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The Qur'an's Reformation of Judaism and Christianity: Return to the Origins (Routledge Studies in the Qur'an)
by Holger M. ZellentinThis volume explores the relationship between the Qur’an and the Jewish and Christian traditions, considering aspects of continuity and reform. The chapters examine the Qur’an’s retelling of biblical narratives, as well as its reaction to a wide array of topics that mark Late Antique religious discourse, including eschatology and ritual purity, prophetology and paganism, and heresiology and Christology. Twelve emerging and established scholars explore the many ways in which the Qur’an updates, transforms, and challenges religious practice, beliefs, and narratives that Late Antique Jews and Christians had developed in dialogue with the Bible. The volume establishes the Qur’an’s often unique perspective alongside its surprising continuity with Judaism and Christianity. Chapters focus on individual suras and on intra-Qur’anic parallels, on the Qur’an’s relationship to pre-Islamic Arabian culture, on its intertextuality and its literary intricacy, and on its legal and moral framework. It illustrates a move away from the problematic paradigm of cultural influence and instead emphasizes the Qur’an’s attempt to reform the religious landscape of its time. The Qur'an's Reformation of Judaism and Christianity offers new insight into the Islamic Scripture as a whole and into recent methodological developments, providing a compelling snapshot of the burgeoning field of Qur’anic studies. It is a key resource for students and scholars interested in religion, Islam, and Middle Eastern Studies.
The Qur'an: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides)
by Farid EsackThe Qur'an has spoken to Muslims for over one thousand years; it is seen as law-maker, moral code, and the word of God. Drawing on both contemporary and ancient sources, Esack outlines the key themes and explains the historical and cultural context of this unique work whilst examining its content, language and style, and the variety of approaches, including fundamentalist, feminist, and modernist, that have been used to interpret it. Farid Esack is an international recognised Muslim scholar, speaker and author. He is currently Bruggemann Chair in Inter-religious Studies at Xavier University, Cincinnati. OH.
The Qur'an: A Biography (Books That Changed the World #2)
by Bruce LawrenceA &“timely and provocative&” biography of Islam&’s foundational text: &“The history of the book is a map of the world we live in today&” (Tribune-Review). Few books in history have been as poorly understood as the Qur&’an. Sent down in a series of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur&’an is the unmediated word of Allah: a ritual, political, and legal authority; an ethical and spiritual guide; and a literary masterpiece that inspires devotion, passion, fear, and sometimes incomprehension. In The Qur&’an, historian and Islamic Studies professor Bruce Lawrence shows precisely how the Qur&’an is the embodiment of Islam. He describes the origins of the faith in seventh-century Arabia and explains why the Qur&’an is memorized and recited by devout Muslims. Lawrence also discusses the Qur&’an&’s commentators and doubters and assesses its tremendous influence on today&’s societies and politics. Above all, Lawrence emphasizes that the Qur&’an is a sacred book of signs that cannot be reduced to a single, obvious message. It is a book that demands interpretation and one that can be properly understood only through its long and storied history. &“An important work for those seeking to understand—and defend—Islam.&” —Kirkus Reviews
The Qur'an: A Verse Translation
by Bruce B. Lawrence M.A.R. HabibIslam’s founding text, rendered for the first time in flowing English verse. This monumental feat of translation, the product of a ten-year-long collaboration between one of our most respected scholars of Islam (Bruce B. Lawrence) and a poet and scholar of literature (M. A. R. Habib), The Qur'an: A Verse Translation offers readers the first rendering in English to echo, in accessible and fluent verse, the sonorous beauty of the Arabic original as well as the complex nuances of its meaning. Those familiar with the Qur'an in Arabic—especially the faithful who each day hear the text recited aloud—know that it is a sublime blend of sound and sense, music and meaning. While no translation can perfectly capture the inimitable virtues of the original, Habib and Lawrence have come closest to a readable, clear, and fluid English Qur'an that all readers, regardless of their faith or familiarity with the text, can read with pleasure, gaining a deeper appreciation of the book and the religious tradition it inspired. A rich and informative introduction situates the Qur'an in its cultural context and describes its unique structure and history. A note from the translators explains their painstaking efforts to address the many challenges that any translator must face when rendering the Qur'an into English. Extensive notes and explanatory apparatus will help all readers—whether they are familiar with the original or coming to the text for the first time—to read (and hear) the Qur'an with fresh understanding and insight.
