Download or read book An Oral Formulaic Study of the Qur an written by Andrew G. Bannister and published by Lexington Books. This book was released on 2014-04-24 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Qur’an makes extensive use of older religious material, stories, and traditions that predate the origins of Islam, and there has long been a fierce debate about how this material found its way into the Qur’an. This unique book argues that this debate has largely been characterized by a failure to fully appreciate the Qur’an as a predominately oral product. Using innovative computerized linguistic analysis, this study demonstrates that the Qur’an displays many of the signs of oral composition that have been found in other traditional literature. When one then combines these computerized results with other clues to the Qur’an’s origins (such as the demonstrably oral culture that both predated and preceded the Qur’an, as well as the “folk memory” in the Islamic tradition that Muhammad was an oral performer) these multiple lines of evidence converge and point to the conclusion that large portions of the Qur’an need to be understood as being constructed live, in oral performance. Combining historical, linguistic, and statistical analysis, much of it made possible for the first time due to new computerized tools developed specifically for this book, Bannister argues that the implications of orality have long been overlooked in studies of the Qur’an. By relocating the Islamic scripture firmly back into an oral context, one gains both a fresh appreciation of the Qur’an on its own terms, as well as a fresh understanding of how Muhammad used early religious traditions, retelling old tales afresh for a new audience.
Download or read book Fables of the Ancients written by Alan Dundes and published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. This book was released on 2004-09-01 with total page 105 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Given the widespread consensus that the Qur'an was in oral tradition before being committed to written form, it should come as no surprise to learn that the Qur'an still bears the traces of its original oral form. The field of knowledge most concerned with oral tradition is folkloristics, the study of folklore. Folklorist Alan Dundes has carefully and respectfully documented some of these unmistakable traces. These traces include numerous oral formulas repeated throughout the Qur'an as well as several traditional folktales. Just as Jesus effectively used parables to get His message across, so similar means are to be found in the Qur'an. The scholarly identification of formulas and folktales in the Qur'an represents an entirely new approach to this world-famous religious text. Not only does it provide insight into the basic composition of this sacred document, but for readers not previously familiar with the Qur'an, it pinpoints and makes accessible many of the principal themes contained therein.
Download or read book Communities of the Qur an written by Emran El-Badawi and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2019-06-06 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is the nature of the Qur’an? It might seem a straightforward question, but there is no consensus among modern communities of the Qur’an, both Muslim and non-Muslim, about the answer. And why should there be? On numerous occasions throughout history, believers from different schools and denominations, and at different times and places, have agreed to disagree. The Qur’anic interpreters, jurists and theologians of medieval Baghdad, Cairo and Cordoba coexisted peacefully in spite of their diverging beliefs. Seeking to revive this ‘ethics of disagreement’ of Classical Islam, this volume explores the different relationships societies around the world have with the Qur’an and how our understanding of the text can be shaped by studying the interpretations of others. From LGBT groups to urban African American communities, this book aims to represent the true diversity of communities of the Qur’an in the twenty-first century, and the dialogue and debate that can flow among them.
Download or read book In Search of the Original Koran written by Mondher Sfar and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2010-09-09 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this fascinating study of the origins of Islam, historian Mondher Sfar reveals that there is no historical, or even theological, basis for the orthodox view that Muhammad or his earliest followers intended the Koran to be treated as the inviolable word of God. With great erudition and painstaking historical research, Sfar demonstrates that the Koran itself does not support the literalist claims of Muslim orthodoxy. Indeed, as he carefully points out, passages from Islam''s sacred book clearly indicate that the revealed text should not be equated with the perfect text of the original "celestial Koran," which was believed to exist only in heaven and to be fully known only by God. This early belief helps to explain why there were many variant texts of the Koran during Muhammad''s lifetime and immediately thereafter, and also why this lack of consistency and the occasional revisions of earlier revelations seemed not to disturb his first disciples. They viewed the Koran as only an imperfect copy of the real heavenly original, a copy subject to the happenstances of Muhammad''s life and to the human risks of its transmission. Only later, for reasons of social order and political power, did the first caliphs establish an orthodox policy, which turned Muhammad''s revelations into the inerrant word of God, from which no deviation or dissent was permissible. This original historical exploration into the origins of Islam is also an important contribution to the growing movement for reform of Islam initiated by courageous Muslim thinkers convinced of the necessity of bringing Islam into the modern world.
Download or read book The Atheist Who Didn t Exist written by Andy Bannister and published by Monarch Books. This book was released on 2015-07-17 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A breath, a gust, a positive whoosh of fresh air. Made me laugh, made me think, made me cry. " Adrian Plass In the last decade, atheism has leapt from obscurity to the front pages: producing best-selling books, making movies, and plastering adverts on the side of buses. There's an energy and a confidence to contemporary atheism: many people now assume that a godless scepticism is the default position, indeed the only position for anybody wishing to appear educated, contemporary, and urbane. Atheism is hip, religion is boring. Yet when one pokes at popular atheism, many of the arguments used to prop it up quickly unravel. The Atheist Who Didn't Exist is designed to expose some of the loose threads on the cardigan of atheism, tug a little, and see what happens. Blending humour with serious thought, Andy Bannister helps the reader question everything, assume nothing and, above all, recognise lazy scepticism and bad arguments. Be an atheist by all means: but do be a thought-through one.
