The Qur'an: An Introduction

by Anna M. Gade

Explaining the language and the major themes of the Qur’an, its 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 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 primer.

Genres: Islam, Religion

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Hamza Fazeel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book caught me by surprise because it is an impressive and holistic introduction to not just the Holy Quran, but to Islam in general, with references to essential literature on the style, themes, hermeneutics and tafsir of the Quran, as well as on other topics like hadith, islamic philosophy, etc. A succinct book managed to give an introduction from Quranic rhetoric and interpretation to Sufism and hadith studies. A relatively 'advanced' (assumes basic pre-hand knowledge of Quranic sciences/terms) introductory text, that can aid a student of Islam to pursue a step by step study (similar to the sciences of the Dars-e-Nizami course). Non- Arab and Non Muslims will find some of the terms/concepts unfamiliar, but this introduction includes a lot of material which other works too often ignore. I personally found Anna Gade's analysis illuminating, in the way the book reinstates the message that the Holy Quran is inimitable and perfect (in Grammar, content, style, rhetoric organization, etc.), enough so that one becomes fascinated by the Majestic Quran and delves into the depths of various tafsir and exegesis works. The only part of the book that I did not agree with was the conclusion and author's opinion on pages 266 and 269 (relating to the link with environmental degradation) Apart from that I believe this books makes a strong argument in favor of the Holy Quran being nothing short of a linguistic miracle and motivated me to want to read further into the meanings and language of the Quran.
(Note: Bibliography contains an excellent reading list)