There is much more to the Qur“an than the selective quotations favoured by Islamic fundamentalists. This book provides a student-friendly guide to the many ways in which the Qur“an can be read.

Designed for both Muslims and Western non-Muslim students, it examines the Qur“an in Western scholarship as well as giving an overview of the rich interpretive traditions from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the present day.

This guide is a concise introduction to all aspects of the Qur“an: history, understanding and interpretation, providing:

• coverage of both pre-modern and modern periods


• plenty of examples to illustrate key points and aid student understanding


• summaries, timelines and a glossary.