CONCISE GUIDE TO THE QURAN PB

What is so unique about Islam's scripture, the Quran? Who wrote it, and when? Can we trust its statements to be from Muhammad? Why was it written in Arabic? Does it command Muslims to fight Christians? These are a few of the thirty questions answered in this clear and concise guide to the history and contents of the Quran.

Ayman Ibrahim grew up in the Muslim world and has spent many years teaching various courses on Islam. Using a question-and-answer format, Ibrahim covers critical questions about the most sacred book for Muslims. He examines Muslim and non-Muslim views concerning the Quran, shows how the Quran is used in contemporary expressions of Islam, answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about the Quran and Islam, and reveals the importance of understanding the Quran for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations.

This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their scripture.

As reviewed by Dr. Stephen McQuoid in May 2021- 'This is an excellent resource and given the sheer scale of the Islamic world, the subject matter is of obvious importance. Ibrahim is an Egyptian Coptic Christian who now teaches at SBTS in the USA. His experience growing up in a Muslim majority country makes him and ideal author of this important work.

Rather than write a conventional textbook on the subject of the Quran, Ibrahim sets out to ask and then answer 30 questions, a short chapter dedicated to each. The questions are very interesting, but as you read through the book it is obvious that they are far from random. Not only does the author connect one question to the next in a kind of flowing narrative, but he also helps us understand something of the reality of Islam today. He discusses, in passing, the differences between traditional, liberal and nominal Muslims as well as articulating differences between the main groupings of Shia and Sunni Muslims. He also brings into his descriptions, stories of conversations he has had with Muslims throughout his life including friends of his from his childhood in Egypt. Some of my favourite chapters are Ch.9 Why and How was the Quran compiled? Ch.12 Do Sunnis and Shias have the same Quran today? Ch.19 What are the Satanic Verses in the Quran and Ch. 21 Are Jews and Christian Infidels?

Two things come through convincingly. Firstly, the Quran cannot be trusted, it came together in a very ad hoc way and Muslim scholars find it increasingly difficult to defend its reliability. Secondly, Ibrahim finishes on a very optimistic note suggesting that, while sceptical study of the origins of the Quran has typically been a dangerous business, the huge accessibility of knowledge today means that the inadequacies of this religious text cannot remain hidden forever. If you want to witness to your Muslim neighbour, this book will be an excellent help in preparing you.'

Publisher : Baker Academic; Annotated edition (3 Nov. 2020)
Language : English
Paperback : 192 pages