played the most important part in the understanding of the masses. Nasr Abu Zayd called for another reading of the holy book through a "humanistic hermeneutics", an interpretation which sees the Qur'an as a living phenomenon, a discourse. Hence, the Qur'an can be "the outcome of dialogue, debate, despite argument, acceptance and rejection". This liberal interpretation of Islam should open space for new perspectives on the religion and social change in Muslim societies. Abu Zayd's analysis finds several "insistent calls for social justice" in the Qur'an . One example is when Muhammad—busy preaching to the rich people of Quraysh—failed to pay attention to a poor blind fellow named Ibn Umm Maktūm who came asking the Prophet for advice. The Quran strongly criticizes Muhammad's attitude. (Quran 80:10) Abu Zayd also argued that while the Qur'anic discourse was built in a patriarchal society, and therefore the addressees were naturally males, who received permission to marry, divorce, and marry off their female relatives, it is "possible to imagine that Muslim women receive the same rights", and so the Quran had a "tendency to improve women's rights". The classical position of the modern 'ulamā' about that issue is understandable as "they still believe in superiority of the male in the family". Abu Zayd's critical approach to classical and contemporary Islamic discourse in the fields of theology, philosophy, law, politics, and humanism, promoted modern Islamic thought that might enable Muslims to build a bridge between their own tradition and the modern world of freedom of speech, equality (minority rights, women's rights, social justice), human rights, democracy and globalisation. Honors and distinctions 1975–1977: Ford Foundation Fellowship at the American University in Cairo. 1978–1979: Ford Foundation Fellowship at the Center for Middle East Studies of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia USA. 1982: Obtained the 'Abdel-'Azīz al-Ahwānī Prize for Humanities. 1985–1989: Visiting Professor, Osaka University of Foreign Studies Japan. 1993: The President of Tunisia conferred the Republican Order of Merit for services to Arab culture in May. 1994– Member of the Advisory Board for the "Encyclopædia of the Qur'an" 1995–: Visiting Professor at Leiden University, The Netherlands. 1998: The Jordanian Writers Association Award for Democracy and Freedom. 2000–2001: The Cleveringa Honorary Chair in Law, Responsibility, Freedom of Religion and Conscience, Leiden University. 2002: The Roosevelt Institute Medal for Freedom of Worship. 2002–2003: Fellow at the Wissenschaften College in Berlin. Awards The Ibn Rushd Prize for Freedom of Thought