Publishers Weekly
06/17/2024
Journalist Akyol (The Islamic Jesus) draws theological, philosophical, and cultural links between Islam and Judaism in this innovative study inspired by the prophet central to both faiths. Framing Moses, who is mentioned 137 times in the Quran, as the “historic precedent for Muhammad,” Akyol traces an “Judeo-Islamic” tradition that began in seventh-century Medina when Jews introduced monotheism to their polytheistic Arab neighbors, paving the way for their eventual acceptance of Islam. While tensions flared as the two faiths lived side-by-side, their traditions continued to enrich one another across history, according to Akyol. Examples include how Islamic theology (kalam) informed Jewish theological study in the eighth and ninth centuries and how some present-day Muslims draw on Jewish models for adapting certain religious practices to Western societies (certain Muslim communities in the U.K. have established sharia councils, “which clearly follow the example of the Halakhic courts called beth din”). The parallels Akyol draws fascinate, including a detailed dissection of how the two religions each experimented with “strict textualism” versus “rationalist” approaches in their codes of law. Elsewhere, Akyol examines how present-day Jews and Muslims living in Western societies might join together to protect shared religious practices, including kosher and halal animal slaughter and circumcision. It’s a thought-provoking challenge to those who see only deep divisions between the faiths. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
"Journalist Akyol draws theological, philosophical, and cultural links between Islam and Judaism in this innovative study inspired by the prophet central to both faiths. It's a thought-provoking challenge to those who see only deep divisions between the faiths."
—Publishers Weekly
"Moses is the name that recurs most often in the Qur’an, and the Qur’an was just the beginning. Mustafa Akyol surprises again and yet again with one documented instance after another of affinity or alliance between Jews and Muslims over the centuries. Cogent, admirably concise, and thoroughly engaging."
—Jack Miles, Pulitzer prize-winning author of God in the Qur’an
"It is a rare thinker who can offer a critical comparative study of two religions and their interactions that is both honest and fair. Here you have it, and in a balanced presentation that is a delight to read. Mustafa Akyol offers a deep dive into the history, theology, law and religious practices of Jews and Muslims as they lived together and apart for centuries — a must read for those open to sincere reflection."
—Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles
"By throwing light on the contentious relationship of Jews and Muslims the distinguished author Mustafa Akyol has convincingly established the deeply organic and symbiotic links between the two religions. This is a brilliant book that must be widely read by mainstream commentators and public figures as well as studied on campus. It not only tells an important story but offers a key to peace in our troubled times."
—Akbar Ahmed, Distinguished Professor and the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, School of International Service, American University, Wilson Center Global Fellow, Washington DC, and former Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland.
"This book is a piece of outstanding scholarship and an act of courage. In theology and law, worship and societal life, Judaism and Islam are united by a special relationship. Akyol explores how this relationship came about and how it thrived, well into the 20th century. He thus tells us that Jews and Muslims are not condemned to a never-ending struggle. They can make appeal to a shared past and a common rationality. And this is a reason of hope for all." —Martino Diez, Associate Professor of Arabic, Catholic University of Milan
"This book is a magnificent act of writing. In a secular world still threatened by religious misunderstanding and violence, it is also an urgently needed act of peace. By illuminating the periods of greatest mutuality between the oldest monotheistic faith, Judaism, and the last, Islam, Mustafa Akyol demonstrates that a respectful way forward is not only possible but has a sound theological as well as humanitarian basis. It is also essential for the survival of a regenerative monotheism in a contemporary pluralist world. This requires scholarship and insight of the highest order. Add to this the supreme spiritual qualities of wisdom and compassion and I could not recommend The Islamic Moses with more enthusiasm. Or hope." —Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick, Ph.D., D. Min., author of Seeking the Sacred: Transforming Our View of Ourselves and One Another
"Is there a deeply rooted Judeo-Islamic tradition? In this bold and original book, Mustafa Akyol explains how such a tradition existed over a millennium until it was forgotten a century ago. Analyzing their theological, philosophical, and sociopolitical roots, this ambitious book sheds light on the history of Jewish-Muslim relations. Akyol’s path-breaking analysis gives us hope about better relations between Jews and Muslims in the future."
—Ahmet T. Kuru, author of Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison
"Mustafa Akyol has written a genuinely valiant and profoundly knowledgeable book. His immersion in a tradition other than his own is moving to behold: an unforgettable example of humaneness across difference. I feel blessed to inhabit this ugly world with the author of this beautiful book." —Leon Wieseltier
