even the greatest of scholars are not immune from error; therefore, it is arguments and reasoning based only on the original sources of Islam that should be the basis for accepting or rejecting a point of view. Thus, just as the author has differed with authorities of the past, he has also differed from his two predecessors whose approach and research are foundational to this work.