Interpreting the Qurʼān: Towards a Contemporary Approach

Front Cover
Taylor & Francis, 2006 - Religion - 192 pages

How is the Qur'an - central to all Muslim societies - to be understood today in order to meet the needs of these societies? Abdullah Saeed, a distinguished Muslim scholar, explores the interpretation of the ethico-legal content of the Qur'an, whilst taking into consideration the changing nature of the modern world.

Saeed explores the current debates surrounding the interpretation of the Qur'an, and their impact on contemporary understanding of this sacred text. Discussing the text's relevance to modern issues without compromising the overall framework of the Qur'an and its core beliefs and practices, he proposes a fresh approach, which takes into account the historical and contemporary contexts of interpretation.

Inspiring healthy debate, this book is essential reading for students and scholars seeking a contemporary approach to the interpretation of the Qur'anic text.

 

Contents

Introduction
1
The context of the debate on interpretation
8
Revelation and interpretation
26
Interpretation based on tradition and textualism
42
Interpretation based on reason
57
Flexibility in reading the text
69
Abrogation and reinterpretation
77
The meaning of the text as an approximation
90
Sociohistorical context and interpretation
116
Ethicolegal texts and a hierarchy of values
126
Epilogue
145
Glossary
155
Notes
159
Bibliography
175
Index
183
Copyright

Recognition of the complexity of meaning
102

Other editions - View all

Interpreting the Qur'an: Towards a Contemporary Approach
Abdullah Saeed
No preview available - 2006
Interpreting the Qurʼān: Towards a Contemporary Approach
Abdullah Saeed
No preview available - 2006

Common terms and phrases

abrogated Abū accepted Ahmad al-Qur'an Allah approach Arabic argued based on reason Bayrūt believe caliph circumstances Companions concept considered contemporary Contextualist cultural Dār debate developed dialects early emphasized ethico-legal content ethico-legal texts example exegesis exegetes explain Fazlur Rahman fiqh first/seventh God's ḥadīth ḥarām Hijaz historical human Ibid Ibn Abbas Ibn Kathir Ibn Taymiyyah ideas ijtihad important instance inter interpret the Qur'an Interpretation based Islamic law jurists language large number linguistic Mabāḥith maqāṣid mathal Mecca Medina modern period Muḥammad Muslim community Muslim scholars naskh objective particular pre-Islamic pretation Prophet Prophet Muhammad punishment Qaṭṭān qiyās Qur'an Qur'ānic text Qur'ānic verses Quraysh ra'y reading recited refer relevant religion religious rethinking revelation rulings says scripture seven aḥruf Shah Waliullah shari'ah socio-historical context specific Successors sunnah ta'wil Tabarī tafsir based tafsir tradition Textualists theological tion tradition-based ulama Umar understanding Unseen Uthman women word zakāt

References to this book

About the author (2006)

Abdullah Saeed is the Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies and the Director of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Islam at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has written widely on Islam and is the author and editor of a number of books, including Approaches to Qur??n in Contemporary Indonesia (2005), Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam (co-author, 2004), Islam and Political Legitimacy (2003), Islam in Australia (2003) and Islamic Banking and Interest (1996).

Bibliographic information

TitleInterpreting the Qurʼān: Towards a Contemporary Approach
AuthorAbdullah Saeed
Editionreprint
PublisherTaylor & Francis, 2006
ISBN0415365384, 9780415365383
Length192 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Religion / General
Religion / Islam / General
Religion / Islam / Koran & Sacred Writings
Social Science / Regional Studies
  
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