Concise Guide to the Quran

S. Ibrahim Ayman

Description

What is so unique about Islam's scripture, the Quran? Who wrote it, and when? Can we trust its statements to be from Muhammad? Why was it written in Arabic? Does it command Muslims to fight Christians? These are a few of the thirty questions answered in this clear and concise guide to the history and contents of the Quran.Ayman Ibrahim grew up in the Muslim world and has spent many years teaching various courses on Islam. Using a question-and-answer format, Ibrahim covers critical questions about the most sacred book for Muslims. He examines Muslim and non-Muslim views concerning the Quran, shows how the Quran is used in contemporary expressions of Islam, answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about the Quran and Islam, and reveals the importance of understanding the Quran for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations.This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their scripture.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Comparative religion
• Qur'an
• Islam

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 03 novembre 2020
• Nombre de lectures: 5
• EAN13: 9781493429288
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Half Title Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2020 by Ayman S. Ibrahim
Published by Baker Academic
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakeracademic.com
Ebook edition created 2020
Ebook corrections 07.14.2021
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-2928-8
Quotations from the Quran are the author’s translation.
Dedication
To my beloved friend Ali, who loves Jesus greatly and is still searching for him!
Contents
Cover i
Half Title Page ii
Title Page iii
Copyright Page iv
Dedication v
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction: My Earliest Encounters with the Quran xi
Part 1: The History of the Text of the Quran 1
1. What Is the Quran? 3
2. What Does “Quran” Mean? 6
3. Are There Other Scriptures in Islam? 8
4. What Do Muslims Believe about the Quran? 10
5. Who Is Muhammad, the Recipient and Proclaimer of the Quran? 15
6. Did Muhammad Really Exist? 17
7. When and Where Did Muhammad Receive the Quran? 21
8. What Is the Most Important Feature of the Language of the Quran? 24
9. Why and How Was the Quran Compiled? 29
10. Did Uthman Burn False and Forged Qurans? 37
11. What Do Shiite Muslims Believe about the Collection of the Quran? 42
12. Do Sunnis and Shiites Have the Same Quran Today? 44
13. What Do We Know about the 1924 Royal Cairo Edition of the Quran? 47
14. Are There Any Other Qurans? 51
15. Are All Arabic Versions of the Quran the Same? 55
Part 2: Content, Features, and Themes of the Quran 61
16. How Should I Begin Reading the Quran? 63
17. What Are the Recurring Features at the Beginning of All Suras? 72
18. What Is Abrogation in the Quran? 77
19. What Are the Satanic Verses in the Quran? 83
20. What Is the Most Important Concept for Muslims in the Quran? 89
21. Are Jews and Christians Infidels? 95
22. Does the Quran Really Say the Bible Is Corrupt? 101
23. Who Is Jesus in the Quran? 108
24. Who Are the Prophets in the Quran? 116
25. Did Muhammad Perform Miracles? 119
26. What Does the Quran Say about Jihad and Fighting? 123
27. How Do Muslims Treat the Quran’s Verses on Violence Today? 127
28. Who Are “the People of the Quran”? 134
29. What Do Today’s Non-Muslim Scholars Say about the Quran? 138
30. Concluding Question: How Does This All Fit Together? 142
Glossary 147
Sources Consulted 165
Index 175
Back Cover 177
Acknowledgments
I am indebted to a number of friends who started me on my journey of writing this book by asking me inquisitive questions about the Quran. Thanks to Cherif Arif, Jon Burris, Philip Cohen, Hani Morcos, Gordon Nickel, Dave Scott, David Wong, and Tim Yee. Special thanks to Carol Ghattas, Cheryl Hoskins, Mike Kuhn, and Brent Neely, who read the entire manuscript and offered valuable input. In writing a book on the Quran, I also need to thank my friend and teacher, Gabriel Said Reynolds. He was the first to introduce me to scholarly research on the Quran back in 2011. Since then, he has never ceased to be a great encourager to me.
At Baker Academic, I thank Jim Kinney, Dave Nelson, and Julie Zahm—a remarkable team whose professionalism and dedication to exceptionalism are inspiring.
I also want to express my deep appreciation to my students at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, especially the staff and interns at the Jenkins Center; their constant research and inquiries about Islamic studies inspired most of the questions I discuss in this book. I wrote this book for them and all those learners like them. I am so thankful for the resources of the Jenkins Center and the constant support my research receives from the leaders and my colleagues at Southern Seminary.
Finally, gratitude and appreciation go to my supportive, beautiful, and loving wife, she is the one who keeps me going as she graciously bears the consequences of my long working hours. Her genuine love and sincere support are the true source of any accomplishment I may achieve. To all, shukran .
Introduction
My Earliest Encounters with the Quran
