The Islamic Moses: How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World

by Mustafa Akyol Narrated by Neil Shah

Overview

There is one human mentioned in the Quran more than any other: Moses. Why is it that the Jewish prophet dominates the Islamic scripture? Because he is the role model for Muhammad, Islam's own prophet. Because Islam, just like Christianity, is deeply intertwined with Judaism-although surprisingly little attention has been given to this fascinating connection between the two religions.



Author and journalist Mustafa Akyol takes listeners on a theological and historical walk through that much-neglected side of the Abrahamic triangle: the Judeo-Islamic tradition. Using Moses's presence in the Quran as a jumping-off point, Akyol explores the first historical encounter between Muslims and Jews, the creative symbiosis and mutual enrichment that occurred between the two belief systems in medieval times, and the modern emergence, development, and perception of the two religions.



At a time of bitter conflict in the Middle East, The Islamic Moses dives into the older, deeper, and often unexpectedly brighter story of Jews and Muslims. Listeners of any background will be surprised by the common historical and theological ground that exists between the two religions, and will come away with a better understanding of both.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A timely, accessible, and eye-opening new approach to a centuries-old story." —Kirkus, starred review

"Journalist Akyol draws theological, philosophical, and cultural links between Islam and Judaism in this innovative study inspired by the prophet central to both faiths. It's a thought-provoking challenge to those who see only deep divisions between the faiths." —Publishers Weekly

"Moses is the name that recurs most often in the Qur’an, and the Qur’an was just the beginning. Mustafa Akyol surprises again and yet again with one documented instance after another of affinity or alliance between Jews and Muslims over the centuries. Cogent, admirably concise, and thoroughly engaging." —Jack Miles, Pulitzer prize-winning author of God in the Qur’an

"It is a rare thinker who can offer a critical comparative study of two religions and their interactions that is both honest and fair. Here you have it, and in a balanced presentation that is a delight to read. Mustafa Akyol offers a deep dive into the history, theology, law and religious practices of Jews and Muslims as they lived together and apart for centuries -- a must read for those open to sincere reflection." —Rabbi Reuven Firestone, Regenstein Professor in Medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles

"By throwing light on the contentious relationship of Jews and Muslims the distinguished author Mustafa Akyol has convincingly established the deeply organic and symbiotic links between the two religions. This is a brilliant book that must be widely read by mainstream commentators and public figures as well as studied on campus. It not only tells an important story but offers a key to peace in our troubled times." —Akbar Ahmed, Distinguished Professor and the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, School of International Service, American University, Wilson Center Global Fellow, Washington DC, and former Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland.

"This book is a piece of outstanding scholarship and an act of courage. In theology and law, worship and societal life, Judaism and Islam are united by a special relationship. Akyol explores how this relationship came about and how it thrived, well into the 20th century. He thus tells us that Jews and Muslims are not condemned to a never-ending struggle. They can make appeal to a shared past and a common rationality. And this is a reason of hope for all." —Martino Diez, Associate Professor of Arabic, Catholic University of Milan

"This book is a magnificent act of writing. In a secular world still threatened by religious misunderstanding and violence, it is also an urgently needed act of peace. By illuminating the periods of greatest mutuality between the oldest monotheistic faith, Judaism, and the last, Islam, Mustafa Akyol demonstrates that a respectful way forward is not only possible but has a sound theological as well as humanitarian basis. It is also essential for the survival of a regenerative monotheism in a contemporary pluralist world. This requires scholarship and insight of the highest order. Add to this the supreme spiritual qualities of wisdom and compassion and I could not recommend The Islamic Moses with more enthusiasm. Or hope." —Reverend Dr Stephanie Dowrick, Ph.D., D. Min., author of Seeking the Sacred: Transforming Our View of Ourselves and One Another

"Is there a deeply rooted Judeo-Islamic tradition? In this bold and original book, Mustafa Akyol explains how such a tradition existed over a millennium until it was forgotten a century ago. Analyzing their theological, philosophical, and sociopolitical roots, this ambitious book sheds light on the history of Jewish-Muslim relations. Akyol’s path-breaking analysis gives us hope about better relations between Jews and Muslims in the future." —Ahmet T. Kuru, author of Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment: A Global and Historical Comparison

"Mustafa Akyol has written a genuinely valiant and profoundly knowledgeable book. His immersion in a tradition other than his own is moving to behold: an unforgettable example of humaneness across difference. I feel blessed to inhabit this ugly world with the author of this beautiful book." —Leon Wieseltier

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2024-07-10
The largely untold story of Jewish and Islamic cooperation.

Akyol continues to challenge modern, divisive religious views by highlighting what he calls the “Judeo-Islamic tradition.” In this work, the author asserts that Jews and Muslims often had a cooperative, even collaborative relationship until the end of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Emulating the approach of his earlier book,The Islamic Jesus, which described largely ignored ties between Islam and Christianity, Akyol uses the figure of Moses to explore ties between Islam and Judaism. Arabs in cities such as Medina, he states, were open to Islam in part because their Jewish neighbors had introduced them to the concept of monotheism. Beginning during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, Jews aided and even encouraged the burgeoning Muslim movement. Similarly, as Islam spread, it gave Jews a protected and equal status. As Islam continued to advance westward with the conquest of the Ottoman Empire, Byzantine Jews who had long suffered under the remnants of Roman rule found far more freedom and tolerance under Muslim governance. Some “even saw the advent of Islam as the beginning of a Messianic age.” In contrast with Russia and Europe, where Jews lived in separation and fear, Ottoman Jews were protected. In fact, the empire often welcomed persecuted Jews from areas such as Spain. Akyol goes so far as to refer to this relationship as a “Muslim and Jewish symbiosis.” However, with the conflicts of the first half of the 20th century and the advent of Zionism, culminating in the state of Israel, this symbiosis rapidly unraveled. Nationalism, rather than purely religious issues, Akyol argues, has been behind the conflicts that ravage Jewish-Muslim relations to this very day.

A timely, accessible, and eye-opening new approach to a centuries-old story.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940191959290
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	09/10/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged

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