A Critical Study of Arthur Jeffery’s Approach to the Qur’an as Scripture

Abstract

Arthur Jeffery’s The Qur’an as Scripture (1952) remains one of the most influential works in Western Qur’anic studies. Frequently cited as a foundational text, the book attempts to situate the Qur’an within the category of “scriptural religions” through historical-critical analysis. This article argues that while Jeffery’s work reflects significant philological engagement, it is structured by methodological and epistemological biases inherited from Orientalist scholarship. These biases shape his understanding of revelation, textual transmission, variant readings, and canonization. By tracing the intellectual origins of Jeffery’s assumptions, examining their reinforcement by Orientalist predecessors and successors, and critically engaging both classical and contemporary Muslim responses, this study demonstrates that Jeffery’s conclusions are not inevitable scholarly results but products of a particular academic tradition. The article concludes by emphasizing the necessity of methodological pluralism in Qur’anic studies.