Qur'ānic Exegesis of Muhammad Asad

Abstract

This article critically investigates the Qur’ānic exegesis and the methodology of Leopold Weiss aka Muhammad Asad (d. 1992), a prominent Muslim scholar of the last century. The exegesis addressing the Western intellectual audience is considered by many to be among the best in the English Language. The work inculcates traditional exegesis as well as traditional hermeneutics producing a contemporary interpretation. His work is controversial – well received by the academia attributed to ingenious scholarship, criticised by conservative Muslims for alleged neo-rationalistic tendencies. The work was labelled ‘unorthodox’ by neo-conservatives while banned by the Saudi Government as ‘heretical’, which led the work to become unpopular. The article examines the criticisms and his produce against mainstream sources. It argues that the exegesis in examination is able to withstand its criticisms, and further, rank among the best of its kind.