Islam's Jesus - by Zeki Saritoprak (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Few people realize that Jesus was a prominent messenger of God in Islam and that Muslims believe in the return of Jesus. Even among Muslims, it is not well known that there are diverse interpretations of references to Jesus in the Qur'an and the Hadith. Aiming to remedy this, Islam's Jesus takes a bold yet candid look at the highly charged topic of Jesus's place in Islam, exploring some of the religion's least understood aspects. Examining multiple intellectual traditions, Zeki Saritoprak makes clear the reality of pluralism in the history of Islamic religious scholarship. Actively engaged in efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and harmony, Saritoprak thoughtfully argues that the shared belief in Jesus presents an excellent opportunity for understanding between Muslims and Christians. Together, they constitute more than half of the world's population, and such understanding may be a foundation for peace.

Review Quotes

"An important book [that] deals with one of the most sensitive issues in Christian-Muslim dialogue."--Journal of Ecumenical Studies


"In a day when other books, such as Reza Aslan's Zealot, which also attempts to turn a microscope on to Jesus, have stirred such volatile reactions, Saritoprak sets up his book . . . for non-Muslims and Muslims alike to re-discover the revered central figure of the Christian religion as Jesus is understood in Muslim tradition."--Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online


"Probably to date the most complete presentation of the eschatological role of Jesus according to Islam."--Islamochristiana

"Saritoprak holds that Christians, Muslims and Jews have to be able to speak about their central and essential theological truths to have a meaningful dialogue."--Catholic Register

About the Author

Zeki Saritoprak is associate professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and the Beddiüzaman Said Nursi Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University. He is the author of numerous works on Islamic theology in English, Turkish, and Arabic.