History of the Qur’an: Approaches and Explorations (P/B)

The Quran, the sacred scripture of Islam, is revered as the spoken word of God by approximately one-fifth of the world’s population. Since its inception, the power of the Quran has derived not only from its message, but also from the inimitable literary style and rhetorical impact that the Arabic scripture has on its audiences. Divine Speech: Exploring the Quran as Literature attempts to make some of the most recent Arabic and European-language scholarship on its literary features accessible to a wider, English-speaking audience. These features include its language and word choice, its use of figures of speech and other rhetorical devices, its manner of narrating parables and stories, and the structure, coherence, and the order of its “chapters”-aspects that typically remain mysterious to readers of English translations of the text. Divine Speech furnishes its readers with a better appreciation of the Quran from a literary perspective, and in the process stimulates interest in, and provides tools and resources for, further study of the scripture.

An authoritative and accessible study guide that covers what the Book means to the believers and sets out the essential prerequisites of body, mind, and heart that serve to light up the inner life with the Qur’anic worldview; the etiquette of reciting, reading, and understanding the Qur’an; how to study the Qur’an collectively; and how to live by its teachings.

In discussing the unique style, theme and content of the Qur’an – this is the first work of its kind in English literature.

There are a numerous verses in the Noble Qur’an by which Allah, the Most High, brings Greater clarity and insight when explaining things to mankind. This is done through the use of deep and meaningful parables that are clear for human intellect to comprehend, ponder over and understand the message of the Qur’an. It is from his infinite Wisdom that Allah destined these divinely revealed parables to become rooted in His Final Revelation, until the Last Day – through which mankind can increase in knowledge, recognise guidance and embrace the truth.

This book explains many parables in the Qur’an, in such depth – exquisitely and beautifully. It is an amazing work that will get the intellect thinking and pondering over the beauty and precisions of the Magnificent Qur’an, guiding mankind to the straight path. Not only is this work an intellectual discourse, but also a spiritual enlightenment for every Muslim.

It is a timely translation of one on the finest, yet concise books written on the topic. Not only is this work an intellectual discourse, it also provides inspiration and instils spiritual enlightenment for every Muslim who seeks to create a stronger bond with the Mighty Book Of Allah.

In discussing the theme of some of these verses, this book exquisitely and beautifully explains many parables found therein, the depth of which will stimulate the intellect to ponder over the beauty of the articulated literary style and precision of the Magnificent Quran, guiding mankind to the straight path.

This study illustrates why the language of the Qur’an is miraculous, unique, and evidence of divine authority. The author compares the language of the Qur’an with the language of pre-Islamic poetry, the Prophet’s words (hadith), and the language of the Arabs both past and present, to demonstrate that although the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic it was at the same time an Arabic which was entirely new. Original and early Muslim audiences viewed this as miraculous and responded to the Qur’an’s words, sounds, rhythms, etc. in a manner consistent with a deeper appreciation of its beauty and majesty which modern ears, trained by familiarity, and despite being surrounded by all manner of dictionaries and studies, are at a loss to capture. The author attempts to remove this veil and present the Qur’an to readers as if hearing it for the first time, to bring to life some of this wonder. In doing so he guides readers to appreciate the beauty of the Qur’an, to become more immersed in it, and to have a clearer understanding of its structure and flow. Devoting special attention to Surah Al Muddaththir, to underpin his analysis, Saeh thus brings the Revelation to life, to demonstrate that each surah has distinct features and characteristics that make it stand out uniquely within the design and sweep of the whole.