Ghulam Ahmad Parwez (Punjabi: غلام احمد پرویز; 1903–1985) was a well-known teacher of the Quran in India and Pakistan.[2] He posed a challenge to the established Sunni doctrine by interpreting Quranic themes with a logical approach.[3][4] The educated populace held Parwez in high esteem, despite his encounter with numerous criticisms from conservative Islamic scholars throughout his tenure. The work 'Islam: A Challenge to Religion' is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant works in the history of Pakistan, according to Nadeem F. Paracha.[5]

Ghulam Ahmad Parwez
غلام احمد پرویز
Born
Ghulam Ahmad Parwez

9 July 1903
Died24 February 1985(1985-02-24) (aged 81)[1]
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
NationalityPakistani
Occupation(s)Senior Civil Servant, Department of Interior Ministry, Government of India and later, Department of Home and Interior Affairs, Karachi, Pakistan
Known forIslam: A Challenge to Religion; Exposition of the Holy Qur'an; The Quranic System of Sustenance; What Is Islam

Early and personal life

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Parwez was born on 9 July 1903 in Batala, Punjab, in British India. He migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He delved into the holy book of Islam and other religious texts. In 1934, he obtained a master's degree from the Punjab University.[6][7] His ideas, based on modern science, helped people better understand Islam. He was introduced to Muhammad Ali Jinnah by Muhammad Iqbal. He was appointed to edit the magazine Tolu-e-Islam, which was established to counteract the propaganda emanating from certain religious circles that favour Congress. He died aged 81.[6]

Career

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Parwez was appointed to the Central Secretariat of the Government of India in 1927, and became an important figure in the Home Department. When Pakistan became independent, he stayed in the same job in the government and retired early as an Assistant Secretary (Class I gazetted officer) in 1955. He spent all his time doing his job.[8] Parwez argued that his insights from the Quran were in stark contrast to both capitalist and Marxist political ideologies.[9][non-primary source needed] Before the creation of Pakistan, Parwez was recruited by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to help popularize the need for a separate homeland for Muslims in South Asia.[10] He emphasized the importance of the government's structure in adhering to Islamic ideals. The principles of Islam, as enumerated in the Quran, require that individuals reside in a nation that upholds God's commands, rather than their own.[11][12][non-primary source needed]

Ideas and contributions

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Even though this right almost always came before any form of authority, Parwez believed in individual freedom.[13] Parwez, in line with this, strongly opposed slavery, arguing that it lacked any legal justification according to the Quran. Further, he said that Islam challenged the truth, validity, and very idea of religion.[14][15]

Parwez assessed the supporting evidence for the suppositions contained in the Quran passages that are often associated with awe-inspiring happenings, celestial beings, and jinns, weighing it all objectively, without attempting to invoke the supernatural.[16][17] Parwez also pushed for the adoption of Islamic socialism, a political philosophy that seeks to reorganize society in line with Islamic ideals. [18] He argued that socialism is the most efficient means to uphold the principles of property, justice, and the distribution of wealth, as outlined in the Qur'an. In addition, he said that the Prophet was a prophet who wanted to stop capitalists and the corrupt bureaucracy of Byzantium and Persia from exploiting Quraish merchants although Quraish merchants had little contact with the traders from the then two supreme powers. He advocated the implementation of scientific and agricultural reforms to improve economic development. [19] Parwez has been called a "quranist" by Nadeem F. Paracha,[20] as Parwez rejected most hadiths.[21] In essence, the rejection of one well known hadeeth means the rejection of Sunnah. Further, Paracha claimed that Parwez approved praying Namaz in Urdu.[6] Even while Parwez was alive, his opponents spread these claims. In 1960 more than 600 Islamic Scholars issued a fatwa declaring Ghulam Ahmad Perwez Kafir due to his views on Quran and Hadith. Ghulam Ahmed Perwez was also criticized due to wrong interpretation of Quran.[22]

Translated works

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  • Exposition of the Holy Quran[23]
  • Human Fundamental Rights[24]
  • Dictionary Of the Holy Quran Vol 1-4[25][26][27][28]
  • What Is Islam[29]
  • The Quranic System of Sustenance[30]
  • Islam: A Challenge To Religion[31]
  • The Life In The Hereafter[32]
  • Islamic Way Of Living[33]
  • Letter To Tahira[34]
  • Quranic Laws[35]
  • Jihad Is Not Terrorism[36]
  • Glossary of Quranic Words[37]
  • Human and Satan[38]
  • Constitution Of Islamic State[39]

The books written by Syed Abdul Wadud, a close friend of Parwez, are based on his ideas.

