Summary: This episode briefly introduces the concept of prophecy, its history in the Near East (including the well-developed tradition of Biblical prophets), and the way the Qur'an positions itself vis-à-vis this history. We also discuss the terms nabi and rasul as well as the prominent figures of Abraham and Moses. Sources and Recommended Readings: The Qur'an: a Beginner's Guide by Farid Esack Major Themes of the Qur'an by Fazlur Rahman The Koran: a Very Short Introduction by Michael Cook The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an by Jane McAuliffe (editor) The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an by Christopher Buck (editor) The Qur'an: a New Translation by Tarif Khalidi The Qur'an: an Introduction by Abdullah Saeed The Qur'an in its Historical Setting by Gabriel Said Reynolds (editor) Approaching the Qur'an: the Early Revelations by Michael Sells La Pensée Arabe by Mohammed Arkoun
