Ethics in the Quran and the Tafsir Tradition: From the Polynoia of Scripture to the Homonoia of Exegesis (Texts and Studies on the Qur?an, 23)

This book considers ethics in the Qur?an and its interpretive traditions. It argues that whereas the moral world of the Qur?an is polyphonic, the tafsir tradition tends to be reductionist. Front Cover 1 ‎Half-Title Page 2 ‎Series Title Page 3 ‎Title Page 4 ‎Copyright Page 5 ‎Contents 8 ‎Preface 12 ‎Acknowledgements 13 ‎Notes on Referencing, Translation, and Transliteration 15 ‎Chapter 1. Introduction 18 ‎1. Scope of the Inquiry 18 ‎2. Previous Scholarship on Qurʾānic Ethics 20 ‎3. Aims and Research Questions 24 ‎4. Choice of Qurʾānic Commentaries 25 ‎5. Central Arguments 27 ‎6. Plan of the Book 30 ‎Part 1. Theory 32 ‎Chapter 2. Antinomy 34 ‎1. Introduction 34 ‎2. The Antinomy of Values 34 ‎3. Antinomies in the Qurʾān 36 ‎4. Implications of Moral Antinomies: Morality and Code Fixation 39 ‎5. Implications of Moral Antinomies: Moral Rules as Idealisations? 40 ‎6. Narratives as Sites of Moral Antinomies 41 ‎7. Managing Paradox: Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in the Tafsīr Tradition 53 ‎7.1. Exegetical Silence 54 ‎7.2. Reconciliation 56 ‎7.3. Moral Justification 57 ‎7.4. Admitting That There Is a Moral Wrong 58 ‎8. Conclusion 59 ‎Chapter 3. Ambiguity 60 ‎1. Introduction 60 ‎2. The Concept of Ambiguity 61 ‎3. The Function of Ambiguity 63 ‎4. Bauer’s Thesis on Ambiguity in the Tafsīr Tradition 67 ‎5. The Tolerance of Ambiguity in Qurʾānic Narratives 77 ‎5.1. Q. 12:52–53 and Polysemy 78 ‎5.2. Q. 12:52–53—Muḥkamatān or Mutashābihatān? 85 ‎5.3. Q. 12:52–53 and the Moral Possibilities of Ambiguity 86 ‎6. Theology of Revelation, Interpretation, and Ethics 88 ‎7. Conclusion 90 ‎Chapter 4. The Drive towards Homonoia in the Tafsīr Tradition 92 ‎1. Introduction 92 ‎2. Theoretical Thematisation of Homonoia 94 ‎3. Homonoia in Exegetical Practice 99 ‎4. Counterpoints 107 ‎5. Conclusion 111 ‎Part 2. Praxis 114 ‎Chapter 5. The Ethical Nature of God 116 ‎1. Introduction 116 ‎2. Moses on the All-Encompassing Destruction 117 ‎2.1. Prologue 117 ‎2.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 117 ‎2.3. Exegetical Treatment 118 ‎2.4. Ethical Analysis 120 ‎3. The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart 120 ‎3.1. Prologue 120 ‎3.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 121 ‎3.3. Exegetical Treatment 122 ‎3.4. Ethical Analysis 127 ‎4. Abraham Debating the Punishment of Sodom 129 ‎4.1. Prologue 129 ‎4.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 130 ‎4.3. Exegetical Treatment 131 ‎4.4. Ethical Analysis 134 ‎5. The Binding of Abraham’s Son 135 ‎5.1. Prologue 135 ‎5.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 135 ‎5.3. Exegetical Treatment 136 ‎5.4. Ethical Analysis 139 ‎6. Shuʿayb and the Will of God 140 ‎6.1. Prologue 140 ‎6.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 141 ‎6.3. Exegetical Treatment 141 ‎6.4. Ethical Analysis 144 ‎7. Conclusion 144 ‎Chapter 6. Ethics towards God 146 ‎1. Introduction 146 ‎2. Arguing with God? The Angels and the Beginning of Creation 146 ‎2.1. Prologue 146 ‎2.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 147 ‎2.3. Exegetical Treatment 148 ‎2.4. Ethical Analysis 149 ‎3. Abraham’s Attribution of God’s Name to a Star 152 ‎3.1. Prologue 152 ‎3.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 152 ‎3.3. Exegetical Treatment 153 ‎3.4. Ethical Analysis 158 ‎4. Joseph and the Remembrance of God 159 ‎4.1. Prologue 159 ‎4.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 159 ‎4.3. Exegetical Treatment 160 ‎4.4. Ethical Analysis 162 ‎5. Mary’s Death Wish 165 ‎5.1. Prologue 165 ‎5.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 165 ‎5.3. Exegetical Treatment 165 ‎5.4. Ethical Analysis 168 ‎6. Jonah and God’s Omnipotence 169 ‎6.1. Prologue 169 ‎6.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 170 ‎6.3. Exegetical Treatment 170 ‎6.4. Ethical Analysis 174 ‎7. Conclusion 176 ‎Chapter 7. Social Ethics 177 ‎1. Introduction 177 ‎2. Joseph on the Ethics of Seeking Leadership and Self-Praise 177 ‎2.1. Prologue 177 ‎2.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 177 ‎2.3. Exegetical Treatment 178 ‎2.3.1. The First Problem—Seeking Appointment 179 ‎2.3.2. The Second Problem—Self-Praise 181 ‎2.3.3. The Third Problem—Working under an Unbelieving Ruler 182 ‎2.4. Ethical Analysis 182 ‎3. Joseph and the Ethics of Deception 184 ‎3.1. Prologue 184 ‎3.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 184 ‎3.3. Exegetical Treatment 184 ‎3.4. Ethical Analysis 188 ‎4. Property Damage and Homicide in the Moses-Khiḍr Narrative 190 ‎4.1. Prologue 190 ‎4.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 192 ‎4.3. Exegetical Treatment 193 ‎4.3.1. Problem 1: Property Damage (Q. 18:71) 193 ‎4.3.2. Problem 2: Homicide (Q. 18:74) 196 ‎4.4. Ethical Analysis 197 ‎5. Abraham on the Problem of Lying 200 ‎5.1. Prologue 200 ‎5.2. Moral Conflict and Ambiguity 201 ‎5.3. Exegetical Treatment 201 ‎5.3.1. Reconciliation 202 ‎5.3.2. Ethical Justification 207 ‎5.4. Ethical Analysis 209 ‎6. Conclusion 211 ‎Chapter 8. Beyond Good and Evil: A Conclusion 212 ‎Bibliography 224 ‎Index of Qurʾānic Passages 243 ‎General Index 245 Back Cover 247 "This book is about the articulation of ethics in the Qur'an and the tafsir tradition. Based on an examination of several apparently problematic Qur'anic narrative pericopes and how the exegetes grappled with them, the book demonstrates that the moral world of the Qur'an is polyvalent and non-linear, owing, above all, to its intrinsic ethical antinomies and textual ambiguities. That is, the book contends that paradox and uncertainty are both constituents of the Qur'an's ethical architectonics, and that through these constituents the Qur'an charts a system of ethics that seeks to tread in the midst of anon-ideal world rife with uncertainty. The book also argues that the tafsir tradition tends to erode the hermeneutical openness of the Qur'an and, thereby, limits the Qur'an's ethical potential. The book, thus, advances our understanding of Qur'anic ethics and contributes to the field of tafsir studies and to the scholarship on Qur'anic hermeneutics"-- Provided by publisher