The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an (Cambridge Companions to Religion)

First, at least two of the essays are written by Muslims. Mere scanning of table of contents will tell you that. So the objection by one of the reviewer that none of the essay is written by a Muslim scholar is not a valid one. Second, I found that standards of scholarship is quite high in these essays. It can be quite illuminating seeing the things from others' point of view. In this book most scholars do not share the same faith as mine (I am Muslim). I learned a lot of thing which I didn't know before. A Muslim may not be as objective in the study of Quran on its own as a non-Muslim can be. Of course there are many Westerners who didn't understand the Quran or deliberately misconstrued it. But in this collection this is not the case. It is highly recommended for Muslims as well to develop an objective appreciation of the Quran. One point I would like to add here. In the Muslim tradition, the primary subject of the Quran is nothing but human being. Entire Quran revolves around human. You many find ayats saying: everything in this universe has conquered to human beings; God has never changed the condition of a nation, unless it tried to do so; when God intends to punish a nation, the elite class of the society get infected by moral ills. Fred M. Donner. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. -- Alexander Knysh. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. -- Alexander Knysh. -- Andrew Rippin Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. -- Alexander Knysh. -- Andrew Rippin Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. -- Alexander Knysh. -- Andrew Rippin -- Asma Barlas. Fred M. Donner. -- Claude Gilliot. -- Harald Motzki -- Daniel A. Madigan. -- Angelika Neuwirth. -- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani -- Fred Leemhuis. -- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom -- Jane Dammen McAuliffe. -- Alexander Knysh. -- Andrew Rippin -- Asma Barlas. -- Stefan Wild. Fred M. Donner.-- Claude Gilliot.-- Harald Motzki-- Daniel A. Madigan.-- Angelika Neuwirth.-- William A. Graham and Navid Kermani-- Fred Leemhuis.-- Sheila Blair and Jonathan Bloom-- Jane Dammen McAuliffe.-- Alexander Knysh.-- Andrew Rippin-- Asma Barlas.-- Stefan Wild.-- Abdulaziz Sachedina. Cover Page......Page 1 The Cambridge Companion to the Quran......Page 2 Title Page......Page 6 ISBN 0521831601......Page 7 Contents......Page 10 Figures......Page 12 Notes on contributors......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1 The historical context......Page 40 2 Creation of a fixed text......Page 58 3 Alternative accounts of the Quran’s formation......Page 76 4 Themes and topics......Page 96 5 Structural, linguistic and literary features......Page 114 6 Recitation and aesthetic reception......Page 132 7 From palm leaves to the Internet......Page 162 8 Inscriptions in art and architecture......Page 180 9 The tasks and traditions of interpretation......Page 198 10 Multiple areas of influence......Page 228 11 Western scholarship and the Quran......Page 252 12 Women’s readings of the Quran......Page 272 13 Political interpretation of the Quran......Page 290 14 The Quran and other religions......Page 308 Quran citation index......Page 327 A......Page 335 B......Page 336 D......Page 337 F......Page 338 H......Page 339 J......Page 340 L......Page 341 M......Page 342 P......Page 343 R......Page 344 S......Page 345 U......Page 347 Y......Page 348 Z......Page 349 Part I, Formation Of The Quranic Text --the Historical Context / Fred M. Donner -- Creation Of A Fixed Text / Claude Gilliot -- Alternative Accounts Of The Quran's Formation / Harald Motzki -- Part Ii, Description And Analysis -- Themes And Topics / Daniel A. Madigan -- Structural, Linguistic And Literary Features / Angelika Neuwirth -- Recitation And Aesthetic Reception / William A. Graham And Navid Kermani -- Part Iii, Transmission And Dissemination -- From Palm Leaves To The Internet / Fred Leemhuis -- Inscriptions In Art And Architecture / Sheila Blair And Jonathan Bloom -- Part Iv, Interpretations And Intellectual Traditions -- The Tasks And Traditions Of Interpretation / Jane Dammen Mcauliffe -- Multiple Areas Of Influence / Alexander Knysh -- Western Scholarship And The Quran / Andrew Rippin -- Part V, Contemporary Readings -- Women's Readings Of The Quran / Asma Barlas -- Political Interpretation Of The Quran / Stefan Wild -- The Quran And Other Religions / Abdulaziz Sachedina. Edited By Jane Dammen Mcauliffe. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. As the living scriptural heritage of more than a billion people, the Qur'an (Koran) speaks with a powerful voice. Just as other scriptural religions, Islam has produced a long tradition of interpretation for its holy book. Nevertheless, efforts to introduce the Qur'an and its intellectual heritage to English-speaking audiences have been hampered by the lack of available resources. The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an seeks to remedy that situation. In a discerning summation of the field, Jane McAuliffe brings together an international team of scholars to explain its complexities. Comprising fourteen chapters, each devoted to a topic of central importance, the book is rich in historical, linguistic and literary detail, while also reflecting the influence of other disciplines. For both the university student and the general reader, The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an provides a fascinating entrée to a text that has shaped the lives of millions for centuries. Cover Page 1 The Cambridge Companion to the Quran 2 Title Page 6 ISBN 0521831601 7 Contents 10 Figures 12 Notes on contributors 14 Introduction 18 1 The historical context 40 2 Creation of a fixed text 58 3 Alternative accounts of the Quran’s formation 76 4 Themes and topics 96 5 Structural, linguistic and literary features 114 6 Recitation and aesthetic reception 132 7 From palm leaves to the Internet 162 8 Inscriptions in art and architecture 180 9 The tasks and traditions of interpretation 198 10 Multiple areas of influence 228 11 Western scholarship and the Quran 252 12 Women’s readings of the Quran 272 13 Political interpretation of the Quran 290 14 The Quran and other religions 308 Quran citation index 327 General index 335 A 335 B 336 C 337 D 337 E 338 F 338 G 339 H 339 I 340 J 340 K 341 L 341 M 342 N 343 O 343 P 343 Q 344 R 344 S 345 T 347 U 347 V 348 W 348 Y 348 Z 349 As the living scriptural heritage of more than a billion people, the Qur'an speaks with a powerful voice. Islam has produced a long tradition of interpretation for its holy book. Nevertheless, efforts to introduce the Qur'an and its intellectual heritage to English-speaking audiences have been hampered by the lack of accessible and available resources. The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an seeks to remedy that situation. Jane McAuliffe brings together an international team of scholars to explain its complexities and provides a fascinating entree to a text that has shaped the lives of millions for centuries.