How to Read the Qur'an: A New Guide, with Select Translations

by Carl W. Ernst

How to Read the Qur'an, a compact introduction and reader's guide to the Qur'an, featuring illuminating new translations of 725 Qur'anic verses, is the most up-to-date toolbox for anyone who wants to know how to approach, read, and understand the text of the Qur'an. Noting that many people are baffled by existing English translations, Ernst aims for the book to be useful for both non-Muslim and Muslim readers who are interested in a historical, literary, and religious studies approach to understanding the Qur'an. The book is designed for general readers and will also be eminently suitable for introductory college courses, advanced secondary courses, As Ernst says, a text like the Qur'an--which has such immense importance for Muslims, and which, given the geopolitical tensions in today's world, poses extraordinary problems for non-Muslims--cannot be treated as a clearly defined subject that can be explained simplistically. Its history, composition, structure, style, vocabulary, a

Genres: Islam, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published December 5, 2011

About the author

Carl W. Ernst is the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Islamic studies at the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is also the director of the Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations.

Ernst received his A.B. in comparative religion at Stanford University in 1973, and his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1981.

Ernst's recent book, Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World (UNC Press, 2003), has received several international awards, including the 2004 Bashrahil Prize for Outstanding Cultural Achievement.

Reviews

[Tamara Agha-Jaffar · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Read the Qur'an: A New Guide, With Select Translations by Carl W. Ernst is a nontheological literary and textual analysis of a select number of suras in the Qur’an. Professor Ernst, a professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, argues that the Qur’an, like many other influential books, is part of a global heritage. As such, approaching it on its own terms and within its own context becomes a relevant exercise regardless of one’s religious persuasion. His nontheological reading is not intended to challenge the divine status of the Qur’an as accepted by Muslims. Rather, Professor Ernst insists theological considerations are outside the scope of his work.

The work consists of a textual and structural analysis of select suras in terms of the symmetry and balance of verses within a sura, the tripartite structure of various suras, and the presence of ring composition as a symmetrical literary form whose presence is ubiquitous in previous early literature. Professor Ernst claims that a chronological reading of the Qur’an, beginning with the early Meccan, later Meccan, and Medinan suras provides a clearer understanding of the Qur’an since it approximates the sequence of its presentation to its initial audience.

As a result, it becomes possible to grasp the development of the Qur’an over time, the literary structure and organization of the sura as a literary unit, and the intertextual approach of the Qur’an in its engagement with biblical and other early sources, with cautious use of external historical sources to provide a context for the explanation of particular sections of the Qur’an.

This literary historical approach to the Qur’an is engaging, informative, and provides valuable insight into increasing our understanding a text revered by more than one billion people.

Highly recommended for readers with an interest in monotheistic traditions.

My book reviews are also available at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com

[Lisa]

This was a hard book. It’s done with the idea of using the same literary and historical criticisms of most books and applying them respectfully to the Qur’an. But literary Crit is challenging and so is the Qur’an. I think I understand much more now and I appreciate Ernst consistency saying “this might be how some Muslim believers interpret it but this is also another way of doing it and it isn’t meant in a disrespectful way.” He wants people who’ve been acting like they can say what Muslims believe via yanking a text out to see that it’s more complex than this and also to value the Qur’an as a major piece of world literature. He takes big chunks of complex passages and applies literary interpretation to them. I wouldn’t recommend it for non-academics just out for an intro to the Qur’an, but he has written it for college classes that are seeking to introduce people to the Muslim sacred text and that’s probably the right audience.

[Ltopo McFly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and engaging read. Very scholarly but fluid and focused. The writer was respectful without being timid or careful in analyzing the Qur'an objectively as literary work. I have a much deeper understanding of Islam thanks to his intellectual curiosity in comparing it favorably to the Bible and other classic literature. Some may be off-put that the Qur'an is framed more as a historical narrative but its handled well and this context is sorely lacking in more mainstream evaluation of the Qur'an. I think the writer misses some of what the Qur'an is saying but he shines new light on how its said and why its just as important for understanding subtextual meaning that even Muslim scholarship is afraid to touch.

