Speaking Qur’an is a long-needed historical study and contemporary explication of how Islam’s sacred scripture has been studied, obeyed, chanted, and deeply loved by devout Muslims in North America for generations. Now that there is a sizable and richly diverse community of Muslims here, it is important for citizens in both Canada and the United States to learn about, respect, and appreciate Muslims, their beliefs and practices, and their social and cultural ideals and customs as they become authentic citizens in their chosen communities.
Longstanding North American religious communities since the immigration of Europeans and other new citizens have been largely devoted to Jewish and Christian scriptural texts with beliefs, values, and practices shared through the Hebrew Bible with its Mosaic and prophetic teachings, known by most Christians as the Old Testament, which was followed by the New Testament, with the teachings of Jesus and his life. The Islamic Qur’an (“reading, recitation”), believed by Muslims to be the actual words of Allah/God, is also within the expanded communities of what Jews, Christians, and Muslims acknowledge as the “Abrahamic traditions.”
Professor Yuskaev provides for his readers a delightfully detailed and civilized tour through historical, spiritual, cultural, social, and contemporary dimensions of how Muslims have developed and are energetically dedicated to serving their faith communities while always being deeply devoted American citizens as well. Speaking Qur’an: An American Scripture will be an important choice for high school and college courses, as well as faith communities and the general public for years to come.
Frederick Mathewson Denny