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An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur’an

Authors Dr. Andrew G. Bannister

Synopsis

This book provides a groundbreaking study of the Qur’an, arguing that the majority of the text was composed orally rather than in writing. Using innovative computerized linguistic analysis, Bannister demonstrates that the Qur’an exhibits many of the characteristics of oral composition.

Key Points

• The Qur’an uses extensive older religious material, stories, and traditions.
• The book argues that the debate about how this material found its way into the Qur’an has largely ignored the oral nature of the text.
• The study combines historical, linguistic, and statistical analysis to support its conclusions.
• Bannister's work challenges traditionalist and critical approaches to Qur’anic studies.

Reviews

• "A thought-provoking work which presents a serious challenge to the field of Qur’anic Studies." (Gabriel Said Reynolds)
• "This book will be beneficial to both Islamic scholars and students of orality." (Journal of Folklore Research)
• "This is a breakthrough book opening new ground amidst traditionalist and critical approaches to Qur’anic studies." (Keith E. Small)

Availability

• Available from Amazon and Rowman & Littlefield.

Target Audience

• Scholars of the Qur’an
• Students of orality
• Readers interested in Islamic studies

Themes

• Oral composition
• Intertextuality
• Qur’anic structure
• Computerized analysis