The Qur’an and Ethics: Methodology of Studying Qur’anic Morality
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2025 | Viewed by 281
Special Issue Editors
2. Qur’anic Studies Unit, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, UK
Interests: Islamic ethics; Qur’anic studies and ethics; Qur’an and Islamic literary traditions; Qur’an and Hadith
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Over the last few decades, academic interest in Qurʾānic morality has resulted in an ever-growing body of literature. In many places, the Qurʾān describes itself as a book of guidance (Q. 2:2) that is dictated by a divine message communicated by a messenger who was sent as a mercy to the world (Q. 21:107). The Qurʾān also proclaims its interest in the spiritual nourishment of human-beings, based on a firm understanding of the ability of the human mind to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong (Q. 90:10).
The aim of this volume is to engage with the reception history of the Qurʾān and ethics and bring forward different methodological frameworks to engage with Qurʾānic ethics and their reception in the exegetical (tafsīr) traditions and ḥadīth (prophetic tradition), etc. Topics can also cover discussions of particular themes in the Qurʾān, exploring key Qurʾānic concepts, including Taqwā and iḥsān, ‘adl, ḥikma, raḥma and birr as elements of the Qur’anic moral paradigm, ethics and language, aesthetic and literary analysis of structure of the Qurʾān and sub-texts within Qurʾānic chapters, and the embedded ethical messages of the Qurʾān. Moreover, topics where fiqh (jurisprudence), for example, has diverged from the Qurʾān would also be an angle to explore. Topics can also include a psycho-spiritual analysis of the Qurʾānic moral discourse and its practical dimension. Topics can also involve the concepts of cosmopolitan ethics, social ethics, and the interaction between Muslims and others.
This volume endeavours to examine the ways in which adopting a particular methodical process can help shed new light on the ways in which Qurʾānic ethics can be understood. The papers presented here incorporate various research techniques that adopt literary, linguistic, spiritual, historical, aesthetic, and structural approaches, along with others, to better understand the moral message of the Qurʾān.
The time-frame suggested by the journal would be as follows:
Abstract submission deadline: February 1, 2025.
Notification of abstract acceptance: March 1, 2025.
Full manuscript deadline: October 1, 2025.
We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarising their intended contribution. Please send it to the Guest Editor or Assistant Editor of Religions. Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review.
Regarding the word count for Special Issue contributions (article type), there is no upper limit on the length, but there is a minimum wordcount of at least 5000 words.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Nuha Alshaar
Dr. Yasmin Amin
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- Qurʾān
- ethics
- tafsīr
- taqwā
- iḥsān
- psycho-spiritual analysis of the Qurʾān
- ‘adl
- ḥikma
- raḥma
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