Explaining the language and the major themes of the Qur&;an, its unique literary structure, and its alleged "inimitability", Gade highlights how it seamlessly weaves together law, narrative, description and parable. With extensive extracts, illustrations, and detailed insights into its textual history, The Qur&;an: An Introduction helps those coming to the translated text for the first time and it explains the unique issues that Qur&;anic translation raises.

Exploring how a huge variety of topics are dealt with in the Qur&;an, from gender and conflict, to mysticism, and even ecological crisis, both students and general readers will find this an invaluable primer.