Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Part One The Science of Interpretation: Reading the Sacred Sources 1 Qur'an and Hadith 2 Interpreting the Sacred Sources Part Two The Science of Community: Mapping the Boundaries of True Belief 3 Muslim Awareness of Other Religious Communities 4 Creed and Polemic Part Three The Science of Divine Unity: Schools and Themes in Systematic Theology 5 Theological Schools and Principles 6 Major Themes in Systematic Theology Part Four The Science of Hearts: Spirituality and Literature 7 Knowledge and the Spiritual Quest 8 Poetic, Pastoral, and Narrative Theology Part Five The Science of Character and Comportment: Ethics and Governance 9 Ethics in Theory 10 Ethics in Practice Notes Appendix: Synoptic/Comparative Table of Texts Acknowledgments of Permissions Index of Names of Persons General Index Index of Qur'anic Citations

About the Author

John Renard is Professor of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. His many books include Seven Doors to Islam: Spirituality and the Religious Life of Muslims, Windows on the House of Islam, Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood, and Tales of God's Friends: Islamic Hagiography in Translation, all from UC Press.

Reviews

"Unprecedented... The first reader to focus on the theological tradition in particular. It will thus be of considerable use for courses on Islam or on comparative religion." Theological Studies "[A] unique contribution that will entire a new generation of students to take an interest in advanced studies in Islamic theology in its many manifestations." Journal of the American Oriental Society