Sir, – While it is fair to say that Islam reveres the Koran as the word of God, it is dismissive of Islamic scholarship and Muslims who hermeneutically engage with the Koran and hadith to contend that "there is no historical or cultural context" considered when engaging with these texts (Ciarán Mac Guill, Letters, July 1st).
Amina Wadud is a prominent Muslim and scholar who has explored the exegesis behind some of the sacred texts of Islam and she is not alone in her field.
It is unrealistic to stand outside of a religion and tell it what to believe. Events such as the one attended by Gary Doyle at the Islamic Centre in Coolmine in Dublin (Letters, June 30th) lead to respectful dialogue, understanding and hopefully a more dynamic and inclusive society.– Yours, etc, KIERAN J SPARLING Kilrush, Co Clare.