Beyond the Qur'an

"An important work that illumines a particular aspect of Isma'ilism."—Reading Religion

"This is one of the best studies to appear on the Ismaili hermeneutical system. Thorough and extensively researched, the book offers a new approach to read this rich tradition. It is also one of the best introductions on the topic to date, and to the Ismaili literary production as a whole, making it a must-read work. Scholars and students will find the work immensely helpful. Hollenberg has done the field a great service."—Walid A. Saleh, University of Toronto

"The book offers the first balanced analysis of the Ismaili doctrine of taʾwīl, esoteric interpretation that provides a way to access the secret, salvific knowledge of the Imam. The author, at home in both primary and secondary sources, provides a critical yet cautious reassessment of taʾwīl. A thought-provoking and informative work that anyone wishing to understand taʾwīl should read."—Ismail K. Poonawala, University of California, Los Angeles

"Beyond the Qurān is a valuable and innovative contribution to our knowledge of main aspects of early Ismāīlī tawīl."—JERUSALEM STUDIES INARABIC AND ISLAM

"Hollenberg has published a pioneering study of Ismaili ta'wīl that is extensive in both methodology and primary source analysis. His incorporation of new methodological considerations into the study of Ismaili thought is a noteworthy development in the field. The accessibility of the author's writing style and explanations make this a useful text for specialists and non-specialists alike."—Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations

"what Hollenberg presents here is either quite new territory or an explanation of facets of the doctrine in terms that help to place it in a broader context of religious studies of the exoteric/esoteric distinction and its application in communal formation and maintenance."—The Journal of Religion