An Analytical Study of Nodleke and Atto Loth’s Thoughts about Mystical Letters

Abstract

حروف مقطعات کے حوالے سے مستشرق  نولڈ یکے  اور آٹو لوتھ کی آراء کا  تجزیاتی مطالعہ

Mystical letters are among the miracles of Quran. These mystical letters are present at the start of Quranic Surah’s (Chapters). These are among the mutashabihat (Analogies) of Quran. Muslim scholars tried to define their meanings. Like other aspects of Quran and Hadith orientalists talk about mystical letters of the Quran. This article analyses the theories of Noldeke and Otto Loth regarding mysterious letters of Quran. What are their views about mystical letters of the Quran? Are their views according to the Islamic point of view of mystical letters? What are the deviations and differences as compared to traditional Islamic point of view of mystical letters? This research has been analytical by nature, both qualitative and analytical methods have been implemented.  Analyses of the views of both of the scholars in the light of traditional Islamic concept of mystical letters, shows that Orientalists including Noldeke and Otto Loth thought that mystical letters are not the part of revelation. According to them these are the names of the sources from which different chapters of the Quran had been taken during its compilation. These are on the same pattern as mystical letters are present in the Jewish books. Holy Prophet had copied them. The present study argues that Quran being the book of Lord is unchanged and mystical letters are a part of it. It is further highlighted that even some orientalists argue that the opinion of Noldeke and Otto Loth is not correct.