Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Front Matter i
2. Contents vii
3. Tables viii
4. Acknowledgments ix
5. Introduction 3
6. How to Read the Qur’an Holistically: Understanding the Rationale 16
7. Beginning at the Beginning: Al-Fātiḥa as a Prelude to Surat al-Baqara 48
8. Symmetry and a Mounting Dynamic: Al-Baqara’s Skeletal Outline 68
9. Thematic Affirmation: Al-Baqara’s Chiastic Structure 100
10. “God as Guide”: Surat al-Baqara’s Running Theme in the Divine Self-Revelatory Reading 122
11. Placing Humanity at the Focal Point: “Responsibility” as the Pedagogical Running Theme of Surat al-Baqara 136
12. Windows into the Tradition: Al-Biqā‘ī and al-Ṭabāṭabā’ī on Surat al-Baqara 158
13. Conclusion 187
14. Appendix 197
15. Glossary 203
16. Notes 205
17. Bibliography 227
18. Index 247