Overview

The study and explanation of Sūrah Al-Fātihah and verses 1-143 of Sūrah Al-Baqara make up Volume I of A Ray of the Qur’ān. Sayyed Mahmoud Taleghani follows the traditional ordinal presentation of these two chapters of the Qur’ān. Appropriately, he begins his commentary with the first Sūrah: ""The Opening.” He considers this Sūrah to be an invitation to people to recognize their creator and sustainer by knowing Allah’s attribute of mercy and as the giver of guidance to the straight path. Likewise, Taleghani invites people through another name given to this Sūrah, Al Hamd/The Praise, to praise their Lord exclusively.　 Taleghani’s approach to the Qur’ān is holistic. This is evident in his reading of the initial five verses of Sūrah Al-Baqara as containing the foundational, pivotal notions that inform the grand ideas and the details of not only the rest of the Sūrah, but indeed the entire Qur’ān. The word taqwā, used in Sūrah Al-Baqara and throughout the Qur’ān, is sometimes translated as piety or fear of God but the full breadth of the term, as Taleghani shows, is better expressed in the phrase ""to safeguard oneself with full awareness of divine laws."" Those who show taqwā are made aware of the prophetic mission, and are assured of the hereafter if they accept and follow it in their thoughts and deeds. Thus, the reader is introduced in Sūrah Al-Baqara to Taleghani’s vision of the Qur’ān, whereby, a ray from this book is said to touch the minds and hearts of those with taqwa and to launch them on their search for the truth. This is one way Taleghani distinguishes the Holy Qur’ān from other books.

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9781433178429

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Reviews

“English-language scholarship in Qur’ān studies owes a debt of gratitude to the translator and the publisher for making available one of the most important contemporary commentaries of the Qur’ān. Four decades after the passing of the author Al-Sayyid Mahmoud Taleghani (RA), the translation makes this authentic voice of human liberation accessible to a wide audience. It is not possible to overstate the importance of this translation of the invaluable, awe-inspiring and cogent contribution to understanding the causes of and solutions to the problems of human societies. The commentary represents a distinctive and eloquent voice of consciousness that was enlightened by the Qur’ān, which he taught must be understood by every generation in light of its own realities. Based on his commentary alone, if not his personal struggles, a persuasive case can be made that Taleghani could well be considered among the first Muslim liberation theologists of the twentieth century.”—Abbas Mirakhor, Retired Professor of Economics and Finance “This is a very different approach to writing commentary on the Qur’ān from those written by classical or contemporary traditional scholars in the Shi‘a world. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that it was written mostly during prison time by one of the most eminent religious scholars of the twentieth century Iran who was also a relentless political activist, an advocate for justice and a champion of political freedom. The years he spent in prison brought him in close contact with political activists of diverse orientation all united in their opposition to the Pahlavi regime. As a result, A Ray of the Qur’ān is also a window to the social and political history of Iran in the twentieth century. This is a very original and important book, and a welcome addition to the contemporary scholarship in the field of Islamic Studies in general and Qur’ānic Studies in particular. The translator’s labor of love must be acknowledged and congratulated for providing the readers of English language with this special work.” —Mohammad H. Faghfoory, Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Islamic Studies, George Washington University

“Whatever is written about the āyāt, and from the point of view of guidance by the Holy Qur’ān,…should not be counted as the final intent of the Holy Qur’an. Thus, I found the title and name ‘A Ray of the Qur’ān’ suitable for it.” —Sayyed Mahmoud Taleghani “Taleghani chose his addressees among university students from various areas of studies of science instead of seminary students. Speaking with the language of the time—the language of the new sciences and new ways of learning—he tried to bring the Qur’ān to the scene of action and living, making it the guide to both the individual and societal lives of people.“ —Abdolali Bazargan “And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur’ān from every [kind of] example that they might remember.” —The Qur’ān, Az-Zumar/39:27 “English-language scholarship in Qur’ān studies owes a debt of gratitude to the translator and the publisher for making available one of the most important contemporary commentaries of the Qur’ān. Four decades after the passing of the author Al-Sayyid Mahmoud Taleghani (RA), the translation makes this authentic voice of human liberation accessible to a wide audience. It is not possible to overstate the importance of this translation of the invaluable, awe-inspiring and cogent contribution to understanding the causes of and solutions to the problems of human societies. The commentary represents a distinctive and eloquent voice of consciousness that was enlightened by the Qur’ān, which he taught must be understood by every generation in light of its own realities. Based on his commentary alone, if not his personal struggles, a persuasive case can be made that Taleghani could well be considered among the first Muslim liberation theologists of the twentieth century.”—Abbas Mirakhor, Retired Professor of Economics and Finance “This is a very different approach to writing commentary on the Qur’ān from those written by classical or contemporary traditional scholars in the Shi‘a world. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that it was written mostly during prison time by one of the most eminent religious scholars of the twentieth century Iran who was also a relentless political activist, an advocate for justice and a champion of political freedom. The years he spent in prison brought him in close contact with political activists of diverse orientation all united in their opposition to the Pahlavi regime. As a result, A Ray of the Qur’ān is also a window to the social and political history of Iran in the twentieth century. This is a very original and important book, and a welcome addition to the contemporary scholarship in the field of Islamic Studies in general and Qur’ānic Studies in particular. The translator’s labor of love must be acknowledged and congratulated for providing the readers of English language with this special work.” —Mohammad H. Faghfoory, Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Islamic Studies, George Washington University

English-language scholarship in Qur'an studies owes a debt of gratitude to the translator and the publisher for making available one of the most important contemporary commentaries of the Qur'an. Four decades after the passing of the author Al-Sayyid Mahmoud Taleghani (RA), the translation makes this authentic voice of human liberation accessible to a wide audience. It is not possible to overstate the importance of this translation of the invaluable, awe-inspiring and cogent contribution to understanding the causes of and solutions to the problems of human societies. The commentary represents a distinctive and eloquent voice of consciousness that was enlightened by the Qur'an, which he taught must be understood by every generation in light of its own realities. Based on his commentary alone, if not his personal struggles, a persuasive case can be made that Taleghani could well be considered among the first Muslim liberation theologists of the twentieth century. -Abbas Mirakhor, Retired Professor of Economics and Finance This is a very different approach to writing commentary on the Qur'an from those written by classical or contemporary traditional scholars in the Shi'a world. Its uniqueness comes from the fact that it was written mostly during prison time by one of the most eminent religious scholars of the twentieth century Iran who was also a relentless political activist, an advocate for justice and a champion of political freedom. The years he spent in prison brought him in close contact with political activists of diverse orientation all united in their opposition to the Pahlavi regime. As a result, A Ray of the Qur'an is also a window to the social and political history of Iran in the twentieth century. This is a very original and important book, and a welcome addition to the contemporary scholarship in the field of Islamic Studies in general and Qur'anic Studies in particular. The translator's labor of love must be acknowledged and congratulated for providing the readers of English language with this special work. -Mohammad H. Faghfoory, Professor and Director, Graduate Program in Islamic Studies, George Washington University

Author Information

Ali Asghar Agah, MA and ABD, George Washington University, is a retired educator, World Bank Staff member, diplomat, and International Monetary Fund Advisor. As a community organizer he adopted A Ray of the Qur’ān for Qur’ān study and his translation work includes The Evolution of the Qur’ān. Mariam Agah, MA and ABD, taught various levels, subjects, and types of students in Catholic, public, and Muslim schools. She edited many translations including of the Evolution of the Qur’ān. She writes poetry, conducts workshops for educators, lectures on family, women, Muslim personalities and interfaith relations.　

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