After my many years of teaching on Islam, I am no longer surprised that many Americans have never touched a Quran. Some of them do not even know what it is or what is in it. My experience was different because I was born and raised in Egypt, which is a Muslim-majority country. Before completing elementary school, I had read and even memorized parts of the Quran. This was part of my formal education, although I was born in a Coptic Christian family. I recall my Christian father reciting verses from the Quran on more than one occasion. I heard the Muslim call to prayer five times each day. I knew that Muslims honor and revere the Quran, just as Christians do the Bible. Unlike the Bible, though, the Quran is central to the daily life of all Egyptians. Readings from the Quran are broadcast on the radio and TV daily. The Bible or any Christian teaching is not treated the same in the public sphere. Although Christians in Egypt are recognized as citizens, they are the minority and do not receive the public attention and benefits of the majority population. At an early age, I realized there was a ceiling for Christian participation and involvement in Egyptian society.
As a child growing up in Cairo, I did not choose to read or memorize Quranic passages—it happened naturally. I was surrounded by the reading of the Quran—on loudspeakers outside the mosques, in taxis (as many drivers thought listening to the Quran brought good omens), and in school. It was required that all pupils, Muslim and non-Muslim, must be knowledgeable about the Quran and Islamic history. I wanted to impress my Muslim teacher who taught me Arabic in my first year of junior high. He was known as a tough teacher, and I had to work diligently to grasp Arabic, particularly in writing essays. To obtain the best grade, I had to demonstrate good knowledge of the Quran. In my essays, I had to quote ample Quranic verses, cite incidents from Muhammad’s life, and mention renowned Muslim figures. I was not particularly offended by the immersion in Islam and its scripture, as this was a natural part of life in Egypt.
When I was ten, I enjoyed watching episodes of the American TV show Little House on the Prairie with Arabic subtitles. I used to wait for the show with anticipation as I sat with my sisters in front of our TV. We were fascinated to see scenes of people participating in church meetings, singing hymns, praying before meals, reading Bible verses, and asking God for rain. We loved to watch, and it was evident to us that things were different in Egypt.
It is from within this background that I grew up understanding the Quran. For the most part, I was introduced to the traditional conservative Muslim views regarding the scripture. There was no such thing as a critical view of the Quran or examining it as a book; in Egypt, the Quran is untouchable. Behind closed doors, however, Christians had more freedom to discuss Islam, Muslims, and the Quran. Frankly, some discussions were not only negative but also childish and unreasonable, such as those about the myth that Muhammad called for fasting during Ramadan because he wanted to marry the beautiful wife of a man named Ramadan—who was satisfied that his name would be remembered and gave his wife to Muhammad. Yet some conversations were informed and reasonable (e.g., Why does the Quran refer to Christians and Jews as infidels? What should Christians do about this epithet when they hear it shouted at them in the streets? Why does Allah preserve the Quran while allowing the Bible to be corrupted by evil people, as Muslims claim?).
After growing up in this context, I never thought I would earn a PhD related to Islam and its texts, but I did in fact receive two PhDs in Islamic studies. Throughout that journey, I learned in academic settings, listening tentatively to both the Muslim views and the non-Muslim arguments. I was surprised to encounter many Muslims who doubted the Quran and many non-Muslims who praised it. I read bizarre claims advanced by both Muslims and non-Muslims. I learned to examine Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran critically. Learning and unlearning various things about the Quran, I came to terms with my experience growing up as a Christian surrounded by Muslims. I adopted a more nuanced view of Islam’s sacred book based on research and truthful documentation. After writing scholarly material on the Quran, I began to consider the multitudes of people who do not attend scholarly meetings or academic debates. I thought of those who are merely curious about the Quran. The book you hold in your hands is the result of my desire to make this knowledge accessible to those who want some introductory information about Islam’s holy book.
I conclude this introduction with a few remarks on the style and structure of the book in order to help the reader. First, the information in this book is presented in the form of questions and answers. This is meant to be helpful to general readers who have little to no familiarity with Islam or the Quran. While the target audience is primarily non-Muslims, I write with Muslims in mind. I respect them in their diversity, religiously and culturally. I understand that all Muslims are not alike in their devotion or understanding of their faith. There are cultural Muslims—who believe in Islam as part of their nationalism without much exploration of sophisticated religious inquiries—and there are religious, educated, fundamentalist, liberal, and progressive Muslims. I appreciate their enthusiasm for their belief system, but in this book I ask critical questions th