(17) واقعہ غرانیق کی استشراقی تعبیرات۔۔۔۔۔۔۔تجزیاتی مطالعہ +Oriantalistic Interpretations of the Event of Ghar Aneeq A Critical Study

Abstract

Quran, Hadith and Seerat-un-Nabi (S.A.W.) have been the most significant subjects for modern Orientalists in view of their fundamental importance in the structure of Islamic Shariah. The study of orientalist work on Seerah reveals that they have interpreted the life of Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W.) in light of their pre-established views and opinions about Islam. While illustrating any aspect or incident of the life of the Prophet, they tend to use the unauthentic historical traditions for achieving their desired results. While explaining a particular historical tradition, they often avoid to mention the other versions of that tradition that may nullify their requisite conclusions. The incident of Gharaneeq is one of those incidents which has not only been misunderstood but also consciously misinterpreted by the Orientalists. The verses in the praise of Gharaneeq (female deities) that have been narrated by some Muslim historians became a foundation of the Orientalist theory of “satanic verses” and hence provided them with an opportunity to raise questions about the authenticity of the whole Quran as a word of God. In this research paper an attempt has been made to describe the orientalists’ illustrations of the incident of Gharaneeq, to analyse the validity of their arguments and to point out the narrative weaknesses of this incident. It will also highlight the methodology of Orientalists’ study of Seerah literature.