Contemporary Perspectives on Revelation and Qu’ranic Hermeneutics: An Analysis of Four Discourses

Ali Akbar

Published by Edinburgh University Press 2019

Contemporary Perspectives on Revelation and Qu’ranic Hermeneutics

An Analysis of Four Discourses

Ali Akbar

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474456180

Overview
Contents

About this book

Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelation

Focuses on three main themes: (1) Qur’anic socio-legal provisions (ahkām); (2) religious pluralism; and (3) political discourses, especially the concepts of governance, shūra (consultation) and democracy
On a theoretical level, it aims to identify whether there exist any larger hermeneutical tendencies that characterize the interpretive methods of the four scholars
On a practical level, it examines specific themes drawn from each scholar’s work to discover how they fit with his larger hermeneutical principles and his account of revelation
Examines how various aspects of each scholar’s theory correspond to pre-modern and modern Muslim and non-Muslim scholars’ accounts of revelation

A number of innovative hermeneutical approaches emerged in Muslim exegetical discourse in the second half of the 20th century. Among these developments is a trend of systematic reform theology that emphasises a humanistic approach, whereby revelation is understood to be dependent not only upon its initiator, God, but also upon its recipient, Prophet Muhammad, who takes an active role in the process.

Ali Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt). His study shows that the consequences of taking a humanistic approach to understanding revelation are not confined to the realm of speculation about God–human relations, but also to interpreting Qur’anic socio-political precepts. And the four scholars emerge as a distinctive group of Muslim thinkers who open up a new horizon in contemporary Islamic discourse.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Notes on Transliteration and Other Conventions Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
1 Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2 Traditional Understanding of Revelation Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	12
3 Fazlur Rahman: Revelation Historicised Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	28
4 Abdolkarim Soroush: The Prophet’s Revelatory Experiences Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	61
5 Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari: How the Prophet Saw the World Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
6 Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd: Revelation as a Linguistic Manifestation of the Communicative Interaction between God and the Prophet Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	127
7 Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	161
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Audience: College/higher education;
Pages
- Main content: 200
Keywords: Islamic Studies

eBook

Published: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 9781474456180