Characteristics of Bayān-Al-Qur’ān
“Bayān al-Qur’ān” in the series of services towards the Qur’ān by Dr. Isrār Aḥmad (d:1431A. H/2010A. D) has an important standing. He had been presenting the translation besides brief explanation of the Qur’ān during Ṣalāt-e-Tarāvīh since 1984A. D; this series of daura-e-Tarjuma (translation) was liked world-wide.
The task of publishing daura Tarjuma-e-Qur’ān(held in 1998A. D inQur’ān Academy, Karāchī) in a book form had commenced in the life-time of Dr. Isrār Aḥmad. This important assignment was taken on by Anjuman Khuddām al-Qur’ān, Khyber Pakhtūnkhwāh, Peshāwar; so far, five volumes of Bayān al-Qur’ān upto Surah al-sajadah have been published.
Dr. Isrār Aḥmad’s Tarjuma-e-Qur’ān comprising a brief translation and explanation in the form of Bayān al-Qur’ān has the following peculiarities:-
1. He presents the points of explanation (Tafsīr) in a very simple but convincing way for the audience which is easy as well as understandable. While explaining the ‘Split Alphabets’(ḥarūf-e-Muqatti‘āt) with refernce to the first Āyah of Surah al-baqarah, he writes:
“These are the split words; suffice to know that no one knows the real and specific meaning of these with certainty except Allāh and His prophet(SAWS). This is a mystery resting between Allāh and the prophet(SAWS). Many explanations have come up but none of these is attributable or endorsed by the prophet(SAWS). However, it is known that the use of such split-words was common in poetic expression of the Arabs, hence they never raised a finger about the same. Out of 114 Suwar-e-Mubārakah (chapters) in the Qur’ān, 29 begin with such alphabets (ḥurūf-e-muqatti‘āt). ” [1]
Dr. Isrār made use of simple words to explain even the complex issues so that the audience follow the message of the...
The Islamic scholars have identified several rules which deal with the reciting and reading of the Quran and touching/handling the al-Mushaf: the script of the Quran. One of the most important prerequisites, as viewed by the classical Sunni schools of Islamic law, is taharat, which includes both the physical cleanliness—by ablution (wudu) or complete body wash (ghusl) or both—and the purification of thought from allkinds of disbelief (shirk). By extending the rule of taharat, the mainstream Sunni jurists categorically forbid all non-Muslims from touching the Quran; although they are allowed to touch and read its translation as well as to listen to its recitation. This paper analyzes the views of the mainstream jurists and argues for reappraisal of several aspects of the said condition of taharat for both Muslims and non-Muslims, relying upon those jurists whose views are though different from the mainstream but are more practicable and closer to the objectives of the Islamic Sharia today.
Various chemists have attempted synthesis of a variety of quinazoline/quinazolinone compounds of versatile biological potential as they possess anticonvulsant and hypnotic, anticancer, antimicrobial and antihistaminic, diuretic, antimalarial, antihypertensive, antagonism of ghrelin receptor, antiinflammatory, analgesic and COX-2 inhibitory as well as antifungal activities. But, most of these studies were focused on the synthesis of 2-monosubstituted ones. Very few examples for the synthesis of 2,2-disubstituted quinazoline moieties have been recorded in literature but low yields, drastic reaction conditions and prolonged reaction times along with having lack of detailed biological activities study are the major drawbacks. Keeping in view, the biological importance of quinazoline/quinazolinone compounds, present work was designed to synthesize 2,2-disubstituted-2,3- dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones 3a-h which possess quinazoline moiety, by exploring a facile and efficient synthetic methodology with excellent yield of the product (98.2 - 99.5%) and to study their biological activities. Nitro 4a-h, bromo 5a-h and N-alkylated / benzylated 6a-af derivatives of the 2,2-disubstituted-2,3- dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones 3a-h were also synthesized. All synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated as inhibitors of cholinesterase and urease enzymes. Molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds was also conducted to optimize the in vitro results. GOLD (Genetic Optimization for Ligand Docking) suit v5.4.1 was used to optimize the binding modes of the synthesized compounds. The computed binding modes in the active site of AChE and BChE are helpful in providing an