THE Quran has not been revealed theme-wise. It was revealed bit by bit over a period of 23 years, according to events and situations as they unfolded while the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) preached the message of love, brotherhood and equality as a corollary to belief in one God.

Abdul Sattar Pingar, in Quranic Themes and Philosophical Essays, has grouped all ayahs according to the themes. This makes it easy for the reader to trace a given subject and know in which ayah is a particular theme mentioned.

Many ayahs and surahs were revealed in response to specific questions from believers and non-believers, while others were revealed on occasions such as migration, war and peace. Those concerning prayers, fasting, alms, laws of marriage and divorce, crime and punishment, property inheritance, hoarding, equality of men and moral conduct are spread all over the Quran.

The first ayah came when the Holy Prophet received ministry in the cave of Hira, while the last one was revealed on the occasion of the last and the only Hajj he performed. There is a time differences of 23 years between the two. The first surah (Al-Alaq) is in the 30th para while the last ayah is contained in surah Al-Maaeda, (para six).

In Part II and III of the book, the author, who is a lawyer, gives us his views on lawmaking and constitutional upheavals in Pakistan, besides his reflection on history and the rise and fall of the Islamic civilisation. The book needs revision because of many proofreading mistakes, and some of the observations in the essays are controversial. — M.A.

Quranic Themes and Philosophical Essays (RELIGION) By Abdul Sattar Pingar Bawaney Art Press, Karachi 376pp. Rs500