تبصرہ کتاب "میزان الادیان بالاسلام" از ابوسعد مولانا گل رضاعطاری

BOOK REVIEW: MĪZĀN AL-ADYĀN BI AL-ISLĀM BY ABU SAAD MAULANA GUL RAZA ATTARI

Abstract

Contemporary era is marked by intellectual conflict, religious diversity, and ideological confrontation. On the one hand, various religions and belief systems exist with their historical and doctrinal foundations; on the other hand, trends such as Atheism, Skepticism, and Religious Aversion are rapidly gaining ground. In such a situation, the need for comparative study has become increasingly evident, as it provides a means to distinguish truth from falsehood and offers human thought a strong and rational criterion.

Islam, as the final and preserved religion, not only provides its followers with a complete code of life but also presents a comprehensive and balanced criterion for understanding and analysing other religions. The Holy Qur’an, through its unique methodological approach, clarifies the original sources of earlier revealed religions, as well as the subsequent distortions and doctrinal and practical deviations within them. This Qur’anic methodology has established a permanent foundational principle in the field of comparative religion and has continued to serve as a primary reference for Muslim thinkers and scholars.

In the Indo-Pak subcontinent, the tradition of comparative religion has a distinct historical background. In response to Christian missionary activities and modern intellectual movements, Muslim scholars not only defended Islam but also developed a strong tradition of scholarly comparison. Within this tradition, some works are purely polemical in nature, while others reflect research-based, analytical, and methodological awareness. The work of Abu Saad Maulana Gul Raza Attari, Mīzān al-Adyān bi al-Islām, can be placed in the latter category, where Islam is presented as the criterion of truth, and various religions and ideological systems are examined in its light.

A key distinction of this book is that it does not merely rely on descriptive comparison; rather, it evaluates other religions by placing Islamic theological, ethical, and intellectual principles as a criterion. The author’s style is invitational, reformative, and scholarly, providing the reader not only with valuable information but also with intellectual guidance.

The purpose of this review is to present an analytical study of the book’s scholarly methodology, writing style, use of sources and references, arguments, and its overall intellectual significance. This will help determine its academic value and clarify its position in the field of comparative religion. At the outset, the review will introduce the general features of the book, along with the author’s research methodology and writing style.