Ingrid Mattson has written a stimulating and scholarly account of Islam, focusing on the Quran. She has a gift for condensing complex material without oversimplifying and her approach, although scholarly, is far from being a dry analysis of well-known historical events and religious debates. ( Journal of Islamic Studies, September 2009)

It takes rare skill to make an introduction to scripture compelling, but Mattson has done it. Students will find the text fascinating, a delicate balance of highly scholarly material and inviting anecdotes. Scholars will also find the text of interest, particularly its deft compilation of a remarkable breadth of scholarship. Perhaps most importantly, this text is the first full introduction to the study of the Qur an from the perspective of a Western Muslim woman, bringing the Qur an alive in ways only someone fully engaged in and sensitive to twenty-first century realities can do. Tamara Sonn, College of William & Mary

The author has been entirely successful in accomplishing her aims: she has written an academically-based, well-documented introduction to the Qur'an which will find wide readership.
Andrew Rippin, University of Victoria

A balanced, academically-based, and well-documented introduction Mattson throws a much-needed light on what it means to be a Muslim. Islamic Horizons