The Story of the Qur'an: Its History and Place in Muslim Life

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)

This well-researched, informative, carefully written introduction to the Qur'an by a young Muslim scholar is a sign of the times. Mattson (Hartford Seminary) brings to her work an impressive set of credentials. Readers of whatever stripe will find her introduction a welcome addition to the academic literature on the Qur'an. This is an ideal undergraduate text, but also a useful resource for a general audience. Highly recommended. (Choice Reviews, October 2008)

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

“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