Exploring Islam in a New Light

An Understanding from the Quranic Perspective

By Abdur Rab

April 27, 2009

During his own lifetime, the Prophet of Islam lamented to God that his own people had forsaken the Quran (25:30). For most of the about one and a half millenniums that have elapsed after his death, isn’t it more true that Muslims have neglected the Quran and instead have been following Hadith-based spurious teachings?

Exploring Islam in a New Light provides a bold, modern, and in-depth account of Islam based on the Quran alone – one that marks a significant departure from the conventional understanding of Islam. This Islam is spiritual, humane, and scientific, far from a fanatic and militant image it carries in the West. It gives a new meaning to the religion as professed by the Quran that responds to the social and economic challenges of modern time. It provides a compelling case for rejecting the Hadith as sacred text, which misrepresents and undermines Islam and misguides Muslims. The book is an impassioned call to understand Islam solely in Quranic terms and to reform practiced Islam, distorted by Hadith-based ideas.

Professor Riffat Hassan of the University of Louisville, Kentucky, in her Foreword to the Book, writes:

“Of significance amongst scholarly works, written by Muslim scholars against the backdrop of the contemporary situation, is Dr. Abdur Rab’s Exploring Islam in a New Light: An Understanding from the Quranic Perspective… a serious modern attempt at understanding Islam profoundly from within…a book that offers valuable insights on a number of issues of interest and concern to contemporary Muslims. Though Dr. Rab has written his book as a committed Muslim, his book has much to offer to all readers who are keen to see and understand Islam as it is embodied in the Qur’an.”

Edip Yuksel, eminent Turkish-American Islamic scholar, an ardent champion of the "Quran-only" Islam, co-author of "Quran: A Reformist Translation", and author of Manifesto for Islamic Reform, notes in his review of the Book:

“‘Exploring Islam in a New Light’ by brother Abdur Rab is another valuable addition to a list of books that question the sectarian teachings under the light of the Quran...

...Abdur Rab is not shy of expressing unorthodox views...

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning islam through the perspective of a student of the Quran. I congratulate brother Abdur Rab for this scholarly contribution to the message of Quran alone or rational monotheism movement.” (His full review can be read in the link: http://19.org/forum/index.php/m/49073/0/#msg_49073).

Professor Jeffrey Lang, Ph.D., author of several Islamic books such as Struggling to Surrender, Even Angels Ask, and Losing My Religion: A Call for Help, provides the following endorsement to the Book:

“Abdur Rab offers a comprehensive vision of Islam using the Quran as his sole religious textual source. He intentionally avoids the Hadith literature, which he believes, and argues, has done much damage to the message of the Quran. His work provides many thought-provoking insights and should be a significant contribution to the ‘Quran only’ movement in modern Islam.”

Reza Aslan, Ph.D., Professor of Creative Writing, UC, Riverside, and famous author of No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, notes in his endorsement:

“At a time when misconceptions about Islam are on the rise, even among Muslims, Abdur Rab has provided a compelling argument for returning to the Quran for a deeper, more complete, more original understanding of the meaning and message of Islam. The result is a book that posits not a NEW interpretation of Islam, but a more authentic one.”

Rezaul Haq Khandker, Ph.D. (late), former senior official of UNDP, New York notes:

“[This] book brings Islam nearer to modernity, more particularly challenging some aspects of practiced Islam so far thought unchallengeable. In that respect, [the author’s] contribution can be called revolutionary.”

Professor M. Shahjahan, Ph.D. of the University of Arkansas comments:

"I consider that the book is original in many respects. The author deserves high compliments and our heartfelt gratitude. The author’s skill in explaining concepts in a simple way is commendable."

Professoor Haroon A. Khan, Ph.D. of the Henderson State University says:

“As I skim through the book, I must say that [the author] did a great job and it will make a significant contribution to the literature."

Arnold Yasin Mol, a Dutch Muslim scholar and chief executive of Islamic Deen Research Center (deenresearchcenter.com), in his brief review of the book, notes:

“[The author's] approach is very professional. Next to laying out some well-known issues, [the author] also brings in some fresh ideas. Good use of footnotes and quoting of Qur'anic verses makes this a very good work and important for us to have.

A must have for progressive Muslims!”

Muazzam Husain, Ph.D., former Professor of Mymensingh University, Bangladesh remarks:

"[The author's] views better represent the true spirit of our religion, quite different from those of the fanatics and ill educated religious leaders around the world.”

To know more about the book and its author, visit the website www.explorequran.org.