Al-Ghazali and the Qur'an (Culture and Civilization in the Middle East) - Softcover

Whittingham, Martin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415759196 ISBN 13: 9780415759199

Publisher: Routledge, 2014

Synopsis

This book is the first of its kind to focus entirely on the Qur’anic interpretation of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111), a towering figure of Sunni Islam. Martin Whittingham explores both al-Ghazali’s hermeneutical methods and his interpretations of particular Quranic texts, and covers al-Ghazali’s mystical, legal and theological concerns.

Divided into two parts:

• part one examines al-Ghazali’s legal and Sufi theoretical discussions
• part two asks how these theories relate to his practice, analysing the only three of al-Ghazali’s works which are centrally concerned with interpreting particular Qur’anic passages: Jawahir al-Qur’an (The Jewels of the Qur’an); Al-Qist as al-mustaqim (The Correct Balance); and Mishkat al-anwar (The Niche for Lights).

Providing a new point of access to the works of al-Ghazali, this book will be welcomed by scholars and students of Islamic studies, religious studies, hermeneutics, and anyone interested in how Muslims understand the Qur’an.

About this title

Review

'This is undoubtedly a well-researched book which marks a milestone in the thriving study of al-Ghazali and, more importantly, in the study of classical Muslim hermeneutics.' - SHURUQ NAGUIB, University of Lancaster, UK - Journal of Semitic Studies, vol 54, no 2, August 2009

"By surveying the great variety of approaches found in these works, Whittingham demonstrates that al-Ghazali had neither a consistent hermeneutical theory nor a consistent hermeneutical practice. The great virtue of this book is that examining al-Ghazali's thought through the lens of his Qur'anic hermeneutics demonstrates the inconsistencies in his writings over a uniquely broad array of issues in an accessible way." - Ken Garden, Tufts University; Journal of the American Oriental Society, 130.1 (2010)

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0415759196
• ISBN 13: 9780415759199
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176