Allah

February 17, 2020
Reynolds (The Qur’an and the Bible), professor of Islamic studies at Notre Dame, tackles the character of God as detailed in the Qur’an, revealing a forceful but highly merciful entity in this astute analysis. Starting with comparisons between the biblical God and the Qur’anic God—going so far as to call the Qur’an a “homily”—Reynolds expounds deeply upon the nature of Allah. Reynolds is chiefly concerned with examining the tensions between justice and mercy; Allah’s interventions with mankind, whether blessing the righteous or leading unbelievers astray; and the purpose of heaven and hell within Islam. To illustrate his points, Reynolds quotes extensively from the Qur’an, but also bolsters his arguments with extra-scriptural commentary from the Muslim tradition, and acknowledges notable debates where original texts are ambiguous. With lucid prose and impressive erudition, Reynolds provides a distinctive approach for reading scripture, organized around a literary investigation of a central question, such as is the character of the God in the Bible the same as the God of the Qur’an? This capable, fresh work of history and theology will be of interest to scholars of the Qur’an or scriptural interpretation more generally.

Starred review from February 1, 2020

Reynolds (theology, Univ. of Notre Dame; The Qur'an and the Bible) reviews what the Qur'an says about the nature of God. The first part of the book serves as an introduction as it explores salient differences between the Qur'an and Bible, such as prophethood and heaven and hell. Parts 2 and 3 form the foundations for the book's conclusions by discussing, respectively, Allah's mercy and vengeance from Qur'anic verses. Later chapters try to summarize a portrait of God, concluding that God in the Qur'an remains beyond comprehension, yet, overall, appears to be a just and personal one. The epilog makes the case that it is God's prerogative to seek revenge on blasphemers, not anybody else's. As an experienced scholar, Reynolds ensures that the narrative remains close to the Qur'anic text, and he resists drawing from other scriptures when determining the nature of God. His insightful discussion draws parallels and distinctions from the Bible, while also adding context from Medieval and recent scholarship. VERDICT By remaining close to the source and being careful to retain a contemporary worldview, this portrait of God in the Qur'an is a welcome addition to the field of Qur'anic studies.--Muhammed Hassanali, Shaker Heights, OH

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