Download or read book The Origins of the Koran written by Ibn Warraq and published by Prometheus Books. This book was released on 2010-10-05 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Scholars of Islam are familiar with the Koran's many errors and contradictions, but these have rarely been revealed to a wider public. THE ORIGINS OF THE KORAN is an attempt to remedy this deficiency by bringing together classic critical essays which raise key issues surrounding Islam's holy book. Indispensable to scholars and all those interested in the textual underpinning of one of the fastest growing religions in the world.
Download or read book Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God written by Andy Bannister and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2021-05-18 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God? gets to the heart of what the world’s two largest religions say about life’s biggest questions—and shows the uniqueness of Christianity’s answer not merely to the question of whether God exists, but of who God really is.
Download or read book The Miraculous Language of the Qur an Evidence of Divine Origin written by Bassam Saeh and published by International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT). This book was released on 2015-01-12 with total page 108 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study illustrates why the language of the Qur'an is miraculous, unique, and evidence of divine authority. The author compares the language of the Qur'an with the language of pre-Islamic poetry, the Prophet's words (hadith), and the language of the Arabs both past and present, to demonstrate that although the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic it was at the same time an Arabic which was entirely new. Original and early Muslim audiences viewed this as miraculous and responded to the Qur'an's words, sounds, rhythms, etc. in a manner consistent with a deeper appreciation of its beauty and majesty which modern ears, trained by familiarity, and despite being surrounded by all manner of dictionaries and studies, are at a loss to capture. The author attempts to remove this veil and present the Qur'an to readers as if hearing it for the first time, to bring to life some of this wonder. In doing so he guides readers to appreciate the beauty of the Qur'an, to become more immersed in it, and to have a clearer understanding of its structure and flow. Devoting special attention to Surah Al Muddaththir, to underpin his analysis, Saeh thus brings the Revelation to life, to demonstrate that each surah has distinct features and characteristics that make it stand out uniquely within the design and sweep of the whole.
Download or read book Biblical Prophets in the Qur an and Muslim Literature written by Roberto Tottoli and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-01-11 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Part 1 is a comprehensive study of the Qur'anic data about each prophet, with a full portrait of every figure and dealing also with all the major scholarly literature on the subject and with the Qur'anic concept of prophetology. Part 2 is a history and study of the general Muslim literature dealing with the prophets.
Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Qur anic Studies written by and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2020-04-28 with total page 937 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Traditionally revered as the literal word of God, the Qur’an serves as Islam’s sacred book of revelation. Accordingly, its statements and pronouncements rest at the core of the beliefs and teachings that have inexorably defined expressions of the Islamic faith. Indeed, over the centuries, engaging with and poring over the contents of the Qur’an inspired an impressive range of traditional scholarship. Notwithstanding its religious pre-eminence, the Qur’an is also considered to be the matchless masterpiece of the Arabic language and its impact as a text can be discerned in all aspects of the Arabic literary tradition. Presenting contributions from leading experts in the field, The Oxford Handbook of Qur’anic Studies offers an authoritative collection of chapters that guide readers through the gamut of themes, subjects, and debates that have dominated the academic study of the Qur’an and its literary heritage. These range from chapters that explore the text’s language, vocabulary, style, and structure, to detailed surveys of its contents, concepts, transmission, literary influence, historical significance, commentary tradition, and even the scholarship devoted to translations. With the aim of serving as an indispensable reference resource, the Handbook assesses the implications of research discourses and discussions shaping the study of the Qur’an today. There exists no single volume devoted to such a broad review of the scholarship on the Qur’an and its rich commentary tradition.
Download or read book Qur an written by Nicolai Sinai and published by Edinburgh University Press. This book was released on 2018-09-30 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Overturns orthodox thinking about morality in Shakespeare's plays by updating our understanding of the human mind
Download or read book The Routledge Companion to the Qur an written by George Archer and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-09-30 with total page 672 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Routledge Companion to the Qur’an offers an impressive and comprehensive overview of the formative scripture of Islam. Including a wide number of scholarly approaches to the Qur’an by both established authorities and emergent voices, the 40 chapters in this volume represent the latest word on the academic understanding of the Muslim scripture. The Qur’an is spoken of in scholarship across disciplines; it is the beating heart of a living community of believers; it is a work of beauty and a basis for art and culture; it is a profoundly significant historical artifact; and it is a mysterious survivor from the Late Ancient Arabic-speaking world. This Handbook accompanies the reader into the many worlds that the Qur’an lives in, from its ancient settings, to its internal drama, and through the 1,400 years of discussion and debate about its meaning. Bringing diverse approaches to the Qur’an together in one volume The Routledge Companion to the Qur’an represents the vibrancy of the field of Qur’anic Studies today. This Handbook is essential reading for students and researchers in religious studies and Islamic studies. It will also be very useful for those in related fields, such as area studies, sociology, anthropology, and history.