[Emma Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book did not quite cover everything that I wanted to know about Islam, but it provided a good starting point for further knowledge to be built upon. I really appreciated its coverage of today’s most controversial issues between Islam and the Western world. The author does a great job at explaining the many different sides and opinions taken within the religion itself.

[Yaseen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Presents interesting ideas. His method is not new, as there are structural commentaries of the Qur'an within the Islamic tradition predating him. It is a rather drawn out book though and a bit tedious to read after the point is received.

[Fatima Alemam · Rating 4 out of 5]

so interesting and very eye-opening

[Aerated-Kafka]

The ring structure thing was fascinating. I need to re-read.

[Kristian Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recent events revolving around the Qur’an, such as the accidental burning of it in Afghanistan or the intentional provocations of radical American Christian pastors, suggest that Westerns often still fail to understand the role of the Qur’an in Muslims lives. On occasion, the mere suggestion of having Westerners read the Qur’an in order to gain a better understanding of its message has incited anger and lawsuits, as was the case at the University of North Carolina in 2002.

The inability to bridge these cultural differences and the many inherent challenges the Qur’an possesses inspired Carl W. Ernst, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of North Carolina, to write his new book How to Read the Qur’an: A New Guide, with Select Translations (University of North Carolina Press, 2011). He wondered how should the non-Muslim read the Qur’an? This comprehensive introduction presents a literary historical approach that enables the reader to understand how the Qur’an’s initial audience encountered it through a chronological reading, traditionally understood through the early Meccan, later Meccan, and Medinan periods of Muhammad’s career. It introduces a reading that understands the structure and form of the text as informing the meaning. Thus, Ernst examines the symmetry and balanced composition of verses, the tripartite structure of certain chapters, intertexuality within the Qur’an, and uses rhetorical analysis and ring composition as a means to approach and understand seemingly contradictory religious claims. Ernst’s text is engaging and informative while achieving its goal of making the Qur’an accessible to the non-Muslim. His new book will certainly motivate a future group of Qur’anic studies scholars and will allow the uninitiated reader to better understand what the previously veiled text says about the cosmos and Muslims position in it.
http://newbooksinislamicstudies.com/2...

[Payam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book serves partially as an introductory book to the Qur'an and also an advanced book on the Qur'an, and this is its downfall. It mentions basic facts such as the Qur'an is not in sequence and how reading it in sequence can provide great depth and understanding into the minds of the first Muslims and context of the revelations. Then it advances in deep into the literary structure of the Qur'an and demonstrates the use of "ring structures" and how it can be used instead of the technique of "abrogation" to understand the Qur'an. Such an idea is far more advanced; even when understood, it is not useful to the reader.

Having said that, this book still deserves four stars. It provides a fresh perspective on the Qur'an and makes you think of the book differently. You'll approach the book differently and will be aware of its hidden complexities. If you are a Muslim, at least skim the book to get an gist of the ideas. If you are not a Muslim, read the book to understand a bit of context before reading it; otherwise, you may err and read it like a novel and be highly disappointed.

[Christian Dibblee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an invaluable resource while reading the Koran. Ernst had some really great things to say that truly drove my discussion and thought about the Koran as a whole.

I did think he could have delved a little deeper into the various reference to religious pluralism and how that jives or does not jive with other more violent verses, but that is more of a quibble than anything else. I especially appreciated his work on ring structure, which was absolutely fascinating.

[C. Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was grateful to have read the Introduction and Chapter One at the beginning of the Qur'an class that I took, but the later chapters ended up kind of over my head. A greater familiarity with the structure of the Qur'an and with the surahs within Ernst's subcategories would have helped. I think I would have gotten more out of these later sections if I'd read them after doing more work reading the Qur'an and other thematic interpretations/exegesis.

[Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide for non-Muslims on how to approach the Qur'an responsibly without having to adopt theological commitments of a believer. This book is scholarly in methodology, respectful in tone, insightful in its analysis, and thorough in defending its various claims, resources, and techniques. Best how-to-read style book I have ever read!

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stopped in the middle, having gotten what I wanted out of it. It is worth working at in order to get past the rhetoric of the professional haters.

[Jarl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful! Yay! But he ducks the big issues (Suras 4, 8 & 9)! Boo!