Ghulam Ahmad Parwez ( pa, ; 1903–1985), widely known as Allama Parwez, was a pioneer of Quranic doctrine from pre-Independence India and later

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. He attempted to rationally interpret Quranic themes, by challenging the established

Sunni Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a dis ...

doctrine. Many conservative Islamic scholars criticized Parwez throughout his active years, although Parwez was well regarded among the educated demographic. Nadeem F. Paracha has called Parwez's ''Islam: A Challenge to Religion'' one of the most influential books in the history of Pakistan.

Early and personal life

Parwez was born in Batala, Punjab, in

British India The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...

(Present day Punjab, India) on 9 July 1903. He migrated to Pakistan in 1947. He studied Quran and other Islamic literature. In 1934, he received a master's degree from the Punjab University. His views promoted understanding Islam in the context of modern science.

Muhammad Iqbal Sir Muhammad Iqbal ( ur, ; 9 November 187721 April 1938), was a South Asian Muslim writer, philosopher, Quote: "In Persian, ... he published six volumes of mainly long poems between 1915 and 1936, ... more or less complete works on philos ...

introduced him to

Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...

. Later, Jinnah appointed him to edit the magazine '' Talu-e-Islam'' (''طلوع اسلام'') for the purpose of countering propaganda coming from some of the religious corners in support of Congress. He died at the age of 83.

Career

Parwez joined the Central Secretariat of the Government of India in 1927 and soon became an important figure in the Home Department (Establishment Division). On the emergence of Pakistan he occupied the same seat in the Central Government and took pre-mature retirement as Assistant Secretary (Class I gazetted Officer) in 1955 in order to devote his entire time towards his mission. Parwez argued that his conclusions derived from the Quran were in stark contrast to both the right (capitalistic) and left (marxist) political philosophies. Before the creation of Pakistan, Parwez was recruited by

in order to help popularize the need for a separate homeland for the Muslims in

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;; ...

. Parwez's thesis was that the organizational model of the state is the basic engine which drives the implementation of the Quran, and like

Muhammad in Medina The Islamic prophet Muhammad came to the city of Medina following the migration of his followers in what is known as the ''Hijrah'' (migration to Medina) in 622. He had been invited to Medina by city leaders to adjudicate disputes between clans f ...

, those who wish to practice Islam, as it is defined in the Quran, are required to live in a state which submits to the laws of God, and not the laws of man.

Ideas and contributions

Parwez was a strong believer of individual freedom, even so that this birth right almost overrides all forms of authority. Consistent with this, Parwez "adamantly opposed" slavery, claiming that it had no justifiable basis according to the Quran. He also argued that Islam challenged the "truth", validity, and very conception of "religion". Parwez translated those verses in the Quran which are generally associated with "miracles", "angels" and "jinns" rationally as metaphors, without appealing to the supernatural. Parwez also argued in favor of Islamic socialism, seeking to reorganize all aspects of society to fit in accordance with Islamic values. He argued that "socialism best enforces Qur’anic dictums on property, justice and distribution of wealth" and that "the Prophet was a leader seeking to put an end to the capitalist exploitation of the Quraysh merchants and the corrupt bureaucracy of Byzantium and Persia", as well as advocating the application of science and

agrarian reform Agrarian reform can refer either, narrowly, to government-initiated or government-backed redistribution of agricultural land (see land reform) or, broadly, to an overall redirection of the agrarian system of the country, which often includes land ...

to further economic development. Parwez has been called a "quranist" by Nadeem F. Paracha, as Parwez rejected some hadith. Paracha also claimed that Parwez approved praying Namaz in Urdu. These claims were disputed by Parwez himself while he was alive as a rumor spread by his opponents.

Translated works

* Exposition of the Holy Quran * Human Fundamental Rights * Dictionary Of the Holy Quran Vol 1-4 * What Is Islam * The Quranic System of Sustenance * Islam: A Challenge To Religion * The Life In The Hereafter * Islamic Way Of Living * Letter To Tahira * Quranic Laws * Jihad Is Not Terrorism * Glossary of Quranic Words * Human and Satan * Constitution Of Islamic State The books written by Syed Abdul Wadud, a close friend of Parwez, based on Parwez's works and ideas: * Conspiracies Against the Quran * Phenomena Of Nature * Quranocracy * The Heavens the Earth and the Quran * Gateway to the Quran

Publications

* ''Matalibul Furqaan'' (7 vols.) * ''Lughat-ul-Quran'' (4 vols.) * ''Mafhoom-ul-Quran'' (3 vols.) * ''Tabweeb-ul-Quran'' (3 vols.) * ''Nizam-e-Rabubiyyat'' * ''Islam A Challenge to Religion'' (English version) * ''Insaan Ne Kiya Socha'' (What Man Thought, A History of Human Thought) * ''Islam kia he'' (second part of Insan ne kia socha) * ''Tasawwaf Ki Haqiqat'' (The reality of Islamic Mysticism * ''Saleem Ke Naam'' (3 vols.) * ''Tahira Ke Naam'' * ''Qurani Faislay'' (5 vols.) * ''Meraj-e-Insaaniat'' (about Muhammad) * ''Barke toor'' (about Mosa) * ''Joe noor'' (about Ibrahim) * ''Shola e mastoor'' (about Esa) * ''man(o) yazdan'' (Me and God, about Allah in light of the Quran) * ''Shahkar-e-Risalat'' (a biography of Caliph Omar) * ''Iblis o Adam (Satan and Man)'' * ''Jahane farda'' * ''Mazahebe Alam ke Asmani Kitaben'' * ''Asbab e zwal e ummat''

References

External links

Books of G.A. Parwez in English
(PDF format) {{DEFAULTSORT:Perwez, Ghulam Ahmed 1903 births 1985 deaths Leaders of the Pakistan Movement People from Gurdaspur Translators of the Quran into English People from Lahore Punjabi people Translators of the Quran into Urdu 20th-century translators Muslim activists 20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam Pakistani Muslim activists Muslim reformers