The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia
by Oliver LeamanA RUSA 2007 Outstanding Reference Title The Qur'an is the source of inspiration for one of the world's major religions, followed today by over a billion people. It plays a central role in Islam and ever since it appeared fourteen hundred years ago has been the subject of intense debate. Some of this has been carried out by Muslims and some by those hostile or indifferent to Islam, producing a very wide range of views. Authored by forty-three international experts, the objective of The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia is to present this diversity of thought, approach and school without priority, in order to give a strong appreciation of the range of response that the text has provoked throughout its history and providing students and researchers with a powerful one-volume resource covering all aspects of the text and its reception. Islam and the Qur'an are much in the news today and there is a public debate going on in which things are said about the Qur'an without much knowledge or understanding of the book. Every effort has been made to help the reader use the Encyclopedia as an investigative tool in Quranic studies. The volume assumes no previous knowledge of the Qur'an, Islam or Arabic. Technical terms are explained in the text itself and the style of each entry is designed to be as self-contained as possible. Entries are cross-referenced and many include a brief bibliography. At the end of the work there is a substantial annotated bibliography providing a detailed guide to the most significant books, journals and articles in Qur'anic Studies. There is a full index. The readership will include those seeking basic information on the Qur'an, however the substantial number of longer entries means that it will also be used by specialists.
The Qur'an: An Introduction
by Abdullah SaeedThere is much more to the Qur'an than the selective quotations favoured by Islamic fundamentalists. This book provides a student-friendly guide to the many ways in which the Qur'an can be read. Designed for both Muslims and Western non-Muslim students, it examines the Qur'an in Western scholarship as well as giving an overview of the rich interpretive traditions from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the present day. This guide is a concise introduction to all aspects of the Qur'an: history, understanding and interpretation, providing: coverage of both pre-modern and modern periods plenty of examples to illustrate key points and aid student understanding summaries, timelines and a glossary.
The Qur'an: An Introduction
by Muhammad Abu-HamdiyyahThis new work presents a concise and accessible introduction to the Qur'an. Muhammad Abu-Hamdiyyah first explores the concept of deity, including the Christian and Jewish understanding of God, and second discusses the Qur'anic message from the perspective of modern knowledge. This is an ideal textbook for students with no prior knowledge of the complexities of the Qur'an's message.
The Qur'an: An Introduction
by Muhammad Abu-HamdiyyahThis new work presents a concise and accessible introduction to the Qur'an. Muhammad Abu-Hamdiyyah first explores the concept of deity, including the Christian and Jewish understanding of God, and second discusses the Qur'anic message from the perspective of modern knowledge. This is an ideal textbook for students with no prior knowledge of the complexities of the Qur'an's message.
The Qur'an: Early Meccan Suras: Poetic Prophecy
by Angelika NeuwirthThe first volume of a world-renowned scholar&’s long-awaited Qur&’an commentary, now available in English Angelika Neuwirth&’s six-volume commentary, published originally in Germany, offers a historical and philological analysis of the form, structure, and semantic message of each of the 114 Qur&’anic suras. It brings together the fruits of the past hundred years of modern scholarship and provides access to the aesthetic, theological, linguistic, and semantic background required to appreciate the unique novelty, force, and historical position of the Qur&’an. Contextualizing the Qur&’anic message in the broader world of late antiquity, it bridges the gaps between the inner-Islamic scholarly world and the academy. Skillfully translated by Samuel Wilder, this first volume focuses on the Meccan suras, the earliest and often the most aesthetically striking and compelling part of the corpus of Qur&’anic proclamations.
The Qur'an: Early Middle Meccan Suras: The New Elect
by Angelika NeuwirthThe second volume of a world-renowned scholar&’s long-awaited Qur&’an commentary, now available in English Angelika Neuwirth&’s six-volume commentary, published originally in Germany, offers a historical and philological analysis of the form, structure, and semantic message of each of the 114 Qur&’anic suras. It brings together the fruits of the past hundred years of scholarship and provides access to the aesthetic, theological, linguistic, and semantic background required to appreciate the novelty, force, and historical position of the Qur&’an. Contextualizing the Qur&’anic message in the broader world of late antiquity, it bridges the gap between the inner-Islamic scholarly world and the academy. Skillfully translated by Samuel Wilder, this volume focuses on the early middle Meccan suras.
The Qur'an: Essential Teachings
by Abdur Raheem KidwaiThis work is intended to help readers gain a clear idea of the Qur'anic worldview, particularly the articles of Islamic faith, God-man relationship, religious duties and Islamic value system, bringing into sharper focus the God-oriented life as prescribed by Islam.
