Communities of the Quran: Dialogue, Debate and Diversity in the 21st Century

What is the nature of the Quran? It might seem a straightforward question, but there is no consensus among modern communities of the Quran, both Muslim and non-Muslim, about the answer. And why should there be?

On numerous occasions throughout history, believers from different schools and denominations, and at different times and places, have agreed to disagree. The Quranic interpreters, jurists and theologians of medieval Baghdad, Cairo and Cordoba coexisted peacefully in spite of their diverging beliefs. Seeking to revive this ethics of disagreement of Classical Islam, this volume explores the different relationships societies around the world have with the Quran and how our understanding of the text can be shaped by studying the interpretations of others. From LGBT groups to urban African American communities, this book aims to represent the true diversity of communities of the Quran in the twenty-first century, and the dialogue and debate that can flow among them.