The Qur'An: An Encyclopedia »

A RUSA 2007 Outstanding Reference Title

The Qur'an is the source of inspiration for one of the world's major religions, followed today by over a billion people. It plays a central role in Islam and ever since it appeared fourteen hundred years ago has been the subject of intense debate. Some of this has been carried out by Muslims and some by those hostile or indifferent to Islam, producing a very wide range of views.

Authored by forty-three international experts, the objective of The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia is to present this diversity of thought, approach and school without priority, in order to give a strong appreciation of the range of response that the text has provoked throughout its history and providing students and researchers with a powerful one-volume resource covering all aspects of the text and its reception.

Islam and the Qur'an are much in the news today and there is a public debate going on in which things are said about the Qur'an without much knowledge or understanding of the book. Every effort has been made to help the reader use the Encyclopedia as an investigative tool in Quranic studies. The volume assumes no previous knowledge of the Qur'an, Islam or Arabic. Technical terms are explained in the text itself and the style of each entry is designed to be as self-contained as possible. Entries are cross-referenced and many include a brief bibliography. At the end of the work there is a substantial annotated bibliography providing a detailed guide to the most significant books, journals and articles in Qur'anic Studies. There is a full index.

The readership will include those seeking basic information on the Qur'an, however the substantial number of longer entries means that it will also be used by specialists.

Library Journal

Leaman (Islamic Aesthetics: An Introduction), who meant for this encyclopedia to serve as a bridge between in-depth sources and less detailed works, does not attempt to cover everything related to the Qur'an, instead presenting only those subjects of particular interest or essential to understanding the book. A group of 43 international experts wrote the more than 300 A-to-Z cross-referenced entries-many of which include short bibliographies-that range from "Abdu, Muhammed" to "Zulaykha." Each entry spans one to several pages, and technical terms are defined within the text. Three indexes organized by passage, name, and subject and an annotated bibliography conclude the book. Bottom Line Readers with serious interest in the Qur'an and Islamic concepts will enjoy this encyclopedia, gaining a well-rounded sense and knowledge of the material without being overwhelmed by extraneous detail. Brill's three-volume Encyclopedia of the Qur'an (2004) is more academic, but this single volume will work fine where broader explanations and discussions are appropriate. Because it is approachable and provides an entry point for anyone becoming acquainted with the Qur'an, this useful reference deserves consideration by libraries with religion collections and with interest in Islam and the Qur'an.-Naomi Hafter, Baltimore Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.