Explaining Kitab Jawahir al-Quran: A reader's understanding of the Book Part-1

Explaining Kitab Jawahir al-Quran

A readers understanding of the Book Part-1

 

 

A valuable Book for all Quran researchers and lovers and a beginning for those who would like to dwell into the pearls of this magnificent holy treasure , Kitab Jawahir al-Quran is a fine piece of allegorical explanation of the content and heart of Quran, why it is to be read and what to find as a logical thinker and as a spiritual soul. More of a soul’s thirst quencher this is a phenomenon in spiritual writing.

Abu Hamid Al Ghazzali (d.505 AH/1111AD) was a prominent islamic philosopher most famous for his milestone work Ihya Uloomuddin which made the sufi doctrine acceptable to the mainstream islamic circle. He was known as the Proof of Islam ( Hujjah al islam) and the ornament of religion (Zain ud din).In his later years after the completion of the major works , Al-Ghazzali explained his understanding of quran with this book “ Kitab Jawahir al-Quran” The Book of Jewels of Quran. The Book is a source of much of our understanding on Al-Ghazzali’s view and knowledge of the quran.

This is the translation of his glorious work by the scholar Muhammad Abdul Quasem who has beautifully reflected the text into english.

The Book is a great explanation on the beauty of Quran and its theory with an elaboration on the division of its contents and core value of its text. It includes the Maqasid (aims) of the Quran and its theory .The first chapter explains the contents in brief.

The Book consists of 3 parts: 1.) Introductory matters

2.)On the aims of the Quran

3.) Matters connected to the aims

In the first part the section is divided into 19 chapters explaining this section in detail. The 19 chapters are listed in the content and a brief is given on it.

1. The quran is like an Ocean which covers many types of jewels.
2. The limiting of the aims of the Quran and its valuables to six divisions of which three are important principles and the other three follow them and complete them.
3. The explanation of the six divisions and its branching into Ten.
4. The process by which all branches of sciences branch of from these ten divisions. The sciences are divided into the science of the outer shell and inner jewels.
5. how sciences of the ancients and modern branch off from the Quran.
6. The concepts of Quran comprising of red Brimstone,greatest antidote and the strongest musk and all other jewels and pearls.
7. The reason of why all the entities of the invisible world is explained with similitude in the visible world.
8. The understanding of the connection between the visible and invisible worlds.
9. Analysis of the allegories.
10. Its benefits.
11. How some verses of quran excel others.
12. The secrets of Surah Fathiha, description of Arrahman and Araheem.
13. The eight doors of heaven with the surah Fathiha being the key.
14. Why the verse of throne is regarded as chief of quranic verses.
15. An investigation into why surah Ikhlas is equal to a third part of Quran.
16. Why surah Yasin is considered to be heart of Quran.
17. Why Prophet (saws) considered Surah Fathiha as best surah of quran and verse of throne as chief of quranic verses
18. Condition of the gnostics (Aarifun)
19. Secret reason for stringing the jewels of quran on one string and its pearls on the other.

The second part deals with the aims and comprises of the essence of the quranic verses which are of two kinds. The first consists of jewels which are verses concerning the essence of Allah and his attributes. These are known as cognitive part ( al qism al ilmi) .The second consists of the pearls which are verses regarding the straight path, the way of life ,the works which need to be done to achieve the straight path. This is the practical part ( al qism al amali).

The First Chapter begins with the verse

“Do they not ponder over the Quran in order to understand its deep meaning , or is it that their minds are locked up from within? “(Quran 47:24)

The author beautifully requests the readers to arise from sleep and describes the people who only read the Quran at the surface or only know the meaning of it as the ones who are at the shore of the ocean and has not dived into the ocean to find the treasures of Quran. He motivates to sail into the ocean and gather all the jewels of the Quran to understand the significance and royalty of the Quran.

The Impressiveness of the book is due to the fact that it is based on the concept of jewels and precious allegories and metaphorical representation of the topics and verses into pearls and jewels imbibing a keen fantasy and worldly image in the minds of the reader which helps in understanding the concepts of the much deep and invisible meanings and interpretations of the Quranic language. The book explains the jewels as red brimstone, shining pearls, green chrysolite and strongest of the musks, and other metaphors.

In the second chapter the aims and the valuables are explained in a clearer fashion. The Surahs of the Quran are divided into six types. Three of them are the important ones and the other three follow them. The three important ones are the definition of God, the definition of the straight path, and the definition of the condition at the time of attaining to him.

The other three divisions are the conditions of those who answer the call of God. It describes the dealing of God with man. It also describes about the people who do not answer to call of god and about the punishment they will face. The second narration describes the condition of who deny the God and their disgrace in denial of God and in being on the side of falcity. The third division defines the path to god, the preparation and the provisions.

The Book is as though a journey through the sea in a ship, cruising through the beauty of Quran and the author takes you into the world of holiness through this journey….