An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’an

This book is an abridged English rendition of _yatull_h Mu_ammad H_d_ MaÔrifatÕs magnum opus, Al-Tamh_d f_ ÔUl_m al-QurÕ_n (Introduction to the Sciences of the QurÕan) which can be considered a significant contemporary contribution to ÔUl_m al-QurÕ_n.

ÔUl_m al-QurÕ_n is a branch of science which deals with such subjects as revelation and the sending down of the QurÕan, the duration and order of revelation, circumstances surrounding the revelation, the collection and recording of the QurÕan, scribers of the revelation, standardization of the manuscripts, the emergence of different readings (qir_Õ_t) and the origin of differences in QurÕan reading, the QurÕanÕs authority and immunity from distortion (ta_r_f), the issue of abrogation (naskh) in the QurÕan, the emergence of its allegorical verses, the QurÕanÕs inimitability (iÔj_z), etc. And since each of these issues has its own framework and is considered distinct from each other, this science is in plural form (Ôul_m which literally means ÔsciencesÕ).

As the author argues, it is essential to deal with the subjects of ÔUl_m al-QurÕ_n because unless the QurÕan is completely known and proved to be the Word of God, there is no point in dealing with its contents. From those examples he cited, he demonstrates that each of the issues dealt with in ÔUl_m al-QurÕ_n independently plays a pivotal role in benefitting from the contents of the revealed scripture.