Saeed explores the current debates surrounding the interpretation of the Qur'an, and their impact on contemporary understanding of this sacred text. As he attempts to determine the text's relevance to modern issues without compromising the overall framework of the Qur'an, and its core beliefs and practices, he proposes a fresh approach, which takes into account the historical and contemporary contexts of interpretation.

The book's modernist approach is likely to inspire healthy debate and appeal to a generation of students and scholars seeking a contemporary approach to the interpretation of the Qur'anic text.