During the ninth month of the Muslim (Hijri) calendar, Muslims around the world often observe a daily fast: refraining from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. In addition to these physical actions, many Muslims take this time to introspect on their faith and form a deeper connection to their practices.
While such rituals are integral to the practice of faith and are meant to lead to piety, they are not the sum total of it; forms of rituals are intended to lead to their purpose or inner meaning (产补峁璱苍), if you will.
Dr Shiraz Kabani shares his experience of Ramadan in Turkiye in his book Ismaili Festivals: Stories of Celebration.
Muslims believe that the Qur鈥檃n was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. It鈥檚 for this reason that many Muslims take this month to re-immerse themselves in the text of the Qur鈥檃n, believed by many to be the unadulterated word of God. Over time, this has developed into a rich diversity of interpretive traditions (tafsir). Our Qur示anic Studies Series aims to make Qur示anic commentaries available to a wider readership through English translation.听
Women, Households and the Hereafter in the Qur鈥檃n offers a fresh perspective of the Qur示an鈥檚 impact on social and religious practices in seventh century Arabia. The authors highlight the Qur示an鈥檚 egalitarian approach to moral agency in existing hierarchical structures. Watch discussion with authors Dr Karen Bauer and Professor Feras Hamza.
An Anthology of Qur示anic Commentaries, Vol. 2 comprises analyses of the female subject in the Qur鈥檃n, annotated translations of Qur示anic commentaries, interviews with contemporary Muslim scholars, and more, which render these complex materials accessible to the reader. Watch interview with amina wadud.
The Sanaa Palimpsest provides an in-depth analysis of one of the oldest Qur示anic manuscripts yet discovered. The palimpsest contains two superimposed layers of Qur示anic text dating a hundred years apart, providing new insights into the transmission of the Qur示an over time. Watch video introduction to the Sanaa Palimsest.