The Literature of Islam is essentially an annotated bibliography of Islamic literature translated into English. It concentrates on mainly religious texts separated into the conventional categories of canonical literature (with a chapter on the Qur'an and a chapter on the Hadith or traditions of the life of the Prophet Muhammad); interpretation of scripture and tradition; law; theology; philosophy; history; and mysticism or spirituality. The book excludes what the compilers describe as predominantly artistic expressions, such as poetry, drama, and fiction, for example, which may be inspired by faith or discuss the subject of religion. Their one exemption is the inclusion of court histories to better understand Islam's sacred history in which Muslims believe Allah reveals his will through historical events.
Each chapter begins with an accessible introduction that describes the significance of the literary field within the religion as a whole and outlines the key issues and historical developments of the genre. The chapters further subdivide according to different interpretative forms, each with an introduction, before listing chronologically the full bibliographical details of published works and an assessment of the text. These assessments are a valuable and critical appraisal of the translation; content and style; accuracy and reliability; and contribution to Islamic theology and practice. All the chapters conclude with a reflection on modern interpretations of the literary field as well as discussion on current and future trends.
This is a timely resource supporting the general rise of academic interest in the Islamic world. The book will be most welcomed by many teachers, researchers and students without the expertise or time to learn classical Arabic and read the literature in its original language, and be particularly relevant to those working in the fields of theology, philosophy, religious studies and medieval history. To some extent the book will benefit those studying the modern Islamic world. Readers, however, are expected to have some knowledge of Islam and its history, and particularly the medieval world. This prior knowledge is not imperative and the resource is still likely to be of value.
Given its intended readership, The Literature of Islam is not a complete listing of published works available in English, and is not meant to be. Skreslet and Skreslet subtitle the book as a Guide. They concentrate on what they call “turning‐point texts” (p. xii) that have been seminal in the history of the literature and seek to identify translations that are authoritative and reliable. While there is a predominance of historical texts, and specifically medieval texts, the authors argue these volumes are still relevant and inform current debates. Moreover, Skreslet and Skreslet use a number of conventions that make this book more accessible to the non‐specialist. They seek to be consistent with standard reference works in the field for the medieval Islamic names. They also use the titles preferred by most reference sources and list variations or alternative titles. This will save much confusion, if the reader is cross‐referencing with other sources. There is also a minimum use made of abbreviations with a full list of those used on p. xix. Furthermore, there are a number of indexes to help the reader find relevant information. These include a Name Index (pp. 221‐8), Title Index (pp. 229‐37) and Subject Index (pp. 239‐42). The Glossary/Index of Arabic terms (pp. 199‐203) demonstrates how to pronounce essential names and vocabulary. Finally, all the primary sources are complied into an extensive, single bibliography (pp. 205‐19). This is complemented by a list of general anthologies of primary literature (pp. 197‐8). The bibliography also includes a selection of secondary reading and additional resources in the end notes of each chapter for the reader to follow up that will help develop a better understanding of the literary genres and historical developments.
In conclusion, The Literature of Islam is a timely, accessible and authoritative resource. It will be a useful addition to any university library, and retails at an affordable price for the individual.