  • Conspiracies Against the Quran[40]
  • Phenomena Of Nature[41]
  • Quranocracy[42]
  • The Heavens the Earth and the Quran[43]
  • Gateway to the Quran[44]

Publications

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  • Matalibul Furqaan (7 vols.)[45]
  • Lughat-ul-Quran (4 vols.)[46]
  • Mafhoom-ul-Quran (3 vols.)[47]
  • Tabweeb-ul-Quran (3 vols.)[48]
  • Nizam-e-Rabubiyyat[49]
  • Islam A Challenge to Religion (English version)[50]
  • Insaan Ne Kiya Socha (What Man Thought, A History of Human Thought)[51]
  • Islam kia he (second part of Insan ne kia socha)
  • Tasawwaf Ki Haqiqat (The reality of Islamic Mysticism[52]
  • Saleem Ke Naam (3 vols.)[53]
  • Tahira Ke Naam[54]
  • Qurani Faislay (5 vols.)[55]
  • Meraj-e-Insaaniat (about Muhammad)[56]
  • Barke toor (about Mosa)[57]
  • Joe noor (about Ibrahim)[58]
  • Shola e mastoor (about Esa)[59]
  • man(o) yazdan (Me and God, about Allah in light of the Quran)[60]
  • Shahkar-e-Risalat (a biography of Caliph Omar)[61]
  • Iblis o Adam (Satan and Man)[62]
  • Jahane farda[63]
  • Mazahebe Alam ke Asmani Kitaben[64]
  • Asbab e zwal e ummat[65]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "G A Parwez | Bazme Tolue Islam Toronto".
  2. ^ Sharma, Suresh K.; Sharma, Usha (2004). Religious Heritage of India: Islam. Mittal Publications. p. 238. ISBN 9788170999607.
  3. ^ Jawed, Nasim A. Islam's Political Culture: Religion and Politics in pre-divided Pakistan. p. 107.
  4. ^ "The volatile fusion: Origins, rise & demise of the 'Islamic Left'". Dawn News. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Shaping histories: The most influential books in Pakistan". DAWN News. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "The rise and fall of a spiritual rebel". Daily Dawn.com. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Introduction – Biography of G.A.P, taken from "The Life in the Hereafter (Translation of Jahan e Farda by Ejaz Rasool)"" (PDF). Tolue-Islam-Trust. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  8. ^ "G A Parwez | Tolu e Islam Trust". islamicdawn.com. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  9. ^ G. A. Parwez. The Quranic System of Sustenance. pp. 12, 30, 72, 127, 170. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  10. ^ "The volatile fusion: Origins, rise & demise of the 'Islamic Left'". DAWN News. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  11. ^ G.A. Parwez. "Political System Part II: Quranic System". Islam: A Challenge to Religion. pp. 230–247. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  12. ^ G. A. Parwez. The Quranic System of Sustenance. p. 57. Archived from the original on 5 November 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  13. ^ Kurzman, Charles (1998). Liberal Islam: A Source Book. Oxford University Press. p. 24. ISBN 9780195116229.
  14. ^ Singh Sevea, Iqbal (29 June 2012). The Political Philosophy of Muhammad Iqbal: Islam and Nationalism in Late Colonial India. Cambridge University Press. p. 125. ISBN 9781139536394.
  15. ^ Jafrī, Maqsood (2003). The gleams of wisdom. Sigma Press.
  16. ^ Guessoum, Nidhal (30 October 2010). Islam's Quantum Question: Reconciling Muslim Tradition and Modern Science. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857730756.
  17. ^ Nazer, Abdul Elah (28 April 2012). SENSE AND SENSIBILITY IN ISLAM: Linguistics, Context and Rationality. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781469148328.
  18. ^ Daechsel, Markus (19 March 2015). Islamabad and the Politics of International Development in Pakistan. Cambridge University Press. p. 198. ISBN 9781107057173.
  19. ^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (21 February 2013). "Islamic Socialism: A history from left to right". dawn.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  20. ^ Paracha, Nadeem (23 July 2015). "The volatile fusion: Origins, rise & demise of the 'Islamic Left'". Dawn.com. Dawn News. Retrieved 27 August 2015. Parvez was a prominent 'Quranist', or an Islamic scholar who insisted that for the Muslims to make progress in the modern world, Islamic thought and laws should be entirely based on modern interpretations of the Qu'ran.
  21. ^ Guessoum, Nidhal (30 October 2010). Islam's Quantum Question: Reconciling Muslim Tradition and Modern Science. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 9780857730756.
