Emran El-Badawi

Paula Sanders

What is the nature of the Qur’an? It might seem a straightforward question, but there is no consensus among modern communities of the Qur’an, both Muslim and non-Muslim, about the answer. And why should there be? On numerous occasions throughout history, believers from different schools and denominations, and at different times and places, have agreed to disagree. The Qur’anic interpreters, jurists and theologians of medieval Baghdad, Cairo and Cordoba coexisted peacefully in spite of their diverging beliefs. Seeking to revive this ‘ethics of disagreement’ of Classical Islam, this volume explores the different relationships societies around the world have with the Qur’an and how our understanding of the text can be shaped by studying the interpretations of others. From LGBT groups to urban African American communities, this book aims to represent the true diversity of communities of the Qur’an in the twenty-first century, and the dialogue and debate that can flow among them.

Dialogue, Debate and Diversity in the 21st Century

Communities of the Qur'an

Shelomo Dov Goitein

Gustave E. von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies

"One of the best comprehensive histories of a culture in this century."--Amos Funkenstein, Stanford University

Paula Sanders

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