Helps the reader to understand the Qur'an, while throwing a much-needed light on what
Trade Review
?Ingrid Mattson has written a stimulating and scholarly account of Islam, focusing on the Quran. She has a gift for condensing complex material without oversimplifying and her approach, although scholarly, is far from being a dry analysis of well-known historical events and religious debates.? ( Journal of Islamic Studies, September 2009) ?It takes rare skill to make an introduction to scripture compelling, but Mattson has done it. Students will find the text fascinating, a delicate balance of highly scholarly material and inviting anecdotes. Scholars will also find the text of interest, particularly its deft compilation of a remarkable breadth of scholarship. Perhaps most importantly, this text is the first full introduction to the study of the Qur?an from the perspective of a Western Muslim woman, bringing the Qur?an alive in ways only someone fully engaged in and sensitive to twenty-first century realities can do.? Tamara Sonn, College of William & Mary
?The author has been entirely successful in accomplishing her aims: she has written an academically-based, well-documented introduction to the Qur'an which will find wide readership.?
Andrew Rippin, University of Victoria
?A balanced, academically-based, and well-documented introduction ? Mattson throws a much-needed light on what it means to be a Muslim.? Islamic Horizons
Table of Contents
Introduction. 1. God Speaks to Humanity.
2. The Prophet Conveys the Message.
3. The Voice and the Pen.
4. Blessed Words: The Qur’an and Culture.
5. What God Really Means: Interpreting the Qur’an.
6. Listening for God.
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Index
