The Mystery of the Historical Jesus: The Messiah in the Qur'an, the Bible, and Historical Sources (Paperback)

by Louay Fatoohi (Author)
Key Phrases: Abú Dáwúd, Abú Dáwiid, Abü Dáwüd, New Testament, Old Testament, Prophet Muhammad (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Jesus remains one of the most studied characters in history. In the two millennia since his birth, countless writers have published numerous books and articles on every aspect of his life, personality, teachings, and environment. Depending on the backgrounds, goals, and trainings of their respective authors, these works relied on the New Testament, other Christian sources, Jewish writings, or other historical sources, or on combinations of these writings. The Qur'an is rarely mentioned, let alone seriously considered, by the mainly Christian authors of these studies. This explicit or implicit neglect reflects a presumed historical worthlessness of the Qur'an.

Muslim scholars have also written extensively about Jesus. Contrary to their Western counterparts, they have studied in detail what the Qur'an and other Islamic sources say about Jesus. The Christian image of Jesus is often cited to be dismissed, usually on the basis of what Islamic sources say, but at times also because of its incoherence and inconsistency. Like Western scholars who have ignored the Qur'an, Muslim writers have shown no interest in independent historical sources.

This book fills a gap in the literature on the historical Jesus by taking the unique approach of considering together the Qur'an, the Gospels, and other religious and historical sources. This genuinely new contribution to the scholarship on the historical Jesus shows that, unlike the New Testament accounts, the Qur'anic image of Jesus is both internally consistent and reconcilable with known history. While showing that our understanding of how the New Testament was formed and our growing knowledge of history confirm that the Christian Jesus is unhistorical, this study makes a strong case for the historicity of the Jesus of the Qur'an.

Its friendly style makes this comprehensive book suitable for the general reader as well as the specialist. Readers with interest in the historical Jesus, the Messiah in the various scriptures, modern Qur'anic exegesis, or comparative religion will find this compelling study highly informative and thought-provoking. No specialist knowledge of any scripture or history is required for reading the book.

About the Author
Louay Fatoohi was born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1961. He obtained a BSc in Physics from the College of Science, University of Baghdad, in 1984. In 1992, he and his wife Shetha moved to the United Kingdom where they have settled. He obtained his PhD in Astronomy from the Physics Department, Durham University, in 1998.

The author of several books and many articles in Arabic and English, Dr Fatoohi is particularly interested in Qur'anic exegesis (Tafsir), history in the Qur'an, and comparative religion. His books include The Prophet Joseph in the Qur'an, the Bible, and History and Jihad in the Qur'an: The Truth from the Source (2nd Edition).

Product Details

• Paperback: 568 pages
• Publisher: Luna Plena Publishing (September 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906342016
• ISBN-13: 978-1906342012
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,295,433 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jesus (Yahushua) Factor, July 5, 2009

By	Timothy A. Parham (Spartanburg S.C. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It is believed that the Koran became established in the Arabic nation around the 3rd to 9th century. Also, it is believed that many of the writings which are coined to the Koran orginates from the Jewish Torah and many Christian apocryphal writings. Now, if we choose to be directed by concrete historical facts, the researcher knows that Judaism and Christianity was literally before the Arabic nation's Koran (Qur'an). This conclusion is not to insult anyone who is Moslem (Muslim) but to establish tangible facts. Is there a possibility that Islam represents hybrid philosophies of the Judeo-Christian world, which interests are political and religious superiority, maybe. Can the Judeo-Christian world be inscribed to the same political and religious superiority of Islam, maybe.

All Abrahamic faiths claim divinity and all have proven by scripture to fall short of the glory of God. Was Yahushua (Jesus) a prophet, a god, God-Almighty, or the second-person of the triune which was prescribed by Tertullian. This doctrine though in it's original context was formulated to demonstrate the collective unity of God, the son, and the Set-Apart Spirit but its philosphical ideas can be linked to foreign religious philosphies which predated Christianity. So, as a believer in the Universal-One Uncreated God of the Cosmos I must agree with my brothers and sisters who practice Judaism, Islam, and a host of other Christian Sects; God is One and is not a tri-God.

Does the scriptures which are transcribed/translated in the English language have flaws, yes. Anything, I repeat-anything that man puts his hands on eventually he will corrupt whether it's today or tommorrow. Page 439-"Throughout history, religious followers have had the histories of their leaders mixed with myths and legends to the point that separating between them is at times impossible. The strength of popular belief in a concept or claim or is no guarantee that this concept or claim is more likely to be real."

Dr. Louay Fatoohi does have many biases in his book only because he has established himself as a Muslem. Like for example: he teaches that all of the biblical patriachs/prophets are Muslems. This is not a fact, this is a learned man who uses the science of "dialectics". All religious followers and organizations who claim divinity devise this particular form of reasoning to support their own self anointed belief systems.

I have nothing but resepect for Dr. Fatoohi by stating in his book that the Qur'an is not a history book and that it often bypasses details that are given prominence in traditional recounting of history. I do not agree with all of Dr. Fatoohi's interpretations or conclusions but some of his scholarship is based on simple common sense. For instance page 500 states: Christians, like Jews, believed that it is only them who will enter paradise. The Qur'an refutes this claim, clarifying the requirements for salvation and stressing that they apply to "All" people without exception or discrimination. Does this view contradict what the set-apart scriptures teach? Go to Mark 9:38-40 and Luke 9:49-50. Scriptures indicate that by two or three witnesses every matter must be established-Mark and Luke are my 2 witneses. This particular man was not with the chosen but he was a chosen vessel, this can not be refuted if we conform to what the scriptures teach. A human being does not have to be with the governing body to be a follower of the "Nazarene". But you must be a believer in his light and truth which bears the semblance of the Father. A religious order's name nor philosphies cannot save a believer only their faith and works can do that. In conclusion, I think that Dr. Fatoohi's book is well designed for the Moslem believer but cannot and will not be accepted by the Orthodox Judeo-Christian world.