Research Methodology and the Research Writing of Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan: An Analytical Study

Abstract

This analytical study examines the research methodology and prose style of Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, a distinguished figure in Urdu literary and religious scholarship. The paper investigates the linguistic and terminological dimensions of research, the role and significance of research in literature, and the principles of literary investigation before delving into a comprehensive stylistic analysis of Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan's selected works. The study explores both the internal and external factors that shaped his research temperament, including his religious upbringing, the academic environment of Aligarh, and the profound influence of renowned researchers such as Maulvi Abdul Haq and Hafiz Mahmood Sheerani. Through detailed textual analysis of his major works including "Hali Ka Zehni Irtiqa," "Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Sani: Aik Tehqeeqi Jaiza," "Hamara Ilm-o-Adab," and "Matalib-ul-Quran," the paper demonstrates that Dr. Khan's research prose is characterized by simplicity, lucidity, eloquence, and a unique blend of research, criticism, and creative expression. The findings establish his pivotal role in strengthening the research tradition of Urdu literature, particularly in Karachi, and highlight how his accessible yet scholarly style made complex religious and literary subjects comprehensible to diverse readership while maintaining rigorous academic standards.

Keywords: Research Methodology, Urdu Literary Research, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Prose Stylistics, Indo-Islamic Scholarship