The Basic and the Circumstantial in the Qur'anic Discourse

This study deals with the development of the concept of God in the East Mediterranean region and especially among Semitic speaking people of the region. After looking briefly at the pre-Scriptual aspects of beliefs, the overall view of the Hebrew Bible as well as that of the New Testament, the mission of Muhammad is discussed and his efforts in trying to accommodate the Jewish, the Christian believers as well as those of the Meccans are pointed out as seen clearly in the Qur'anic Discourse. It is also pointed out how Muhammad sometimes was too anxious to accommodate his audience that he almost compromised the most important aspect of his mission, which is the unity of God. This caused so much agony to him as is very explicit in the discourse. After pointing out all the ups and downs in the mission the study goes on to point out the concept of God then the concepts of tasbeeh, fitrah and consciousness. After that the signs of God are pointed out as they are pointed out in the Qur'anic discourse and then the learning process is discussed and explained in the language of modern aspects of science. These are novel aspects of the study. The rest of the book deals with the Qur'anic recommendations for the behaviour of human beings in this life. At the end it is pointed out why Muslims nowadays are in such state of failure.