Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book intends to be both a reflection of and a reflection on the discipline of Qurʾānic studies. Qurʾānic orality is multidimensional. Griffith's article in this book exemplifies the new reading of the Qurʾān in the light of the 'interpreted Bible'. Drawing on Sheldon Pollock's now classical assessment of the current situation of philology and his compelling initiative to rethink the discipline, three principal questions arise. The 'historical-critical approach' stands for a complex canon of methodological steps. Peter Brown, whose seminal work brought Late Antiquity to the attention of scholars across the borders of disciplines, has proposed the period of 200-750 CE, again orienting himself with respect to political developments. Moreover, to understand the epistemic and theological dimension of the Qurʾān as the 'Great Code' of Islamic culture, studying the commentaries and traditions produced by it is essential.