Rethinking the Qur'an: Towards a Humanistic Hermeneutics

15.55 Islamic Studies

Rethinking the Qur'an: Towards a Humanistic Hermeneutics
by prof. Nasr Abu Zayd

This ingenious study shows the importance of the Qur'an being expressed to mankind as an oral communication. Using the prophet Muhammad as a vehicle for His revelation, God addressed several audiences: mankind as a whole, the Arab polytheists, the Arab jews, the Arab christians, muslims in the Meccan stage, muslims in the Medinan stage etc. To understand the Qur'an correctly, we must understand how these plural audiences were spoken to and what God tried to change or discuss with them. Abu Zayd's study makes us understand the Qur'an again not only as God's speech, but as God's conversations.