A Tentative Guide to the Themes of the Surahs of the Qur’an

This fascinating and important book attempts to investigate the nature of the seven Ahruf in which the Qur’an has been revealed and the reason for the variations in readings among the Qurraa of the Quran. It studies, examines, and discusses:

• The revelation of the Qur’an in the seven ahruf concluding that they represent seven linguistical ways of recitation
• The compilation of the Quran during the lifetime of the Prophet and the preservation of the Quran in the memories of the Companions as well as in written form, the compilation during the time of Abu Bakr, and the further compilation during the time of Uthman
• The problem of naskh to demonstrate the completeness and trustworthiness of the Quran and that no verses are missing or were read and abrogated by naskh al-tilawah either with or without hukm
• The Uthmanic masahif and their relation to the seven ahruf
• The language of the Quran and whether it includes one, several, or all the dialects of the Arabs
• The origin of the qiraat and conditions governing accepted readings
• Ikhtiyar (i.e., the selection of one reading rather than another) and the rules governing the Qurraa’ who selected a reading.

The Magnificence of the Quran is a book that relates to us the countless miracles and benefits of the Holy Book of Islam. It expands on numerous aspects of the Quran, all of which point to its magnificence, as signified by the apt title. The author discusses everything from the methodology of studying the Quran to its characteristics, qualities, and the manners with which one should approach it.

It is much like a user`s manual that opens up a world of knowledge and facts about the Quran. For all audiences, this book is an invaluable companion to the Quran and one which serves to remind us of its eminence and its superiority to all other books. By discussing a series of seemingly miscellaneous topics, the author manages to create a whole picture of the Quran which surpasses any other guide of this academic nature.

“Who is the author of the Qur’an?” On this subject scholars have flagrantly contradicted each other. This work attempts to make a critical review of the major ‘authorship’ theories by pressing into service logical arguments, historical evidence, textual analysis and scientific data. Probably, the only point of agreement about the Qur’an is that it was uttered for the first time by a man who was born in Makkah (Mecca), a city of Arabia, in the sixth century—a man by the name of Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him). As to the source of the Qur’an, scholars are divided into three main groups: those who believe that Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) himself was the author; those who believe that he was not the author himself but learned it from another human author or authors; and those who believe that the Qur’an has no human author but is rather a word-for-word revelation from God. Hamza Njozi examines the three theories and comes to a firm and logical conclusion.