The Qur'an: A Beginner's Guide

(Paperback)

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Description

The Quran has spoken to Muslims for over one thousand years; it is seen as law-maker, moral code, and the word of God. Drawing on both contemporary and ancient sources, Esack outlines the key themes and explains the historical and cultural context of this unique work whilst examining its content, language and style, and the variety of approaches, including fundamentalist, feminist, and modernist, that have been used to interpret it. Other areas covered include: the Qu'ran as evocative oral experience; understanding and interpreting the Qu'ran; the major themes of the Qu'ran, including such issues as truth, justice and gender relations.

Reviews

Extremely learned yet accessible, with fascinating insights on virtually every page. Especially useful for those new to the study of Islam, or newly interested in their inherited Islam...Its clarity makes it suitable for undergraduates but its sophistication makes it of interest to graduates as well.-- "Tamara Sonn - Kenan Professor of Humanities at the College of William and Mary, Virginia"
No one has placed the Noble Qur'an more fully in its historical and contemporary context. Esack's is a user's guide for all users, and it should enjoy a long shelf life as the most ccessible, and informative, introduction to God's Word in Arabic.-- "Bruce Lawrence - Nancy and Jeffrey Marcus Professor of Religion, Duke University and author of 'The"

Author Bio

Farid Esack has an international reputation as a Muslim scholar, speaker, and human rights activist. He has lectured widely on religion and Islamic Studies and also served as a Commissioner for Gender Equality in Nelson Mandela's government. He is the author of 'Qur'an, Liberation and Pluralism' and 'On Being a Muslim', and co-editor (with Sarah Chiddy) of 'Islam and Aids: Between Scorn, Pity and Justice' (all published by Oneworld.) He is currently the Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Visiting Professor of Contemporary Islam at Harvard University.