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A number of innovative hermeneutical approaches emerged in Muslim exegetical discourse in the second half of the 20th century. Among these developments is a trend of systematic reform theology that emphasises a humanistic approach, whereby revelation is understood to be dependent not only upon its initiator, God, but also upon its recipient, Prophet Muhammad, who takes an active role in the process. Ali Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt). His study shows that the consequences of taking a humanistic approach to understanding revelation are not confined to the realm of speculation about God human relations, but also to interpreting Qur'?nic socio-political precepts. And the four scholars emerge as a distinctive group of Muslim thinkers who open up a new horizon in contemporary Islamic discourse.

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Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelationA number of innovative hermeneutical approaches emerged in Muslim exegetical discourse in the second half of the 20th century. Among these developments is a trend of systematic reform theology that emphasises a humanistic approach, whereby revelation is understood to be dependent not only upon its initiator, God, but also upon its recipient, Prophet Muhammad, who takes an active role in the process.Ali Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt). His study shows that the consequences of taking a humanistic approach to understanding revelation are not confined to the realm of speculation about God-human relations, but also to interpreting Qur'?nic socio-political precepts. And the four scholars emerge as a distinctive group of Muslim thinkers who open up a new horizon in contemporary Islamic discourse.Ali Akbar is a Research Fellow at Deakin University and at the University of Melbourne. He has published in a number of key journals, including the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Arabica, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Middle Eastern Studies and Culture and Religion

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Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelationA number of innovative hermeneutical approaches emerged in Muslim exegetical discourse in the second half of the 20th century. Among these developments is a trend of systematic reform theology that emphasises a humanistic approach, whereby revelation is understood to be dependent not only upon its initiator, God, but also upon its recipient, Prophet Muhammad, who takes an active role in the process.Ali Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt). His study shows that the consequences of taking a humanistic approach to understanding revelation are not confined to the realm of speculation about God-human relations, but also to interpreting Qur'anic socio-political precepts. And the four scholars emerge as a distinctive group of Muslim thinkers who open up a new horizon in contemporary Islamic discourse.Ali Akbar is a Research Fellow at Deakin University and at the University of Melbourne. He has published in a number of key journals, including the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, Arabica, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Middle Eastern Studies and Culture and Religion

Author Biography

Ali Akbar, Research Fellow, Deakin University and at the University of Melbourne.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Some background studies The study The content 2. Traditional Understanding of Revelation Revelation in the Quran Two terms for revelation in the Quran: wah

Review Quote

In this timely, innovative and detailed study Ali Akbar masterfully examines four major proponents of a "humanist" theory of revelation in Islam and how this theory informs their respective Qur'anic hermeneutics. Importantly, Akbar also discusses the practical socio-political and legal implications of this 'humanistic' theory of revelation and aptly recognises the crucial role this theory has in enabling meaningful and consequential renewal of religious discourse as a first and necessary step toward the engendering of more democratic, human rights-based and egalitarian Muslim societies and cultures.

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Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelation

Description for Reader

Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelation Focuses on three main themes: (1) Qur'anic socio-legal provisions ( ahk?m ); (2) religious pluralism; and (3) political discourses, especially the concepts of governance, sh?ra (consultation) and democracy On a theoretical level, it aims to identify whether there exist any larger hermeneutical tendencies that characterize the interpretive methods of the four scholars On a practical level, it examines specific themes drawn from each scholar's work to discover how they fit with his larger hermeneutical principles and his account of revelation Examines how various aspects of each scholar's theory correspond to pre-modern and modern Muslim and non-Muslim scholars' accounts of revelation A number of innovative hermeneutical approaches emerged in Muslim exegetical discourse in the second half of the 20th century. Among these developments is a trend of systematic reform theology that emphasises a humanistic approach, whereby revelation is understood to be dependent not only upon its initiator, God, but also upon its recipient, Prophet Muhammad, who takes an active role in the process. Ali Akbar examines the works of four noted scholars of Islam: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt). His study shows that the consequences of taking a humanistic approach to understanding revelation are not confined to the realm of speculation about God-human relations, but also to interpreting Qur'anic socio-political precepts. And the four scholars emerge as a distinctive group of Muslim thinkers who open up a new horizon in contemporary Islamic discourse.

Feature

Focuses on three main themes: (1) Qur'anic socio-legal provisions ( ahkam ); (2) religious pluralism; and (3) political discourses, especially the concepts of governance, shura (consultation) and democracy On a theoretical level, it aims to identify whether there exist any larger hermeneutical tendencies that characterize the interpretive methods of the four scholars On a practical level, it examines specific themes drawn from each scholar's work to discover how they fit with his larger hermeneutical principles and his account of revelation Examines how various aspects of each scholar's theory correspond to pre-modern and modern Muslim and non-Muslim scholars' accounts of revelation

Description for Sales People

Expounds the ideas of four modern Islamic scholars who challenge the traditional theory of revelation: Fazlur Rahman (Pakistan), Abdolkarim Soroush (Iran), Muhammad Mujtahed Shabestari (Iran) and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Egypt) Focuses on three main themes: (1) Qur'?nic socio-legal provisions ( ahk?m ); (2) religious pluralism; and (3) political discourses, especially the concepts of governance, sh?ra (consultation) and democracy

Description for Teachers/Educators

Islamic Theology; Islamic Philosophy; The Qur'an; Islam and Human Rights.

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