The Koran: Critical Concepts in Islamic Studies

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 1664 pages
• Published by: RoutledgeCurzon
• Edition: 1st Edition February 4, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0415311918
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0415311915
• Book Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 4.2 inches
• Weighs: 6.4 pounds

Product Description
Revered by Muslims as the literal word of God as revealed over a twenty-three year period to the Prophet Muhammad, the Koran has been the cornerstone and raison d'etre of Islamic scholarship for the past fourteen centuries. Scriptural disciplines such as hadith criticism and jurisprudence, and rational sciences such as theology and philosophy, owe their existence to individual and collective deliberation on the form, contents and meanings of a book which informs and nurtures the faith of over a billion people worldwide.
With the resurgence of Muslim identity over the past fifty years, the rise of Islamism and Islamic 'fundamentalism' over the past two decades, and the tumultuous events of the past twelve months, there has been a surge of interest in the Koran as the heart of Islam. The Koran is arguably at present the world's most ideologically influential text.
By presenting in one place a carefully chosen selection of the most critically acclaimed essays and articles on all aspects of the Koran, The Koran: Critical Concepts in Islamic Studies aims to provide an overview of the most important and influential work undertaken so far, together with a 'state of the field' snapshot of this increasingly important academic discipline.
The four volumes of this set bring together some of the most significant modern and pre-modern contributions to the study of the Islamic revelation, giving readers access to material that has hitherto been scattered and often difficult to locate. While the bulk of the material stems from the past fifty years, classic studies from earlier periods have been included, thus providing insight into the developmental dynamics of the field. Drawn from a wide range of journals, research monographs, occasional papers and edited volumes, the articles that make up this collection reflect the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of Koranic studies as it stands today. An extensive introduction at the beginning of the first volume draws together the four volumes andplaces each article in its broader context.