Over the course of six sections, this rich reference book explores the various areas of Qur'anic studies:

1. its language,
2. the history of its documentation,
3. its many disciplines,
4. the methods of interpretation,
5. its inimitability,
6. and finally, as a work of art.

The themes explored also include the impact of the Qur'an on Islamic civilisation, as well as the various classical sub-disciplines of Qur'anic studies, including the study of the variant readings (qira'at), the reasons for revelation (asbab al-nuzul), and abrogation (naskh).

Unlike some other works, Prof Zarzour also explores contemporary scholarship on the Qur'an, notably through a critical evaluation of modern tendencies such as the claim that the Qur'an contains scientific miracles, and an evaluation of some of the most recognised modern works of Qur'anic commentary (tafsir).

Prof Adnan Muhammad Zarzour gained his undergraduate degree from the University of Damascus' faculty of Shari'a in 1960, and his Masters and PhD from Dar al-'Ulum, Cairo University. Over a long and productive career, he has taught at numerous universities throughout the Arab world. He is currently a visiting professor at Qatar University.
His scholarly work covers a wide spectrum of fields including: Qur'anic and Hadith studies, Islamic theology, intellectual history, scholarly biography, and studies in contemporary political philosophy, covering the topics of human rights, secularism and nationalism.