The Qur’an With Cross-references

by Mun'im Sirry

The Qur'an with Cross-References provides for nearly every verse in the Qur'an a selection of other verses which shed light upon, clarify, or explain the verse you are reading. The Qur'an in its printed edition has not yet been cross-referenced, despite the fact that Qur'an commentators realized quite early on the central importance of tafsīr al-Qur'ān bi'l-Qur'ān (interpreting the Qur'an through the Qur'an itself). Even some modern Muslim exegetes claim to follow this method. However, the cross-references they provided are very limited.Perhaps, the most extensive treatment and pioneered work on tafsīr al-Qur'ān bi'l-Qur'ān is that composed by Rudi Paret entitled Der Kommentar und Konkordanz. Paret's work is certainly very rich, which includes - in addition to possible cross-references - interpretations of and alternate renderings for a given verse or passage. Furthermore, as the term Konkordanz may indicate, his Der Koran provides all identical or similar phraseology and usage in different places of the Qur'an, a model that will not be followed in this Qur'an cross-references project.Instead, The Qur'an with Cross-References is based on connection between words, phrases, themes, concepts, events, and characters. One word may occur several times in the Qur'an, but the cross references will be made only where there is connection in meaning between two or more verses or passages. In preparing this cross-references project, several models and methods used for the cross-references of the Bible are consulted. As is well-known, Bible cross-references have been a long-established tradition, while the Qur'an, at least in its printed edition, has not been cross-referenced.The Qur'an with Cross-References is the first of its kind. The field has needed something like this, because in the existing Qur'an there is nothing to indicate that certain passages can shed light upon, clarify, or explain other passages.

692 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2024

About the author

Assistant Professor of Theology; Researcher, Contending Modernities

Mun’im Sirry earned a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School (2012). His academic interests include political theology, modern Islamic thought, Qur’anic studies, interreligious relations, and Southeast Asian religions and cultures.

Sirry's most recent book, Scriptural Polemics: The Qur’an and Other Religions (Oxford University Press, 2014) examines difficult passages in the Qur’an that have usually been viewed as obstacles to peaceful co-existence among different religious communities.

Currently, along with the Contending Modernities team, Sirry is developing a Contending Modernities working group on Indonesia focusing on authority, community and identity. The working group will explore and analyze the complex relationships between the various contending authorities, communities and identities that have shaped and been shaped by religious life at both the societal and state levels. The Indonesian working group will be comprised of leading scholars in various fields exploring the conditions for the possibility of pluralist co-existence among diverse ethnic and religious communities in Indonesia through a wide range of engagement with religious and secular forces.

Sirry’s publications have appeared in peer-reviewed journals including Arabica, al-Bayan, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Interpretation, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, Journal of Semitic Studies, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies, The Muslim World, Studia Islamica, and Die Welt des Islams.