Interpreting the Qur'an A Guide for the Uninitiated

Post 9/11, sales of translations of the Qur'an have greatly increased. Students and general readers alike are increasingly interested in the sacred writings of Islam. But the Qur'an can often make difficult reading. It lacks continuous narrative, and different types of material dealing with different topics are often found in the same chapter. Also, readers often attempt to read the book from start to finish and without any knowledge of the life and experiences of both Muhammad and the community of Islam. Introductions to the Qur'an attempt to make complex passages easier to understand by discussing context, history and different interpretations, and by presenting selective textual examples.

Clinton Benett is history and biography editor for the New World Encyclopedia and teaches Religious Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz, USA. His books include In Search of Muhammad (1998) and Muslims and Modernity (2005).