Misquoting Muhammad

About this book

In Misquoting Muhammad, Jonathan A.C. Brown explores how Muslim scholars throughout history have interpreted the Quran and the Prophet's ﷺ legacy, and how they handled difficult texts.

He examines how scholars established which hadith were reliable, how they interpreted scripture in light of reason and context, and how they approached contested questions such as the authority of tradition, slavery, women's rights and violence. Brown shows that the tradition contains sophisticated tools for interpretation, and he discusses how those tools can respond to modern challenges.

It is an academic but engaging read for thoughtful adults.

What's inside

• How scholars interpreted scripture over the centuries
• The authority of tradition
• Approaches to difficult texts
• Debates on contemporary issues
• A bridge between tradition and modern questions