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The author examines contemporary exegesis/hermeneutics by three 20 th century Muslim intellectuals. Their ideas on a reformed Islam consider "sharia", education, ethos, democracy, society, pluralism, state. Scriptural interpretations address meaning, equality, humanism, determinism, violence, responsibility, justice.

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The author examines three 20 th /21 st century Muslims´ accounts of reading the Quran. To master contemporary social challenges, Fazlur Rahman (d. 1988), Muhammad Arkoun (d. 2010), and Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (d. 2010) call for revisiting the Islamic heritage, plus a fresh look onto the Quranic ´spirit´. The investigation leads through following concepts: the nature of the Quran, revelation and prophecy, the role of Muhammad and Prophethood. Discoursing the philosophers´ reform ideas leads to an analysis of their exegetical methods. Do the proposed Quran hermeneutics support their reform projects? This book uncovers pros and cons of these socio-intellectual innovations. It finally concludes: the thinkers´ scholarly and philosophical attitude exposes itself as a humanistic endeavour.

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Contemporary rereading of the Quran - Religious thought - Rahman - Arkoun - Abu Zayd - Nature of the Quran - Prophecy and revelation - Reform - Education - Exegesis - Metaphysics - Islamic state - Sharia - Secular democracy - Double movement - Determinism - (Gender) Equality - Violence/jihad-ijtihad - Meaning and significance - Humanism

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Katharina Völker studied the history and philosophy of religion at Johann Wolfgang von Goethe University in Frankfurt, as well as Sufism and philosophy of mind at the University of Leeds. She received her PhD from the University of Otago, where she lectured on Women and Islam.

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