Objectives

Building our Relationship with the Qur’an

for Authentic Progress in Qur’anic Understanding

Surah al-An‘Ém (6) and Surah az-Zumar (39) underline that believers are the people who receive (new) life (6:122) through the Qur’anic ÉyÉt. They walk in the human society carrying this Light from their Lord. Mainly 39: 22-23 deals with believers’ intimate relationship with the Qur’anic ÉyÉt. Some insensitive people are also mentioned who listen to the Qur’an but do not receive any inspiration or guidance: their hearts are further hardened! According to Surah al-FurqÉn (25: 73), when Qur’anic ÉyÉt are recited, sincere believers’ response is quite different from those disbelievers who would react as if they were deaf and blind.

It is emphasized that God has sent down the Book to the Prophet so that people contemplate (tadabbur) over the Qur’anic text (38:29). This is expected of all believers. Among those who do not contemplate, the Book mentions disbelievers who do not heed it, because it is not in conformity with the way of their forefathers (23: 68). SËra an-Nisa (4) criticizes certain individuals who pretend to be members of the believing community but fail to conduct as believers. It comments: “do they not ponder over the Qur’an?” Surah MuÍammad (47) repeats the same comment for similar people. It adds: “are their hearts (and minds) locked?” Thus according to the Qur’an, only hypocrites and the disbelievers do not ponder over Qr’anic ayat.

However, the kind of relationship with the Quran which the first generation of believers enjoyed is missing today. AQU is concerned that the Global Muslim community again builds up a direct relationship with the Qur’anic ayat. AQU has launched a Qur’anic movement for this objective and is looking forward for your participation and support of this movement.

Under direct Divine supervision, the Prophet himself explained the Book to his immediate addressees. It is called Sunnah. Authentically reported ahadith underline the importance of believers’ building their relationship with the Qur’an. The Prophet placed his Sunnah next to it. We have inherited valuable tafsir literature from previous Qur’anic scholars. It is expected that future generations of believers would learn from earlier generations, and will continue the process of Qur’anic understanding in changing human situations – keeping the Model of the Sunnah before their eyes.

Objectives of the Conference

1. To create awareness, among the individuals of the Global Muslim Community, of the significance of direct and personal relationship with the Qur’anic text.

2. To motivate for better and more authentic understanding of its ayat and suwar.

3. To familiarize the participants of the conference with the method of understanding a Qur’anic text, i.e., method which is used by today’s serious students of the Qur’an and which was used in earlier times.

4. To educate the participants concerning resources which are required for a more fruitful Qur’anic study and to inform them how these can be made available.

5. To review Qur’anic classes, presently organized by different institutions and individuals, learn from their valuable achievements and suggest methods for further improvement.

6. To learn from contemporary experience of Qur’anic study-circles and suggest ways of improving their quality.

7. To highlight the significance and importance of “good Qur’anic teachers” and consider ways, for greater number of believers, to benefit from them.

8. To deliberate over and collectively study selected Qur’anic suwar – deriving the benefit of the participation of available Qur’anic scholars and serious students of the Divine Book.

9- [At the end] To have an open session for follow up suggestions from the participations and an executive business meeting to plan follow up.

*Right now we are making a small beginning with a view to hold larger and more fruitful conferences in future.