The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'ān

An introduction to the Qur'an (Koran), a text that has guided the lives of millions.

The Qur'an (Koran) is the primary religious text for more than a billion people. Understood by Muslims to contain God's own words, it has been an object of reverence and intense study for centuries. This unique guide will help students clarify the complexities of text and commentary of the Qur'an.As the living scriptural heritage of more than a billion people, the Qur'an (Koran) speaks with a powerful voice. Just as other scriptural religions, Islam has produced a long tradition of interpretation for its holy book. Nevertheless, efforts to introduce the Qur'an and its intellectual heritage to English-speaking audiences have been hampered by the lack of available resources. The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an seeks to remedy that situation. In a discerning summation of the field, Jane McAuliffe brings together an international team of scholars to explain its complexities. Comprising fourteen chapters, each devoted to a topic of central importance, the book is rich in historical, linguistic and literary detail, while also reflecting the influence of other disciplines. For both the university student and the general reader, The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an provides a fascinating entrée to a text that has shaped the lives of millions for centuries.