PAZHUHESH-DINI (RELIGIOUS STUDY)
Year:2008 | Volume:- | Issue:17 (SUPPLEMENT)|Papers Count:8

Among important issues in the realm of recitation of the holy Quran is that of handwriting of Uthmanid mushafs and the nature of its appearance. That handwriting causes multiple problems in reading especially for beginners. However, some hold that the said handwriting is sacred and it is not allowed to change it. Criticizing the theory of sacredness of Uthmanid handwriting, the present essay surveys its opposition to the prevailing handwriting of the Quran in six scopes of omission, addition, hamza, change, attachment and detachment, and existence of two Quranic readings.

Orientalists have made notable efforts in Quranic studies with different motives. Even in cases where their motive and intention are good, they have made considerable mistakes in commenting on Quranic topics due to various reasons. The present essay intends to review some of those issues with an emphasis upon Regis Blachere's opinions concerning Quranic collection and formulation as a fundamental issue in this connection.

The present essay deals with the comparative study of Adam and the forbidden tree in the third chapter of Genesis and the Holy Quran. Attempting to bring both views closer together, this essay justifies phrases as much as possible, finds common points, reduces seemingly contradictory facets, and treats utterances as not being distorted–unless there would be no possible way to do so.

There are various terms used in the Quran concerning knowledge and its grades. A comprehensive look at the Quranic worldview on man as well as the role and responsibility of mental faculty in having belief and faith in perceivable truths can clarify Quranic aim and purpose in its different applications of that term. A superficial look at those verses in which such key terms as ignorance, doubt, conjecture, and certainty are used may cause big mistakes in interpretation of Divine Speech in the realm of man's mental responsibilities.For in some Quranic verses doubt is considered among signs of infidelity on the one hand and in some other verses even such a personality as the Prophet is allowed to doubt what has been sent down to him on the other. Also in some Quranic verses khashi'un(the humble) are described as having conjecture about encountering their Lord, while in some other verses it is said that it is infidels who base their beliefs on conjecture.The essential question is that how can a harmonized interpretation of apparently different applications of those fundamental terms in the realm of knowledge be presented on the basis of Quranic worldview.Analyzing four significant terms in this connection, i.e., ignorance, conjecture, doubt, and certainty, this essay deals with their relation as well.

Surveys in the present essay indicate that most of non-Arabic Quranic terms are of Babylon and Mesopotamian origin. A good number of such terms lie in an astronomic realm. Using Quranic evidence, this essay indicates how Babylon astronomic thoughts are reflected in the Quran through non-Arabic terms. Results of this survey prove that seven heavens have no reality other than the very observable heaven and introducing the observable heaven as seven-fold heavens refers to astronomical thoughts of Mesopotamian people. They treated seven heavens as strata of the very known heaven in which lie the seven-fold celestial bodies of moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

The issue of man, society, and Islamic view concerning government is among significant topics investigated in various juristic, theological, and Quranic commentary books. The present essay deals with the investigation of this issue as well as Allama Tabatabaee's viewpoint in this connection.

There is a deep, mutual relationship between quality of beauty and the set of other qualities of the Islamic city in such a way that manifestation of any quality of the Islamic city is a symbol of beauty. On the other hand, a city is beautiful in which other qualities of the Islamic city are manifested both outwardly and inwardly. Nonetheless, in researches made on the Islamic city and its qualities no special attention is made to the quality of beauty. The main purpose of this essay is to investigate and expound analytically the mutual relationship of beauty and other qualities of the Islamic city. Hence, notion of beauty is surveyed first, synonyms of beauty, levels of recognition of beauty, source of beauty in the Islamic culture, and the said relationship are analyzed secondly, and an analysis is presented concerning the beauty caused by manifestation of some qualities of the Islamic city in traditional cities finally.