The Qur'an and the Bible: Text and Commentary

When reading the Qur'an, one recognizes that certain sutras seem similar to passages found in the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. However, it is not readily apparent what the exact relationship there is between the Qur'an and the other sacred writings. Reynolds (Islamic studies & theology, Univ. of Notre Dame; The Emergence of Islam) argues that the influence of significant Jewish and Christian literature, primarily the Bible but also other significant writings (e.g., the Mishnah, the Talmud), impacted the Qur'an in such a way that one cannot fully understand the latter without giving significant attention to the former. Biblical characters, imagery, stories, and literary techniques, available through oral tradition, permeate major portions of the Qur'an. Reynolds supports his thesis by creating a helpful volume that contains both the complete text of the Qur'an along with commentary on passages in the sutras that illustrate the influence of other religious traditions.