Christmas and the Qur'an
Karl-Josef Kuschel
Translated from the German by Simon Pare
Gingko Library
2017
Weihnachten und der Koran
Christmas and the Qur'an
The familiar and heart-warming story of Christmas is one of hope, encapsulated by the birth of the infant Jesus. It is also a story, which unites two faiths, which have so often been at odds with one another. The accounts of the Nativity given by the Evangelists Luke and Matthew find their parallels in Surahs 3 and 19 of the Qur’an, which take up the Annunciation to Mary, the Incarnation from the Holy Spirit and the Nativity. Christmas and the Qur’an is a sensitive and precise analysis of the Christmas story as it appears both in the Gospels and the Qur’an and shows startling similarities as well as significant differences.Exploring how Christians and Muslims read these scriptures, Kuschel reveals an intertwining legacy that serves as a base for greater understanding.
Reviews
‘The depiction of Jesus and indeed of Mary in the Qur’an is a subject of great importance for a more intelligent dialogue between Islam and the Christian tradition. Too many people know little or nothing about it, and it is a pleasure to welcome the English translation of this book from a seasoned and creative scholar.’ —Rowan Williams, Master of Magdalene College and former Archbishop of Canterbury