insight into the enzyme inhibition mechanism. Computational predictions on the basis of ADMET SAR study was also carried out to get insight into pharmacokinetic properties of synthesized compounds in comparison to standard drug donepezil. Furthermore, computational studies like FMO and NBO analyses at the density functional theory (DFT) level using B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) method was carried out by employing Gaussian 09 software. Anti-cholinesterase assay results revealed that all the tested compounds showed activity against both AChE and BChE enzymes in micromolar to nanomolar range. Many compounds have shown the inhibition of both these enzymes higher than or comparable to the standard drug galatamine but few have displayed better activity even than donepezil. In general, some compounds having 4-chlorophenyl and di-isobutyl groups at C-2 position of quinazoline ring including 2-(4- chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (3f), 2-(4-chloro-3- nitro-phenyl)-2-methyl-6,8-dinitro-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (4f), 6,8- dibromo-2-(3-bromo-4-chloro-phenyl)-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4- one (5f), 1-(4-chloro-benzyl)-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1Hquinazolin- 4-one (6x), 2,2-bis(2-methylpropyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (3h), 6,8-dinitro-2,2-bis(2-methylpropyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (4h), 6,8-dibromo-2,2-bis(2-methylpropyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (5h), 1- benzyl-2,2-diisobutyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6ad) and 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)- 2,2-diisobutyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6af) possessed high AChE/BChE inhibitory activity in their respective series of analogues. Amongst all synthesized quinazoline moieties, compound 5f (selectivity index of 2.3 for AChE) with IC50value of 1.6±0.10 μM and 3.7±0.18 μM for AChE and BChE respectively and compound 6af (selectivity index of 2.6) with IC50 value of 0.6±0.01 (AChE) and 1.56 ±0.08 (BChE) can be considered as the most potent AChE/BChE dual inhibitors. Antiurease assay results revealed that compounds, 6,8-dinitro-2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (4a), 6,8-dinitro-2,2- bis(2-methylpropyl)-2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (4h), 1-benzyl-2-ethyl-2- methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6j), 1-(4-chloro-benzyl)-2,2-diethyl- 2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6p), 1-(4-chloro-benzyl)-2-methyl-2-propyl- 2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6t), 1-benzyl-2-isobutyl-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro- 1H-quinazolin-4-one (6z), 1-(4-chloro-benzyl)-2-isobutyl-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro- 1H-quinazolin-4-one (6ab) have good urease inhibitory potential. Amongst all tested moieties, compound, 2-methyl-6,8-dinitro-2-(3-nitro-phenyl)-2,3- dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-one (4b) with IC50=8.70±0.19 μM and 1-(4-chlorobenzyl)- 2-ethyl-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-quinazolin-4-one (6l) with IC50= 6.55±0.15μM can be considered the strongest JBU inhibitor as compared to standard drug thiourea (21.0±0.01μM). Molecular docking study of the synthesized quinazoline/quinazolinone compounds against AChE and BChE revealed that dibromo derivatives 5a-h displayed better interaction with enzyme gorge than their dinitro 4a-h and unsubstituted 3a-h counterparts. But overall, N-substituted derivatives 6a-af displayed much better interactions among all synthesized quinazoline/quinazolinone compounds. Computational predictions on the basis of ADMET studies revealed that all the compounds except 4a-h have good pharmacokinetic properties as they are predicted to be absorbed in human intestine and also have the ability to cross blood brain barrier along with having no AMES toxicity and carcinogenicity. Non-carcinogenic and non-AMES toxicity of N-substituted compounds 6a-af is better than un-substituted quinazoline/quinazolinone compounds. The geometric parameters including bond length, bond angles and dihedral angles of compound 3a were optimized at B3LYP/6-31G (d, p) level of DFT. Calculated energy of HOMO and LUMO was -0.20651 eV and -0.02966 eV respectively. Whereas, selective Mullikan charges, ranged from -0.587 to 0.587 and NBO charge distribution varied from -0.711 to 0.711 on the heterocyclic ring of quinazoline core.