Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an

The Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an represents a watershed achievement in Western Islamic scholarship, offering the first comprehensive reference work in English dedicated to quranic studies. Under Jane Dammen McAuliffe's editorship, this six-volume work assembles contributions from leading international scholars to examine the Qur'an's theological, historical, and literary dimensions. The encyclopaedia emerges at a critical juncture when Western academia increasingly recognizes the need for sophisticated engagement with Islamic scripture beyond orientalist frameworks.

The work's significance to discussions of God lies in its systematic presentation of quranic theology and its reception history. Contributors analyze key theological concepts including tawhid (divine unity), divine attributes, prophetology, and eschatology, while situating these within both classical Islamic exegesis and contemporary scholarly debates. The encyclopaedia addresses how the Qur'an constructs its understanding of the divine through linguistic analysis, examining the ninety-nine names of God and their theological implications. Particularly valuable are entries exploring the Qur'an's engagement with biblical traditions, illuminating how Islamic scripture reformulates Judeo-Christian conceptions of deity, revelation, and human-divine relations.

McAuliffe's editorial approach emphasizes methodological pluralism, incorporating historical-critical, literary, feminist, and anthropological perspectives alongside traditional Muslim scholarship. This multiplicity reveals the Qur'an's complex discourse about God as both continuous with and distinctive from earlier Abrahamic traditions. The encyclopaedia examines contested interpretations of divine sovereignty, human agency, and the problem of evil within Islamic thought, demonstrating how quranic verses generate diverse theological positions within Islam itself.

The work's contribution extends beyond descriptive analysis to engage contemporary philosophical and theological questions. Articles address modern challenges to traditional understandings of revelation, the relationship between divine speech and human language, and Islamic responses to secularization. By presenting the Qur'an as a living document that continues to shape theological discourse, the encyclopaedia provides essential resources for comparative theology and interreligious dialogue.

This reference work establishes new standards for academic engagement with Islamic scripture in Western scholarship. Its comprehensive scope and rigorous methodology make it indispensable for scholars examining how the Qur'an constructs knowledge of the divine and continues to inform contemporary debates about God's nature, revelation, and human religious experience.