Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Andreas Görke In brief Date - 29 September 2025Venue - Room LG.11, 40 George SquareSpeaker - Dr Andreas Görke (University of Edinburgh)Title - The beginnings of Qur'anic exegesis or, Can we know how the companions of the Prophet understood the Qur'an? Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventThe beginnings of Qur’anic exegesis have been a topic of much controversy in Western academia. While in recent decades progress has been made and individual exegetical traditions have been traced back to the beginning of the 2nd/8th century or the generation of the Successors, the earliest phase of Qur’anic exegesis is still very much shrouded in mystery.This talk will explore to what extent it is possible to unearth exegetical statements going back to the Companions of the Prophet, the original audience of the Qur’an.About the speakerAndreas Görke is Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He received his PhD from the University of Hamburg in 2001 and his Habilitation from the University of Basel in 2010.Dr Görke's research interests include early Islamic history and historiography, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an and Qur'anic exegesis, Hadith, Islamic law, the transmission of Arabic manuscripts, Islam in its Late Antique environment, the impact of modernity on Muslim thought, and Holy Places in Islam.About the seminar seriesThe IMES Research Seminar for this first semester of 2025/26 will showcase some of the latest research across the broad field of Islamic and Middle East Studies, both within the department and beyond, setting it within the context of IMES as it moves towards its 50th year.How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Sep 29 2025 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Andreas Görke Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Andreas Görke (University of Edinburgh), entitled 'The beginnings of Qur'anic exegesis or, Can we know how the companions of the Prophet understood the Qur'an?'. Room LG.11 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Andreas Görke In brief Date - 29 September 2025Venue - Room LG.11, 40 George SquareSpeaker - Dr Andreas Görke (University of Edinburgh)Title - The beginnings of Qur'anic exegesis or, Can we know how the companions of the Prophet understood the Qur'an? Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventThe beginnings of Qur’anic exegesis have been a topic of much controversy in Western academia. While in recent decades progress has been made and individual exegetical traditions have been traced back to the beginning of the 2nd/8th century or the generation of the Successors, the earliest phase of Qur’anic exegesis is still very much shrouded in mystery.This talk will explore to what extent it is possible to unearth exegetical statements going back to the Companions of the Prophet, the original audience of the Qur’an.About the speakerAndreas Görke is Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He received his PhD from the University of Hamburg in 2001 and his Habilitation from the University of Basel in 2010.Dr Görke's research interests include early Islamic history and historiography, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur'an and Qur'anic exegesis, Hadith, Islamic law, the transmission of Arabic manuscripts, Islam in its Late Antique environment, the impact of modernity on Muslim thought, and Holy Places in Islam.About the seminar seriesThe IMES Research Seminar for this first semester of 2025/26 will showcase some of the latest research across the broad field of Islamic and Middle East Studies, both within the department and beyond, setting it within the context of IMES as it moves towards its 50th year.How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Sep 29 2025 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Andreas Görke Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Andreas Görke (University of Edinburgh), entitled 'The beginnings of Qur'anic exegesis or, Can we know how the companions of the Prophet understood the Qur'an?'. Room LG.11 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Sep 29 2025 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Andreas Görke Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Andreas Görke (University of Edinburgh), entitled 'The beginnings of Qur'anic exegesis or, Can we know how the companions of the Prophet understood the Qur'an?'.
