Q-Club at Waterstones TCR

Q-Club is a fortnightly book club where attendees gather to read, discuss, and analyze a sura from Prof M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s English Qur'an Q-Club is a fortnightly book club which invites attendees to come together to read, discuss and analyse a sura from Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s acclaimed and accessible English translation of the Qur’an. Linguistic, thematic, structural and literary devices in the text are explored with a view to deriving practical lessons. The Ants (Q. 27) ‘We gave knowledge to David and Solomon, and they both said, ‘Praise be to God, who has favoured us over many of His believing servants.’ (Q. 27:15) This year’s Q-Club will cover the chapter: The Ants Q. 27. We will undertake a guided read and analyse all 93 verses in this chapter of the Qur’an, exploring the stories of the prophets Moses, David, Solomon, Salih and Lot peace be upon them all, as well as Pharaoh and the Queen of Sheba. Attendees will gain an in-depth understanding of the sura, alongside a clear overview of its structure and key themes. Through these narratives, we will consider faith and rejection, power and responsibility, knowledge and wisdom, gratitude and humility, and the consequences of arrogance and injustice. The sura demonstrates how people respond differently to divine signs and prophetic guidance, and invites us to reflect on God’s power, the limits of human knowledge and the certainty of the Hereafter. History: Q-Club began in 2013 and has been held in various Soho cafés in London, fostering active participation and engagement. Each year, the club undertakes a guided reading of a new sura, with detailed discussions on a few verses per session. Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of the text, ‘The Qur’an: A New Translation’ by M.A.S Abdel Haleem, available at Waterstones, to enhance their understanding and participate fully in discussions. Facilitator: Dr. S. Ashraf, who studied under Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem at SOAS, University of London, and holds a DPhil on the Qur’an from Oxford, leads Q-Club. Dr. Ashraf has taught MA modules on the Qur’an at AKU London and leads Qur’an exegesis classes for CEI in London and Oxford. The Qur’an: The Qur’an, regarded as the finest work in Arabic literature, is the fundamental religious text in Islam. Comprising 114 suras of varying lengths, it is known for its eloquence and rhetorical excellence. Unlike other scriptures, it is not arranged chronologically or by topic but presents themes interwoven across suras, contributing to its unique literary style. Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem’s Translation: This translation offers the Qur’an’s verses in flowing script, organized into paragraphs, with punctuation reflecting shifts in emphasis and topic. Using clear, modern English, it makes the text accessible to all, as Abdel Haleem emphasizes in his introduction: “The message of the Qur’an was, after all, directly addressed to all people without distinction as to class, gender, or age: it does not rely on archaisms or pompous language for effect.”