Understanding the Qurʾanic Miracle Stories in the Modern Age (Signifying

Signifying (on) Scriptures

by Isra Yazicioglu

Understanding the Qur ʾ anic Miracle Stories in the Modern Age explores the ways in which meaningful implications have been drawn from stories of miracles in the Qurʾan. Isra Yazicioglu describes the fascinating medieval Muslim debate over miracles and connects its insights with early and late modern turning points in Western thought and with contemporary Qurʾanic interpretation. Building on an apparent tension within the Qurʾan and analyzing crucial cases of classical and modern Muslim engagement with these miracle stories, she illustrates how an apparent site of conflict between faith and reason, or revelation and science, can lead to fruitful exchange. A distinctive contribution to a new trend in Qurʾanic studies, this volume reveals the presence of insightful Qurʾanic interpretation outside of the traditional line-by-line commentary genre, engaging with the works of Ghazali, Ibn Rushd, and Said Nursi. Scholars of Islam, philosophy, and the intersection of science and religion will especially want to engage with Yazicioglu’s study.

232 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2013

Reviews

[طارق · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging book. It explores the deeper significance of Quranic miracles within the thought of al-Ghazali, Ibn Rushd and Nursi, compared with Hume's and Peirce's philosophical outlooks on miracles.

The main general implication of the book, which I find very significant and timely, is the notion of pragmatic hermeneutics (التفسير العملي للقرآن). That is, as Dr. Isra notes, engaging with the Quran "with an attention to the implications of the texts," and through asking the Quranic texts, "What do you want me to do? Are you making generalizable and applicable suggestions? (172).

Cambridge, 17.8.2017.

[Vika Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rather philosophical approach to understanding the concept of miracles, which often comes up in other contexts. (For me right now, it's all about "miracles of the Qur'an" in videos.)

The author starts with medieval Muslim thinkers, pointedly using al-Ghazali. She then works through some European philosophers, largely to connect the Islamic context with the European philosophical context. She then finishes with Said Nursi's ideas.

For me the most interesting was the first part with the medieval Muslim scholars, but I am just a medievalist at heart.