Approaches to the History of the Interpretation of the Qur’ān

In recent years, the Qur an has come to the forefront of scholarly investigations in Islamic studies, in both its role as scripture and as literature within the Muslim community. However, the traditional interpretation of the book, commonly termed tafsir, remains a vast, virtually untapped field of investigation. First published in 1988, this collection of essays marks a significant turning point in the scholarly study of tafsir, bringing the discipline a new prominence and stimulating a new generation of scholars to devote their energy to its study. Although the state of research has improved, many Muslims tend to ignore the material, seeing it as a storehouse of traditional restraints, and scholars frequently gloss over its importance as a historical record of the Muslim community, not appreciating the depth and breadth of the literature. Building on the work of Ignas Goldziher s Die Richtungen der islamischen Koranauslegung and the investigations of Sezgin, Abbott, and Wansbrough, the essays gathered here expose and explore various aspects of the field of tafsir, and their potential for scholarly research. The essays are divided into four main sections: formation and development; genres; sectarian dimensions; and modern trends.