  22. ^ "Khan Adeeb". www.parwez.tv. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  23. ^ "Exposition" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Human fundamental rights" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  25. ^ "Vol I" (PDF). qes.no. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  26. ^ "VII" (PDF). qes.no. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  27. ^ "VIII" (PDF). qes.no. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  28. ^ "VIV" (PDF). qes.no. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  29. ^ "What is Islam" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Quranic system of sustenance" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Islam a challenge" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  32. ^ "Life in the Hereafter" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  33. ^ [1][dead link]
  34. ^ "Letters to Tahira" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  35. ^ "Quranic Laws" (PDF). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Jihad is not terrorism" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  37. ^ "GLOSSARY: Terms starting with letters A-D" (PDF). Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Ibleeso Aadam Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  39. ^ "Constitution of the Islamic state" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  40. ^ "Conspiracies against the Quran" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  41. ^ "Phenomena of nature" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  42. ^ "Quranocracy" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  43. ^ "The Heavens The Earth" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  44. ^ "Gateway to the Quran" (PDF). resurgentislam.com. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  45. ^ "Mutalib-ul-Furqaan: Volume I". Tolue Islam Trust - www.islamicdawn.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  46. ^ "Lugat'ul Quran" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  47. ^ "Mafhoom'ul Quran" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  48. ^ "Tabweeb'ul Quran" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  49. ^ "Nizam-e-Rabobi'at" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  50. ^ "ISLAM: A Challenge To Religion". Tolue Islam Trust - islamicdawn.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  51. ^ "Insaan Nay Kya Socha". Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  52. ^ "Tasawaaf ki Haqeeqat: Sufism and Islam" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  53. ^ "Saleem Kay Naam Khatoot: Part 1" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  54. ^ "Tahira Kay Naam Khatoot" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  55. ^ "Qurani Faislay: Part 1" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  56. ^ "Miraj-e-Insaniyaat: Life of Muhammad". Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  57. ^ "Parwez on Moses, Torah, Suliman, Solomon, David, Daoud, Yunus, Jonah, Ayub, Psalms and other Prophets" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  58. ^ "Parwez on Noah, Ad, Luqman, Salih, Ibraheem, Abraham, Ismael, Lut, Yusuf, Joseoph, and Shoaib" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  59. ^ "Shola-e-Mastoor: Life of Zakriya, Yahya, Isa (Jesus), People of Kahf" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  60. ^ "Mon-o-Yazdaun: Concept of God in Quran" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  61. ^ "Shahkar-e-Risalat" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  62. ^ "Iblis wa Adam: Parwez on Adam, Insaan, Malika, Iblis, Satan" (PDF). Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  63. ^ "Parwez on Heaven, Hell, Life after death, Judgement Day, Punishment". Tolueislam.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  64. ^ "Mazahibe Alam Ki Aasmani Kitabein by G A Parwez - Tolue Islam Trust". Islamicdawn.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  65. ^ "Asbabe Zawale Ummat by G A Parwez Tolue Islam Trust". Islamicdawn.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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