The Qur'an: Modern Muslim Interpretations
by Massimo CampaniniThe Qur’an: Modern Muslim Interpretations offers a lucid guide to how Muslims have read the Qur’an in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Massimo Campanini explores early approaches to the understanding of the Qur’an, including that of the Salafis and the construction of the Islamic Renaissance Movement, contrasting the development of traditionalist and ‘scientific’ interpretations and examining the work of the phenomenologists who followed. This lively book explores the radical ideas of Sayyid Qutb and his followers, a significant part of what is known as political Islamism, and investigates the idea of exegesis as a liberation theology, through the work of Esack and Wadud. Students taking courses on the interpretation of the Qur’an will find this an invaluable aid to their study, and it is essential reading for all those interested in how Muslims have understood the Qur’an in the contemporary period.
The Qur'an: The Basics (The Basics)
by Massimo CampaniniThis second edition of a popular introduction to the Qur’an includes an essential updated reference guide, including a chronology of the revelation, links to internet resources, and suggestions for further reading. Exploring the Qur'an's reception through history, its key teachings, and its place in contemporary thought and belief, this volume analyzes: the Qur'an as the word of God; its reception and communication by the Prophet Muhammad; the structure and language of the text; conceptions of God, the holy law, and jihad; and Islamic commentaries on Qur’anic teachings through the ages. The Qur'an: The Basics, Second Edition is a concise and accessible introduction.
The Quran and the Secular Mind: A Philosophy of Islam
by Shabbir AkhtarThis book is concerned with the rationality and plausibility of the Muslim faith and the Qur'an, and in particular how they can be interrogated and understood through Western analytical philosophy. It also explores how Islam can successfully engage with the challenges posed by secular thinking. The Quran and the Secular Mind will be of interest to students and scholars of Islamic philosophy, philosophy of religion, Middle East studies, and political Islam.
The Quran with Christian Commentary: A Guide to Understanding the Scripture of Islam
by Gordon D. NickelBe Equipped to Interact More Fruitfully and Thoughtfully with MuslimsThe Quran with Christian Commentary offers a unique introduction to the primary religious text of Islam. Alongside a precise modern English translation of the Quran, author Gordon D. Nickel provides in-text notes to explain the meaning of various surahs (chapters) and ayat (verses), their interpretive history and significance in Muslim thought, and similarities and differences when compared to biblical passages. Additional articles on important topics are written by an international team of today's leading experts including:Abraham in the Quran by George BristowEarly Christian Exegesis of the Quran by J. Scott BridgerTampering with the Pre-Islamic Scriptures by Gordon NickelSalvation in the Quran by Peter RiddellFighting and Killing in the Quran by Ayman S. IbrahimCreation in the Quran by Jon HooverCalling to Islam (da&‘wa) by Matthew KuiperApocryphal Details in Quranic Stories by Mateen ElassThe Death of Jesus in the Quran by Gordon NickelSon of God in the Quran by Gordon NickelJihad in the Quran by David CookMoses in the Quran by Gordon NickelManuscripts of the Quran by Daniel A. BrubakerWomen in the Quran by Linda DarwishThe Place of the Scale(s) in the Reckoning by Daniel A. BrubakerDivine Punishment of Unbelievers in This World by David MarshallShi&‘ite Interpretation of the Quran by Linda DarwishThe Language of Love in the Quran by Gordon NickelAllah in the Quran by Mark AndersonEschatology in the Quran by David CookFactual, respectful of Muslims, and insightful on issues about which Muslims and Christians disagree, The Quran with Christian Commentary equips Christians to interact more fruitfully with Muslim believers. Professors and students in courses on Islam and the Quran will find this to be an invaluable resource, as will pastors and missionaries who minister among Muslims. Written at a readable level, any Christian who wants to learn more about Islam and the Quran will find it to be a rich and informative introduction.
The Quran: Epic And Apocalypse (Texts And Studies On The Qurʾān Ser. #14)
by Todd LawsonHow do people understand the Quran to be divine revelation? What is it about the text that inspires such devotion and commitment in the reader/believer? Todd Lawson explores how the timeless literary genres of epic and apocalypse bear religious meaning in the Quran, communicating the sense of divine presence, urgency and truth. Grounding his approach in the universal power of story and myth, he embarks upon a fascinating inquiry into the unique power of one of the most loved, widely read and recited books in the world.
