Muhammad Asad: His Contribution to Islamic Learning

"The reasons for Westerners converting to Islam are varied; but there are usually three overarching reasons common to them: belief in the divine origin of the Qur’an, in the prophethood of Muhammad and in Islam’s message to lead a righteous life. This book presents the case of a European of the 20th century, one Leopold Weiss, who took it upon himself to study the Arabic language and the Quran and was so impressed with the beauty of its diction and the spiritual depth of its ideas that he ended up embracing Islam who later became known as Muhammad Asad. Muhammad Asad was a gifted young writer, traveller and linguist with a thorough knowledge of the Bible, the Talmud and with deep roots in European culture, who took the road eastward to Makkah, and his name now figures prominently on the rolls of 20th century English–language Muslim scholars and thinkers. Abroo Aman Andrabi discusses the life and writings of Muhammad Asad, especially his definitive translation of the Quran, in the manner befitting a scholar. Muhammad Asad’s contribution to Islamic learning was the subject of Dr. Andrabi’s doctoral thesis at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi."