Qur’anic Keywords A Reference Guide pdf download

Qur’anic Keywords A Reference Guide by Abdur Rashid Siddiquia

QUR’ANIC KEYWORDS A REFERENCE GUIDE

 Reference Guide, explains fully the intended meanings of a variety of important Qur’anic words and terminologies.

This latest book is the result of many years of hard work. The author has selected over 140 major Qur’anic terms and has explained them in simple English in order that those who do not know Arabic well and do not have access to the original sources will be able to grasp the intended meanings and thrust of these words and terms.

Sometimes it is difficult to translate into English certain Qur’anic words and terms exactly as these appear in the original Arabic text.

However, it is possible to convey the real intended meaning of these terms in English by explaining them in some detail. It is noteworthy that the author has used authentic original and secondary sources in order to explain and convey the intended meaning.

 Here two examples will be more than sufficient to show how the author has been able to convey the intended meanings of the Qur’anic words listed in the book.

The word Ghayb has often been translated into English as “unseen”. But this is a weak translation and does not convey the real intended meaning (see for instance 2: 3 where the word Ghayb occurs).

The author has translated and explained correctly that the intended meaning of the word Ghayb is things that human senses cannot perceive.

This is exactly what the Qur’an aims to convey. Likewise, the translators of the Qur’an into English have translated the word Taqwd in various ways. Some say it means fear of Allah, and some say it his a duty to Allah, while others have translated it as piety and other similar renderings.

The author has correctly explained its intended meaning, that it means a perpetual consciousness of Allah’s presence in one’s mind as this consciousness of Allah’s presence reminds a believer constantly of his/her accountability to Allah in the Hereafter.

Otherwise, how would one differentiate and distinguish between the meanings of the words Khashyah (2: 74) and Taqwd if both of these are translated as fear?