A Concise Encyclopeadia of Islam
موسوعة موجزة للإسلام
Encyclopédie concise de l'islam
A concise encyclopedic reference work providing accessible, scholarly definitions of the key terms, figures, concepts, and institutions of Islam for a general educated audience.
Editorial summary
This comprehensive reference work provides a systematic overview of Islamic beliefs, practices, and history, offering readers essential context for understanding Islam's theological framework and its contribution to global religious discourse. Newby presents Islamic concepts through a descriptive-analytical lens that illuminates the tradition's sophisticated theological architecture while maintaining scholarly objectivity. The encyclopaedia addresses fundamental Islamic teachings about Allah, prophecy, revelation, and human purpose, presenting these not as abstract doctrines but as lived realities that have shaped civilizations and continue to influence contemporary religious thought.
The work's treatment of Islamic theology demonstrates how the tradition engages perennial questions about divine existence, attributes, and human-divine relations. Newby explains core concepts such as tawhid (divine unity), presenting Islamic monotheism as both a theological claim and an organizing principle for understanding reality. The encyclopaedia elucidates how Islamic thinkers have historically approached questions of divine transcendence and immanence, rational theology (kalam), and the relationship between reason and revelation. These discussions reveal Islam's distinctive contributions to theistic philosophy, particularly its emphasis on divine unity and its sophisticated integration of Greek philosophical methods with revealed theology.
Methodologically, Newby employs careful descriptive analysis that respects the internal logic of Islamic thought while making it accessible to non-specialist readers. The work situates Islamic beliefs within their historical development, showing how classical formulations continue to inform modern Muslim thought. By presenting diverse Islamic perspectives on theological questions, the encyclopaedia demonstrates the tradition's intellectual dynamism and ongoing relevance to contemporary religious discourse.
The encyclopaedia's significance for the God debate lies in its presentation of Islam as a major theistic tradition with distinctive approaches to fundamental questions about divine reality, revelation, and human purpose. Newby's work helps readers understand how Islamic theology addresses universal religious concerns while maintaining its particular revelatory framework. The text serves as an essential resource for those seeking to understand Islamic contributions to global theological conversation, presenting the tradition's rich intellectual heritage without partisan advocacy. Through its balanced presentation of Islamic thought, the encyclopaedia enables productive engagement between Islamic perspectives and other philosophical and theological traditions in contemporary discourse about ultimate reality.
Structured analysis
Argument formulations engaged
Newby, Gordon D. (2002). A Concise Encyclopeadia of Islam.
@book{a-concise-encyclopeadia-of-islam,
author = {Newby, Gordon D.},
title = {A Concise Encyclopeadia of Islam},
year = {2002},
url = {https://god-database.com/en/works/a-concise-encyclopeadia-of-islam}
}