Encyclopaedia of the Qur’an

Abstract

The Encyclopaedia of the Qur’an (hereinafter EQ) is a multi-volume collectionof reference texts on the holy book of Islam that appeared in westernlanguages from 2001 until 2006. The Qur’an (lit. “the Recitation”), whichMuslims believe to be the word of God delivered to Muhammad by theangel Gabriel, is systematically analyzed by the diverse contributing writersaccording to its different layers.The different Qur’anic strata embrace numerous themes, among themtheology, Islamic jurisprudence, Biblical narratives, primary figures inIslamic history (e.g., the Prophet’s Companions and adversaries), historicalevents, rituals and customs, polemics, and the Qur’an’s literary structure andliterary language, which combines poetry with rhymed prose. Each level iscarefully examined and explored by leading scholars of Islamic studies.Therefore, this work is highly significant for those who wish to learn aboutthe Qur’an’s different aspects from a reliable objective source.Jane Dammen McAuliffe, the general editor, has focused on two parallelspheres: Muslim traditional scholarship and non-Muslim inquisitiveresearch. This approach enables the potential audience to gain Qur’anicknowledge from the scholarship of pious Muslims, although the scientificcharacter of this academic work prevails. The articles vary widely in lengthand discuss diverse themes. Both Muslim and non-Muslim approaches, aswell as traditional Islamic and modern investigative attitudes to the holytext, are introduced. Extensive reference is made to the classical and contemporaryIslamic exegetical traditions. Written in English to make the EQ ...