Description
Book SynopsisThis book argues that the tension between Arabic poetry and the Qur'an dating back to the seventh century, when the Qur'an was first recited, is a primary generator of meaning in the Arabic Literary Tradition. Four case studies illustrate how this tension is a creative force. What, for example is the relationship between the Qur'an, poetry and other genres of Arabic Literature? How are the figures of the prophet and the poet linked in the life and work of 10th-century al-Mutanabbi? How do the Qur'an and Arabic poetry depend on each other for their interpretation? How do reading practices associated with the Qur'an and Arabic Poetry inform attempts to understand the inscriptions of the Alhambra?
Trade ReviewSerrano's study counts as one of the five most important contemporary works on the Qur'an, precisely because it's not on the Qur'an per se. It is about the process of constructing meaning -- the interstices between the Qur'an and the verbal corpora traditionally invoked to interpret it: He examines how the voice of the Qur'an paradoxically, but consistently, distances itself from poetry (shi'r), though Muslim reception decidedly countervails this. Rather, Muslim thought positions the two in dialogue as complements -- warp and weft -- one indispensable for understanding the other. Serrano guides us through the wadis between Qur'an and poetry, and traverses related verbal arts, likewise performed face to face, such as Hadith (Prophetic Sayings), Akhbar (lore), and history. The result is perhaps controversial, but the topography features intellectual switchbacks, up peaks and down valleys, that will surprise students and experts alike. -- Samer Ali, University of Michigan
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Al-Akhtal and the Exactions of Genre Chapter 2: Al-Mutanabbi and the Poetics of Prophets Chapter 3: The Umayyad Brocade of Qur'ano-Poetic Discourse Chapter 4: The Alhambra and the Qur'an of Poetry Conclusion