The Qur’an and the Aesthetics of Premodern Arabic Prose
by Sarah R. bin TyeerThis book approaches the Qur'an as a primary source for delineating the definition of ugliness, and by extension beauty, and in turn establishing meaningful tools and terms for literary criticism within the discipline of classical Arabic literature (adab). Focusing on the aesthetic dimension of the Qur'an, this methodology opens up new horizons for reading adab by reading the tradition from within the tradition and thereby examining issues of "decontextualisation" and the "untranslatable. " This approach, in turn, invites Comparatists, as well as Arabists, to consider other means and perspectives for approaching adab besides the Bakhtinian carnival. Applying this critical strategy to literary works as diverse as One Thousand and One Nights and The Epistle of Forgiveness, Sarah R. bin Tyeer aims to prove two major points: how Bakhtin's aesthetics is anachronistic and therefore theoretically inappropriate when applied to certain literary works and how ultimately this literary methodology is sometimes used as a proxy for ungrounded and, sometimes, unfair arguments by other scholars.
The Qur’an: A Historical-Critical Introduction
by Nicolai SinaiThis comprehensive introduction to the basic methods and current state of historical-critical Qur'anic scholarship covers all of the field's major questions, such as: Where and when did the Qur'an emerge? How do Qur'anic surahs function as literary compositions? How do the Qur'an's main themes and ideas relate to and transform earlier Jewish and Christian traditions? <p><p> Reading this book will give you the tools needed to work with and understand this vital but complex text.
The Qur’anic Dilemma: A Hermeneutical Investigation of al-Khidr (Routledge Studies in Islam and Human Rights)
by Abla HasanThis book focuses on reconnecting with the lost rich humanitarian content of the Qur’an through a hermeneutical investigation of al-Khidr’s story. Through an active engagement with primary and secondary sources, the book provides a new analytic reading of this puzzling Qur’anic story. By reinvestigating the largely overlooked pluralistic message in the Qur’an, the book debunks an Islamic fundamentalism, which often uses the text as a justification for ill-informed choices that can be easily seen to drag the Qur’anic text in unexpected directions. It introduces current academic controversies over proper addressing of critical issues in Islamic heritage and goes beyond mystic romanticization to clarify blind spots in reading al-Khidr’s story. Through rethinking al-Khidr’s story, the book addresses the exegetical classical and modern attempts to reconcile the Qur’anic unconditional endorsement of the right to life for everyone regardless of their faith, with the perplexing reference to infidelity as a justification for killing found in chapter 18. The Qur’nic Dilemma will be of interest to all scholars of Islamic Studies or those interested in Qur’anic interpretation, Muslim ethics, or comparative theology.
The Rabbi
by Noah GordonThe New York Times–bestselling novel that follows the life and career of a rabbi as he journeys through America: &“A rewarding reading experience.&” —Los Angeles TimesMichael Kind is raised in the Jewish cauldron of 1920s New York, familiar with the stresses and materialism of metropolitan life. Turning to the ancient set of ethics of his Orthodox grandfather, with a modern twist, he becomes a Reform rabbi. As insecure and sexually needy as any other young male, he serves as a circuit-rider rabbi in the Ozarks, and then as a temple rabbi in the racially ugly South, in a San Francisco suburb, in a Pennsylvania college town, and finally, in a New England community west of Boston. Along the way he falls deeply in love with and marries the daughter of a Congregational minister; she converts to Judaism and they have two complex, interesting children. Noah Gordon&’s picture of a brilliant and talented religious counselor—who at times is as bereft and uncertain as any of his congregants—is a deeply moving and very satisfying novel.
The Rabbi & the Nuns: The Inside Story of a Rabbi's Therapeutic Work With the Sisters of St. Francis
by Rabbi Abraham J. TwerskiThe Rabbi and the Nuns chronicles the highlights of a twenty-year working relationship between Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski and the nuns and priests of the Pittsburgh Diocese and St. Francis Hospital. Spearheading a groundbreaking rehab program, Rabbi Twerski and the nuns develop a working connection that transcends their religious differences, forges mutual respect, and brings them to a whole new level in ecumenical relations.Insightful, inspiring, and humorous at times, Rabbi Twerski's personal account is frank and engrossing. Readers are given a rare glimpse into the inner world of spiritual leaders as they grapple with their personal struggles to adjust to today's tumultuous times.
