This pioneering volume, the first in a series, presents a plurality of voices, methods and concerns in 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic interpretation ranging from the 8th century to the present day. No previous work has drawn on such a comprehensive range of commentaries and covered such a wide spectrum of theological approaches. On the Nature of the Divine analyses the works of twenty selected Sunni, Shi鈥榠, Ibadi, Mu鈥榯azili, and Sufi commentators on six 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic verses, revealing varied approaches to the scripture and its meaning. In their attempts to discern God’s nature, the commentators inevitably introduce their own particular theological concerns into their commentaries. Contextual introductions and annotated translations allow the reader to follow the genesis of key intellectual debates and religio-political attitudes still relevant to the lives of Muslims today. This combination of previously untranslated texts and extensive annotation provides an invaluable and innovative contribution to the field of Islamic studies.
Introduction
Map of Centres of Learning in the Islamic World
The Commentators and their Commentaries
1: Seeking the Face of God (Q. 2:115)
2: God鈥檚 Throne and the Seat of Knowledge (Q. 2:255)
3: Incumbent Mercy (Q. 6:12)
4: Light of the Heavens and the Earth (Q. 24:35)
5: The Measure (Q. 54:49)
6: Oneness (Q. 112:1鈥2)
Prosopographical Appendix
Bibliography
Index of 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic Citations
Index
鈥榯his volume is a stunning achievement, whose breadth and depth successfully demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of the faith from its very earliest, formative years through to the present. As such, the editors, and Oxford University Press and the Ismaili Institute are to be congratulated and thanked for the service this contribution renders both the specialist and layperson alike.鈥
鈥 Andrew J. Newman, Journal of 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic Studies
鈥榌a] superbly presented and valuable effort鈥
鈥 Gibril Fouad Haddad, Journal of Islamic Studies
鈥榓 significant advance in the burgeoning field of Tafsir studies … This anthology is the result of a careful process of deliberation and insightful judgements. The meticulousness of the editors is apparent in every aspect of the book. The selections are extensive, the translations read well and are faithful to the Arabic original.鈥
鈥 Walid A. Saleh, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
鈥榮uperb collection … Over and above the consistently high quality of the individual contributions, a major strength of Suleman’s collection is its breadth of chronological and geographic coverage … With a useful glossary, and generous bibliography, this volume definitely belongs in all university libraries supporting comprehensive art history, comparative religion, and Islamic Studies programs.鈥
鈥 John Renard, Religion and the Arts
鈥楴otwithstanding its modest title of being an 鈥渁nthology鈥, it is massive scholarly feat which covers vast ground… The editors鈥 selection of the commentators is wide-ranging and representative, enabling as it does readers to gain acquaintance with diverse strands of thought and sectarian perspectives. It is quite impressive to encounter a multiplicity of approaches, mindsets, sectarian considerations, and tools and strategies at work in the numerous attempts to arrive at the meaning of the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍Muslims believe that the Holy 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍 contains divine revelations to the Prophet Muhammed received in Mecca and Medina over a period of 23 years in the early 7th century CE. More… The volume is an epitome of solid scholarship鈥
鈥 Abdur Raheem Kidwai, The Muslim World Book Review
鈥楢 remarkable and unique contribution to the field of 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic research and scholarship in English language…I recommend this book to all students and scholars of the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍.鈥
鈥 Muhammad Khan, The Muslim News
鈥榓 sumptuous book that is copiously annotated and immensely rewarding for the reader…This anthology is as rich, if not richer, than any single tafsir work in the original Arabic, and provides an unparalleled journey through the entire gamut of 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic commentaries. I eagerly await the next volume.鈥
鈥 Scott C. Lucas, Journal of Shi’a Islamic Studies
Feras Hamza is Assistant Professor and Co-ordinator of Middle Eastern Studies at the American University in Dubai. He was a Research Fellow at The Institute of Ismaili Studies from 2003 to 2008 and has translated the Tafsir al-Jalalayn (2008). He is general editor for future volumes of the Anthology of 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic Commentaries.
Sajjad Rizvi is Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies. and Director of the Centre of Islamic Philosophy at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. The author of Mulla Sadra and Metaphysics (2009), he is compiling a monograph on M墨r D膩m膩d and a reader on later Islamic philosophy.
Farhana Mayer is an editor in the 蚕耻谤鈥檃苍ic Studies Unit at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, London. She has translated the early 罢补蹿蝉墨谤 ascribed to Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq (Spiritual Gems of Ja士far al-峁⒛乨iq, forthcoming 2010).