The Message of the Qur’ān by Muhammad Asad

Critical study

Abstract

This article delves into the life and contributions of Muhammad Asad, a prominent 20th-century Muslim thinker, journalist, diplomat, and translator. Born Leopold Weiss in 1900, Asad came from a Jewish background but later embraced Islam after traveling through the Middle East and gaining insight into Arab culture and Islam’s spiritual strength. He spent significant time in Arabia, studying Islamic texts and becoming a key figure in Islamic scholarship. Asad’s most notable work includes his translation and commentary on the Qur’an, The Message of the Qur’an, which reflects his rationalistic approach to Islamic eschatology, creation, and metaphysical subjects. Asad often interpreted Qur’anic miracles and metaphysical concepts through a scientific lens, diverging from traditional exegeses by rejecting supernatural elements and favoring intellectual analysis. His rationalist stance on issues such as the miracles of Jesus, the finality of prophethood, and the creation of man set his work apart from traditional Islamic scholars. Although his translation has been praised for its literary quality and modern insights, his unorthodox interpretations have also garnered criticism, particularly from more conservative circles.