Few books have had a more profound impact on human history than the
Qur'an. It shapes the beliefs, lives and behaviour of over 1.5
billion Muslims, who regard it as the Word of God, revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad. Speaking directly to Muslims, it has been the
basic source of law, morality and politics for over 1,400 years.
Almost everything that happens in a Muslim society is a direct or
indirect product of what the Qur'an says. But what does the Qur'an
really say? How should it be read and interpreted? What is the
significance of its teachings, if any, for the 21st century? In
this enlightening and highly readable book, Ziauddin Sardar, one of
the foremost Muslim intellectuals of our time, offers a
refreshingly new interpretation of the Qur'an. Emphasising
plurality and inclusiveness, Sardar demonstrates the importance of
reading the verses of the Qur'an in the context in which they were
revealed, and highlights the relevance of its teachings for today.
Sardar reads the Qur'an from several perspectives.He begins with
the traditional, verse-by-verse interpretations and subsequently
shows how the multilayered verses and stories of the Sacred Text
are open to a number of different and more enlightening
interpretations. He also reads the Quran thematically, exploring
its basic concepts and themes, painting a dynamic picture of the
kind of society that the Qur'an aims to create. Also scrutinised is
what the Qur'an says about such contemporary topics as power and
politics, the rights of women, suicide, domestic violence, sex,
homosexuality, the veil, freedom of expression and evolution.
Throughout, Sardar uses several different methods, from traditional
exegesis to hermeneutics, critical theory and cultural analysis to
draw fresh and contemporary lessons from the Sacred Text. He shows
what the Qur'an means to individuals like himself, why its
interpretation has been so controversial throughout history, and
how translations can be used to promote misunderstanding as well as
enlightenment. Argumentative and lively, Reading the Qur'an is an
insightful guide to understanding the Sacred Text of Muslims in
these conflict-ridden and distressing times.Whatever one believes
or does not believe, the central importance of the Qur'an in
today's globalised world cannot be ignored.
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