The Qur'an: An Introduction

Muslims consider the Qur’an to be the final revelation of God. Moral code for millions of believers worldwide, it is seen as the principal miracle of the prophet Muhammad. In this stimulating study, Anna M. Gade provides a comprehensive primer to the sacred work, exploring the many ways in which Muslims approach this multifaceted text. Broaching the language and concepts of Qur’anic exegesis, the Qur’an’s unique literary structure, and its alleged "inimitability", Gade highlights how it seamlessly weaves together law, narrative, description and parable. With extensive extracts, illustrations, and detailed insights into its textual history, The Qur’an: An Introduction helps those coming to the translated text for the first time and it explains the unique issues that Qur’anic translation raises. Exploring how a huge variety of topics are dealt with in the Qur’an, from gender and conflict, to mysticism, and even ecological crisis, both students and general readers will find this an invaluable resource. Anna M. Gade is Senior Lecturer at the Religious Studies Programme, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.