The Polyphonic Qurʾān: Ethical Antinomy, Narrative Ambiguity, and the Construction of the Qurʾān’s Moral Universe

In light of al-Ghazālī’s (d. 505/1111) contention that most of the secrets of the Qurʾān are embedded in its narratives (i.e., stories), this study explores the moral world of the Qurʾān through an analysis of its narrative pericopes. It seeks to show how the Qurʾān employs ethical antinomy and narrative ambiguity to ethical purpose—rather than viewing moral conflict as a dilemma, and ambiguity as an exegetical problem, this study attempts to highlight how these two concepts coalesce and contribute to the construction of a polyphonic, nuanced, and complex Qurʾānic moral space. It begins with two theoretical chapters on antinomy and ambiguity, and goes on to analyse, by recourse to the tafsīr tradition, a series of apparently problematic and highly ambiguous narrative pericopes arranged into three thematic chapters: the ethical nature of God; ethics towards God, and social ethics. In addition to emphasising the place of narrative in ethics, the study argues that the Qurʾān contains (or, at least allows for) diverse ways of ethical thinking; that its antinomies and ambiguities are morally productive; and that its variegated and dialogic ethical landscape defies linearity and resists formalism. Ultimately, the study hopes to offer insights as to how Muslims, following the footsteps of their rich tradition, can engage with, and meaningfully appropriate, their Scripture in complex and challenging times.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Cambridge

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Moqbel, Tareq

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Street, Tony

• ambiguity – ethics – moral conflict – narratives – The Qurʾān – tafsīr

Licence

• https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/f1735928-b190-4fa5-81bc-384b1ffbf5f0/download
• https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/

Language dc:language

eng

DOI dc:identifier.doi

https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.72411

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/324957