Dr. Karen Bauer,聽who has recently joined the Qur鈥檃nic Studies Unit at the IIS from Princeton University, presented a paper on the panel 鈥淣ew Approaches to Tafsir鈥 organised by Dr. Walid Saheh, with Dr. Andrew Rippin responding. Dr. Bauer鈥檚 paper was titled 鈥淗ow does customary practice affect Qur鈥檃nic interpretation? The case of household roles鈥. It focused on texts in which exegesis recommending specific behaviour contradicted another normative source, the law. Other scholars on the panel examined the difference between exegetes鈥 stated intentions in their works of exegesis, and how those intentions support, or contradict, their actual methods of writing exegesis.
The IIS also participated in book exhibitions. The conference provided an excellent opportunity to showcase the achievements of more than 86 participating book exhibitors. The Institute displayed and promoted the full range of its publications at its bookstall, which was frequently visited by the panel members and other participants for the duration of the conference. Publications in the IIS鈥 Qur鈥檃nic Studies Series, particularly the recently released Word of God, Art of Man, generated noticeable interest.
