The Story of the Qur'an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Since R. Bell published his Introduction to the Qur'an in 1953, a number of introductory survey works on the Qur'an have appeared, among them the works of W. Montgomery Watt, Michael Cook, and Michael Sells. All three authors, however, are heavily indebted to the academic research of Orientalist scholarship produced over the preceding century. Perhaps this well-researched, informative, carefully written introduction to the Qur'an by a young Muslim scholar is a sign of the times. Mattson (Hartford Seminary) brings to her work an impressive set of credentials. As the subtitle indicates, her work not only focuses on the Qur'an itself but also traces the history of the text and pays special attention to the role played by the Qur'an in the intellectual and spiritual life of Muslims from the seventh century to the present. Mattson repeatedly calls for an open-minded approach to the Qur'an, but one that is solidly grounded in the canons of critical method. Readers of whatever stripe will find her introduction a welcome addition to the academic literature on the Qur'an. This is an ideal undergraduate text, but also a useful resource for a general audience. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through graduate students; general readers. M. Swartz Boston University

An excellent companion resource for study and understanding of the Qur'an.