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Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history
The book analyses all extant works by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari (d.
224/839-310/923), referring to their individual methodologies;
their legacy as al- madhhab al-jariri; and their scholarly and
socio- political context. Through the study of al- Tabari's works,
the book addresses research debates over dating the legal and
scholarly institutions and their disciplines; authorship and
transmission of scholarly writings; political theory and
administration; and 'origins' of the Qur'an and Islam. Al-Tabari
defined the Qur'an in linguistic and legal terms. The linguistic
terms refer to rhetoric and semiotics, and the legal to theories of
social contract, 'natural law', and rule of law. Both sets of terms
go into al-Tabari's theory of prophecy and administration,
including of 'minorities'. By engaging current debates about the
usefulness or not of the medieval Muslim scholars in research on
the Qur'an and early Islam, this book argues that the - 2 - 20:59
contribution of each medieval scholar be assessed on an individual
basis. Al-Tabari's philosophical, ethical, historical, linguistic,
and legal education produced analysis of the Qur'an and 'origins'
of Islam that stands up to some fronts in contemporary research.
The book thus adds to research on al-Tabari; early Islamic
disciplines and institutions; and the Qur'an and early Islam.
Joseph A. Fry's Letters from the Southern Home Front explores the
diversity of public opinion on the Vietnam War within the American
South. Fry examines correspondence sent by hundreds of individuals,
of differing ages, genders, racial backgrounds, political views,
and economic status, reflecting a broad swath of the southern
population. These letters, addressed to high-profile political
figures and influential newspapers, took up a myriad of war-related
issues. Their messages enhance our understanding of the South and
the United States as a whole as we continue to grapple with the
significance of this devastating and divisive conflict.
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