ضیا ء ا لنبی ؐ میں مستشر قین کے ا عتر ا ضا ت کا علمی محا کمہ : ا یک تنقید ی و تقا بلی مطا لعہ

A CRITICAL STUDY OF THE INTELLECTUAL REFUTATION OF ORIENTALISTS IN ZIYĀʾ AL-NABĪ

Abstract

This study provides a critical examination of Ziyāʾ al-Nabī by Pir Karam Shah al-Azharī, focusing on its intellectual engagement with Orientalist critiques of the Prophet Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلمlife and mission. The book represents a monumental contribution to Urdu Sīrah literature in the modern era, where Orientalist objections—particularly those concerning Prophetic revelation, the authenticity of historical sources, family and social life, and the nature of Jihād—are systematically addressed. Pir Karam Shah’s approach differs from traditional apologetics by employing a balanced methodology that integrates Qur’ānic exegesis, Hadith scholarship, rational argumentation, and historical contextualization. Through this comprehensive framework, he dismantles the Orientalist claim that revelation was a psychological experience, affirms the reliability of early Islamic historiography, and demonstrates the defensive and ethical nature of Jihād in Islam. The analysis reveals that Orientalist critiques often relied on selective references, biased assumptions, and neglect of historical contexts, whereas Ziyāʾ al-Nabī provides holistic and spiritually grounded responses. Furthermore, the research highlights the continuing relevance of Pir Karam Shah’s work as a constructive intellectual model, showing that classical Islamic scholarship retains the capacity to engage with modern critical discourses effectively. Ultimately, this study reaffirms the significance of Sīrah literature in defending the moral and intellectual authority of the Prophet ,صلى الله عليه وسلمwhile offering an enduring framework for scholarly dialogue and resistance against ideological distortions.