Download or read book The Art of Reciting the Qur an written by Kristina Nelson and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2014-11-11 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For the Muslim faithful, the familiar sound of the Qurʾanic recitation is the predominant and most immediate means of contact with the Word of God. Heard day and night, on the street, in taxis, in shops, in mosques, and in homes, the sound of recitation is far more than the pervasive background music of daily life in the Arab world. It is the core of religious devotion, the sanctioning spirit of much cultural and social life, and a valued art form in its own right. Participation in recitation, as reciter or listener, is itself an act of worship, for the sound is basic to a Muslim’s sense of religion and invokes a set of meanings transcending the particular occasion. For the most part, Westerners have approached the Qurʾan much as scriptural scholars have studied the Bible, as a collection of written texts. The Art of Reciting the Qurʾan aims at redirecting that focus toward a deeper understanding of the Qurʾan as a fundamentally oral phenomenon. By examining Muslim attitudes toward the Qurʾan, the institutions that regulate its recitation, and performer-audience expectations and interaction, Kristina Nelson, a trained Arabist and musicologist, casts new light on the significance of Qurʾanic recitation within the world of Islam. Her landmark work is of importance to all scholars and students of the modern Middle East, as well as ethnomusicologists, anthropologists, linguists, folklorists, and religious scholars.
Download or read book Structural Dividers in the Qur an written by Marianna Klar and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2020-12-03 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume showcases a wide range of contemporary approaches to the identification of literary structures within Qur’anic surahs. Recent academic studies of the Qur’an have taken an increasing interest in the concept of the surah as a unity and, with it, the division of complete surahs into consecutive sections or parts. Part One presents a series of case studies focussing on individual Qur’anic surahs. Nevin Reda analyzes the structure of Sūrat Āl ʿImrān (Q 3), Holger Zellentin looks at competing structures within Sūrat al-ʿAlaq (Q 96), and A.H. Mathias Zahniser provides an exploration of the ring structures that open Sūrat Maryam (Q 19). Part Two then focusses on three discrete aspects of the text. Nora K. Schmid assesses the changing structural function of oaths, Marianna Klar evaluates how rhythm, rhyme, and morphological parallelisms combine in order to produce texture and cohesion, while Salwa El-Awa considers the structural impact of connectives and other discourse markers with specific reference to Sūrat Ṭāhā (Q 20). The final section of the volume juxtaposes contrasting attitudes to the discernment of diachronic seams. Devin Stewart examines surah-medial oracular oaths, Muhammad Abdel Haleem questions a range of instances where suggestions of disjointedness have historically been raised, and Nicolai Sinai explores the presence of redactional layers within Sūrat al-Nisāʾ (Q 4) and Sūrat al-Māʾidah (Q 5). Bringing a combination of different approaches to Qur’an structure into a single book, written by well-established and emerging voices in Qur’anic studies, the work will be an invaluable resource to academics researching Islam, religious studies, and languages and literatures in general. Chapters 3 and 6 of this book are freely available as downloadable Open Access PDFs at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.
Download or read book Unlocking the Medinan Qur an written by Nicolai Sinai and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2022-02-28 with total page 599 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Medinan layer of the Qur’an occupies a key position in the formative period of Islam yet poses substantial interpretive challenges. This volume exemplifies a rich array of scholarly approaches to the Medinan Qur’an’s distinctive textual, literary, and theological features.
Download or read book New Trends in Qur nic Studies written by Mun'im Sirry and published by Lockwood Press. This book was released on 2019-06-15 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essays in this volume discuss recent trends and issues in the scholarly study of the Qur’ān and its exegesis. The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented development in qur'anic studies in terms of both the number of volumes that have been produced and the wide range of issues covered. It is not an exaggeration to say that the field of qur'anic studies today has become the 'crown' of Islamic studies. In this book, scholars of diverse approaches critically engage with the Qur’ān and its exegesis, including questions about the milieu in which the Qur’ān emerged, the Qur’ān's relation to the biblical tradition, its chronology, textual integrity, and its literary features. In addition, this volume addresses recent scholarship on tafsīr (qur'anic exegesis), including thematic interpretation, diacronic and syncronic readings of the Qur’ān. Various approaches to understanding the Muslim scripture with or without tafsīr are also discussed.
Download or read book Creating the Qur an written by Stephen J. Shoemaker and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 2022-07-26 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The traditional narrative of the Qur'an's origins : a scholarly sunnism -- 'Abd Al-Malik, Al-Ḥajjāj, and the composition of the Qur'an -- Radiocarbon dating and the origins of the Qur'an -- The Hijaz in late antiquity : social and economic conditions in the cradle of the Qur'an -- Literacy, orality, and the Qur'an's linguistic environment -- Remembering Muhammad : perspectives from memory science -- Re-remembering Muhammad : oral tradition and collective memory -- The Qur'anic codex as process : writing sacred tradition in late antiquity -- The Qur'an's historical context according to the Qur'an.
