Nasr Abu Zayd, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Nasr Abu Zayd

Muslim reformer

Date of Birth: 07-Oct-1943

Place of Birth: Tanta, Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Date of Death: 05-Jul-2010

Profession: writer, theologian, university teacher, philosopher

Nationality: Egypt, Kingdom of the Netherlands

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd (Arabic: ??? ???? ??? ????, IPA: ['n?s??e 'hæ?med 'æbu'ze?d]; also Abu Zaid or Abu Zeid; July 10, 1943 – July 5, 2010) was an Egyptian Qur'anic thinker, author, academic and one of the leading liberal theologians in Islam.
He is famous for his project of a humanistic Qur'anic hermeneutics, which "challenged mainstream views" on the Qur'an sparking "controversy and debate." While not denying that the Qur'an was of divine origin, Zayd argued that it was a "cultural product" that had to be read in the context of the language and culture of seventh century Arabs, and could be interpreted in more than one way.
He also criticized the use of religion to exert political power.
In 1995 an Egyptian Sharia court declared him an apostate, this led to threats of death and his fleeing Egypt several weeks later.
He later "quietly" returned to Egypt where he died.