The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar: By the Power Vested in Me
by Jack H BloomThe solution to the growing problem of stress and burnout in rabbis!Written by a practicing clinical psychologist who spent 10 years as a congregational rabbi, The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar: By the Power Vested in Me presents positive solutions to the inevitable negative effects of symbolic exemplarhood, coaching rabbis through dilemmas of the "inner soul." Being a rabbi means serving as a Symbolic Exemplar of the best that is in humankind, being experienced and treated and expected to act as a stand-in for God, and a walking, talking symbol of all that Jewish tradition represents. The burden of being a symbolic exemplar of God is extraordinary, and the struggle to live up to its "requirements" can be one of loneliness, frustration, and despair, alienating rabbis who tire of living in a glass house.The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar examines how the symbolic role that serves as the source of the rabbi&’s authority and power can lead to disillusionment and disenchantment. Author Jack H Bloom draws on his own experience as a rabbi who watched the successful career he enjoyed turn into one he desperately wanted to forsake and how he was inspired to become an "athletic coach" for rabbis. This unique book details how symbolic exemplarhood is created, what its downside is, what power it offers, how it can be used effectively, how rabbis can deal with their inner lives, and what can be done to help rabbis stay "human" while maintaining their leadership.The Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar is equally effective as a complete text or as a source of stand-alone chapters on specific topics, including: special tensions of being a rabbi effects of symbolic exemplarhood on the rabbi&’s family educating rabbis on their power training suggestions curing and healing and The Ten Commandments for rabbisThe Rabbi As Symbolic Exemplar is essential reading for rabbis, rabbinical students, congregants, Christian clergy, seminarians and anyone interested in what it is to be a clergy person and how they can support the work clergy do. The book educates both clergy and laity on the humanity of clergy.Visit the author&’s website at http://jackhbloom.com
The Rabbi in the Attic: And Other Stories
by Eileen PollackIn an age of minimalists, Eileen Pollack is a writer of rare generosity. The women and men in The Rabbi in the Attic are complex, vivid people to whom something happens. Their stories take place in small towns in the Catskills, a laboratory of mutant mice in nowhere Tennessee, the backwoods of New Hampshire, the "City of Five Smells" in America's heartland--worlds rendered with such love and intensity that the simplest objects seem magical. Many of the narrators look back on their pasts. But don't expect to be lulled by nostalgia. Expect to laugh. To be jolted. And to be moved. Like most of us, these characters are struggling to understand what they have gained and lost by abandoning the passions and moral certainties of youth. As the narrator of the first story discovers when "barbarian" rock fans invade her town, it can be terrifying to be knocked from the "tiny fixed orbit" of conventional life. But if a person can stretch her imagination far enough, she might also be able to glimpse an "elsewhere" beyond the boundaries of ordinary human limitations. This battle between the real and ideal is taken to mythic heights in the title novella, in which a novice rabbi must try to evict her Orthodox predecessor from the house provided by her prickly congregation. Only when she tempers her enthusiasm for the new ways with compassion for those who follow the old ways can Rabbi Bloomgarten begin to care for their souls. Eileen Pollack writes from a Jewish point of view, but her subject is the search for principles that we must all undertake in a world in which religious truths are no longer handed down from parent to child. Just as one of her characters decides to become a "value assessor," the author herself helps us to sort through the jumble of objects, ideas, and memories in our own attics. In doing so, she appeals to our minds and our hearts. Her characters teach us that imagination and empathy are our best hope if we are to understand--and perhaps transcend--the pain in our world. Her language is lyrical, rhythmic, and lush. The images in her stories--a chef's severed hand, a plummeting air conditioner, a village sunk beneath a reservoir--will stay in your mind long after you have finished her book.
The Rabbi of 84th Street: The Extraordinary Life of Haskel Besser
by Warren KozakAlways wearing an easy smile, Hasidic rabbi Haskel Besser spreads joy wherever he goes, enriching the lives of his many friends and congregants with his profound understanding of both Orthodox Judaism and humannature.With warmth and admiration, journalist Warren Kozak writes about the rabbi's extraordinary life—from his family's escape to Palestine in the late 1930s to his witnessing of Israel's rebirth in 1948, to his move to New York City, where he lives today.A rare window into the normally closed world of Hasidic Jews, The Rabbi of 84th Street is also the story of Judaism in the twentieth century; of the importance of centuries-old traditions; and of the triumph of faith, kindness, and spirit.
The Rabbi of Lud
by Stanley ElkinA small-town Rabbi&’s quiet life is turned upside down when his only daughter drops a bombshell The only long-term occupants of Lud, New Jersey, reside in its cemeteries,a fact that suits Rabbi Jerry Goldkorn just fine. Never particularly passionate about his religious calling, Rabbi Goldkorn spends his days officiating funerals and burying the dead in the local cemetery. His life is simple by design—until one day his daughter&’s scandalous rebellion threatens to send his world spinning wildly out of control. Spiked with Elkin&’s characteristic wit, The Rabbi of Lud is a poignant satire of religious culture—and the story of one man&’s struggle with morality, mortality, and the meaning of life. This ebook features rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate and from the Stanley Elkin archives at Washington University in St. Louis.