Islam and Literalism

Robert Gleave is Professor of Arabic Studies at the University of Exeter. His most recent book is Violence in Islamic Thought from European Imperialism to the Post-Colonial Era (EUP, 2021), co-authored with Mustafa Baig.

• Preface; 1. Understanding Literal Meaning; 2. Literal Meaning and Scriptural Exegesis; 3. Literal Meaning In Early Muslim Thought; 4. Literal Meaning in Early Muslim Jurisprudence; 5. Literal Meaning in Sunni Jurisprudence; 6. Legal Literalism and Early Zahiri Legal Thought; 7. Literalism and Ibn Íazm’s Legal Theory; 8. Literal Meaning in Early Sectarian Legal Theory; 9. Literal Meaning in Classical Imami Legal Theory; 10. Literal Meaning in Modern Muslim Legal Theory; Conclusions; Bibliography.

Gleave’s close textual analysis, attention to nuance, and theoretical acumen allow for a robust debate about the nature of Islamic legal theory in light of literary theory with the potential to enrich both. This leads to the tantalizing prospect that uṣūl al-fiqh might contribute something important and essential to modern literary theory. Gleave has elevated the discourse about uṣūl al-fiqh, adding theoretical sophistication to studies within and, one hopes, beyond the genre.'