New Book by AUK Professor Published by Cambridge University Press

AUK is pleased to announce the publication of a new scholarly work by Dr. Raymond Farrin, Professor of Arabic at AUK. On February 19, Cambridge University Press published his latest book, The Early Qur’an in Mecca: Apocalyptic Expectation at the Dawn of Islam, marking his third authored volume and his second focused on Qur’anic studies.

Dr. Farrin’s previous publications include Abundance from the Desert: Classical Arabic Poetry (2011) and Structure and Qur’anic Interpretation: A Study of Symmetry and Coherence in Islam’s Holy Text (2014). His earlier work examined the intricate structural symmetries of the Qur’an across verses, suras, and the text as a whole, demonstrating how these patterns inform interpretation of the scripture in its final, complete form.

In The Early Qur’an in Mecca, Dr. Farrin adopts a diachronic approach, tracing the Qur’an’s structural and thematic development during its earliest phase of revelation in Mecca. Focusing on the period from approximately 609 to 614 CE, the study analyzes how the Qur’an evolved from a limited number of verses into a growing scriptural corpus. Drawing on quantitative and literary evidence, Dr. Farrin argues that a foundational Qur’anic nucleus emerged during this formative stage, conveying an especially urgent message, with additional units incorporated as revelation continued in Mecca and Medina through 632 CE.

The book situates the Qur’an within the broader context of late antique Arabia, a setting marked by resistance to the spread of monotheism, and explores connections with contemporary Jewish and Christian thought, particularly concerning expectations of the Last Day. Through this analysis, the study offers a deeper understanding of the Qur’an and the historical environment in which it was first recited.

The publication has received advanced scholarly acclaim. Dr. Bilal Orfali, Sheikh Zayed Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at American University of Beirut, describes the book as “an erudite and original study that sheds new light on Islam’s emergence and the urgent eschatological vision at its dawn,” noting its significant contribution to Qur’anic studies and the study of Islam’s origins.

The Early Qur’an in Mecca: Apocalyptic Expectation at the Dawn of Islam is available in both print and digital formats.

Book Cover