Introduction to the Qur'an

The New Edinburgh Islamic Surveys

by William Montgomery Watt

Surveying the life, aims, character and inspiration of Muhammad, this classic introduction explains the history, form and chronology of the Qur'an, and gives the views of Muslim and Occidental scholars.

Genres: Islam, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

William Montgomery Watt was a Scottish historian, an Emeritus Professor in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Watt was one of the foremost non-Muslim interpreters of Islam in the West, was an enormously influential scholar in the field of Islamic studies and a much-revered name for many Muslims all over the world." Watt's comprehensive biography of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, Muhammad at Mecca (1953) and Muhammad at Medina (1956), are considered to be classics in the field .

Watt held visiting professorships at the University of Toronto, the Collège de France, and Georgetown University, and received the American Giorgio Levi Della Vida Medal and won, as its first recipient, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies award for outstanding scholarship.

Reviews

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

اگر به مطالعات قرآنی علاقه دارید، می‌خواید بدونید قرآن چطور جمع، تدوین و بازبینی شد و کلمات و عباراتی که الان معناشون رو مفروض می‌گیریم در اصل چه معنایی داشتن و چه فرایندی رو طی کردن تا به معنای امروزی دراومدن، حتماً این کتاب رو بخونید.
کتاب معرفی قرآن به معنای مصطلح نیست، بلکه یه اثر محققانه در تحلیل قرآنه، که با دقت آیات قرآن رو که به ظاهر دنبال هم قرار دارن، از نظر زمانی از هم جدا می‌کنه و نشون میده کدوم در چه زمانی نازل شده و در نتیجه در اصل چه معنایی داشته، معنایی که در ترتیب فعلی چه بسا از دست رفته یا تحت الشعاع قرار گرفته.
نتیجه‌گیری‌های کتاب همیشه درست نیستن، ولی روشی که در پیش می‌گیره بی‌اندازه آموزنده است.

خوشحالم که متن انگلیسی کتاب رو خوندم، چون باعث می‌شه بعداً به بهانهٔ خوندن ترجمهٔ فارسی دوباره برگردم و بخونمش.

[Eb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just another hagiographic book. It’s textual criticism much like what was done with the Bible. Here’s a wonderful example of Quranic textual criticism which is simply not to be found in the Islamic world today:
Surah (Chapter) 19,
Verses 1-33: All end in –ayya rhyme scheme. Are about Zacariah, John and Mary’s life.
Verses 34-40: Various endings. No rhyme scheme. Veer into admonishment of Christians for equating Jesus with God.
Verses 41 onwards: Back to –ayya rhyme scheme. Continue onwards with Abraham and Moses’ lives

This Surah flows better and makes more sense by removing verses 34-40. The differing content and rhyme scheme indicate that these verses were an addition to the original writing. Muhammad’s life would seem to corroborate this since after initially attempting to show that Christians and Muslims have a lot in common and should be friends, he began to admonish the latter after they rejected his prophethood. This Quranic addition likely came afterwards.

*My intention isn’t to prove that the Quran is a “fraud.” After all, the concept of Quranic abrogation is well attested to. Nevertheless, this is absolutely fascinating to me and the fact remains that muslims are woefully ignorant about these things.

[aldo zirsov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seri Indonesia Netherland Islamic Studies no. 33

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but dry.