Interpreting the Qur'an Towards a Contemporary Approach

Saeed explores the current debates surrounding the interpretation of the Qur'an, and their impact on contemporary understanding of this sacred text. As he attempts to determine the text's relevance to modern issues without compromising the overall framework of the Qur'an, and its core beliefs and practices, he proposes a fresh approach, which takes into account the historical and contemporary contexts of interpretation.
The book's modernist approach is likely to inspire healthy debate and appeal to a generation of students and scholars seeking a contemporary approach to the interpretation of the Qur'anic text.

How is the Qur'an - central to all Muslim societies - to be understood today in order to meet the needs of these societies? Abdullah Saeed, a distinguished Muslim scholar, explores the interpretation of the ethico-legal content of the Qur'an, whilst taking into consideration the changing nature of the modern world. Saeed explores the current debates surrounding the interpretation of the Qur'an, and their impact on contemporary understanding of this sacred text.Discussingthe text's relevance to modern issues without compromising the overall framework of the Qur'an and its core beliefs and practices, he proposes a fresh approach, which takes into account the historical and contemporary contexts of interpretation. Inspiringhealthy debate, this book is essential reading for students and scholars seeking a contemporary approach to the interpretation of the Qur'anic text.

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The context of the debate on interpretation; Chapter 3 Revelation and interpretation; Chapter 4 Interpretation based on tradition and textualism; Chapter 5 Interpretation based on reason; Chapter 6 Flexibility in reading the text; Chapter 7 Abrogation and reinterpretation; Chapter 8 The meaning of the text as an approximation; Chapter 9 Recognition of the complexity of meaning; Chapter 10 Socio-historical context and interpretation; Chapter 11 Ethico-legal texts and a hierarchy of values; Chapter 12 Epilogue;

Abdullah Saeed is the Sultan of Oman Professor of Arab and Islamic Studies and the Director of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Islam at the University of Melbourne, Australia. He has written widely on Islam and is the author and editor of a number of books, including Approaches to Qur??n in Contemporary Indonesia (2005), Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam (co-author, 2004), Islam and Political Legitimacy (2003), Islam in Australia (2003) and Islamic Banking and Interest (1996).