Western Quran Commentaries and Rights of Non-Muslims: An analysis of Montgomery Watt and Robert Spencer’s Interpretations

Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Abdun Naseer Alavi; Dr. Khawar Mansoor; Dr. Tariq Aziz; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz Man; Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Awan; Dr. Saima Munir

Authors

Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Abdun Naseer Alavi Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Govt. Shalimar Graduate College, Baghbanpura, Lahore
Dr. Khawar Mansoor Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Thought and Civilization, University of Management and Technology, Sialkot
Dr. Tariq Aziz Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, Govt. Graduate College Bhalwal, Sargodha
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz Man Professor/ Chairman, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Education, Lahore
Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Awan PhD Islamic Studies, Sheikh Zaid Islamic Centre, University of the Punjab, Lahore
Dr. Saima Munir Visiting Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Education, Lahore

Keywords:

Non-Muslims, Watt, Spencer, Quran, Orientalists, Rights

Abstract

Orientalists have criticized Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic history and Hadith
Sciences since dawn. They have also tried their level best to translate and interpret the Holy Quran
for the satisfaction of their sinister and multifarious motives. William Montgomery watt and Robert
Spencer are included in the list of those Orientalists who have completed their Quran commentaries
and presented their views about this particular topic. In the instant article, an effort has been put to
assess and evaluate that to what extant their opinions are compatible to the Muslims Quranic
interpretations. The study written with a comparative and analytical approach proves that the
opinions of both scholars are incongruent and alien with Quran, Prophet’s teachings, Muslim
exegeses and precedents of Islamic history.