Introduction to the Qur'an

by M.A. Draz, Abdel Haleem (Preface by)

Overview

I.B.Tauris in Association with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies

In this book the distinguished Islamic scholar M. A. Draz, one of the Muslim world's most erudite authorities of this century, sets out the fundamental principles of the Qur'an and its much misunderstood and misquoted teachings on gender and women, polygamy, war, faith, Judaism, Christianity and the many other issues on which the Qur'an pronounces.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781848856899
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/20/2011
Series:	London Qur'an Studies
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

M.A. Draz obtained his doctorate at the Sorbonne in Paris, before returbaning to Cairo where he became Professor of Islamic Studies at Al Azhar University. At his death in 1958 he had established himself as one of the world's leading Islamic scholars. Professor Abdel Haleem is Professor of Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, and Director of its Centre of Islamic Studies, at the University of London. He has previously taught at the Universities of Cambridge and Cairo and is the author of Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Styles (I.B.Tauris 1999).

Table of Contents

Foreword
• Preface
• Background History
• The Early Life of the Prophet
• The Composition of the Revealed Text
• How the Qur’anic Doctrine was Announced to the World
• The Qu’ran from its Three Main Aspects: Religion, Morality and Literature
• Truth, or the Religious Element
• Goodness, or the Moral Element
• Beauty, or the Literary Element
• The Origin of the Qu’ran
• Meccan Sources of the Qu’ran
• Medinan Sources of the Qu’ran
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Index

Editorial Reviews

This valuable introduction to the study of the Qur’an by a prominent Azhar scholar provides a rare glimpse of applying modern textual-historical methodology to the study of Muslim scriptures. M. A. Draz understood the challenges of this critical methodology and attempted to respond to some of the persisting questions about the reliability of the Muslim scriptures and its misapprehended message of peace.” — Abdulaziz Sachedina, Frances Myers Ball Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia
 

“The subject of the book is so significant, and its author and his approach so impressive, that it is not only essential reading for scholars of the Qur’an, Islam and comparative religions, but is also of great interest to the general reader. Much has been written about the Qu’ran in English, mainly by non-Muslim scholars: here we have a work by an outstanding Muslim scholar, who combines his deep knowledge of the Qu’ran and Muslim scholarship with an impressive familiarity with French and English works on the subject. This is a book that commends itself to anyone wishing an authoritative, balanced and intellectually engaging introduction to the Qu’ran” — Muhammed Abdel Haleem, King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies, SOAS, London

From the Publisher

An introduction to the holy book of Islam, by a Muslim scholar educated in the West. Sets out the fundamental principles of the Qur'an and its teachings, examining Qur'anic instruction on women, polygamy, war, faith, and Judaism and Christianity. Emphasis is on the continuity of monotheistic doctrine and ethics through the three major world religions. Translated by Ayeshah Abdel-Haleem. This work has been available in French for some 50 years, and in Arabic for some 30 years. This is the first English translation. Draz taught Islamic studies at Al Azhar University before his death in the late 1950s. Distributed by Palgrave. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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