The Muslim accusation of the corruption or deliberate falsification of pre-Qur'anic scriptures has been a major component of interfaith polemic for a millenium or more. The accusation has frequently sought attestation from a series of "tampering" verses in the Qur'an. Investigation of the interpretation of these verses in the earliest commentaries on the Qur'an, however, reveals a discrepancy between the confident polemical accusation and the tentative understandings of the first Muslims. Of greater interest to early commentators was a story of deception and obstinacy by the "People of the Book" in response to the truth claims of Islam. Focusing on the eighth-century commentary of Muqatil ibn Sulayman and the great exegetical compendium of al-Tabari (d. 923), this book sketches the outlines of the earliest Muslim approach to pre-Qur'anic scriptures. The resulting discoveries provide a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain of doctrinaire claim and polemical debate.
- ISBN10 9004192387
- ISBN13 9789004192386
- Publish Date 17 December 2010
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country NL
- Imprint Brill
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 260
- Language English
- URL brill.com/product_id43955