Quranic Studies: Sources and Methods of Scriptural Interpretation

by John Wansbrough, Andrew Rippin (Translator)

One of the most innovative thinkers in the field of Islamic Studies was John Wansbrough (1928-2002), Professor of Semitic Studies and Pro-Director of London University's School of Oriental and African Studies. Critiquing the traditional accounts of the origins of Islam as historically unreliable and heavily influenced by religious dogma, Wansbrough suggested radically new interpretations very different from the views of both the Muslim orthodoxy and most Western scholars.Originally published in 1977, Quranic Studies presents an in-depth textual exegesis of the Quran based on form analysis. Noting the persistent use of monotheistic imagery stemming from Judeo-Christian sources, he interpreted the rise of Islam as the development of what was originally a Judeo-Christian sect. As this sect evolved and differentiated itself from its Judeo-Christian roots, the Quran also evolved and was continuously in flux for over a century. Wansbrough concluded that the canonization of the text that we today call the Quran, and even the emergence of the concept of "Islam," probably did not occur till the end of the eighth century, more than 150 years after the death of Muhammad.Although his work remains controversial to this day, his fresh insights and approaches to the study of Islam continue to inspire scholars. This new edition contains a valuable assessment of Wansbrough's contributions and many useful textual notes and translations by Andrew Rippin (professor of history, University of Victoria).

Genres: Islam, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely not a casual read. Instead it was a highly and scholarly explanation of Quranic studies. The presented an analytical approach to understanding and compartmentalizing the Quran. This was done from highly academic and linguistic approach, but also similar to a peer review style. This was done with comparative linguistics and textual explanation in the form of exegesis. The author presented the information with the revelation and canon of Islam, prophet Muhammed, the origins of Classical Arabic, and lastly exegetical interpretations of the Quran.


NONE of this was sufrace-level. You need an intermediate to advanced knowledge of Arabic grammar, familiarization of Biblical Hebrew & Greek, and rapid recall of Quranic & Rabbinic scripture. The author already assumes the reader has thorough knowledge of specific surah's & ayat (in the original Arabic) from the Quran as well as specific hadith from the Sunna, specific scriptural passages from the Torah, extensive linguistic concepts (in the form of Latin), and has the ability to have on-the-spot comparative Arabic-Hebrew analysis. I had to do simultaneous research on my own as I read because there was so much I didn't understand.

These were various exegeses I didn't know: haggadic, halakhic, masoretic, rhetorical, allegorical; writing styles I didn't know: polemic, liturgical, didactic, juridicial; and a ton of words I didn't know: opprobrium, tmesis, chiasmus, prolepsis, homoioteleuton, and Latin terms usus loquendi, terminus ad quen, loci probantes, hapax legomenon, anthropoi agrammatoi.

Overall it was 5 stars for information, 4 stars for layout and presentation, 3 starts for readability, and 2 stars for the need of extensive knowledge of Quranic Arabic, Rabbinic Hebrew, & hermeneutics. I would only recommend this to someone who has already spent years of Abrahamic study. Thanks!

[Lisa Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Difficult yet fascinating book.