Philosophy of Religion in Islam: A Reader of Classical Sources

This is the first anthology to represent the contributions and perspectives of medieval Islamic scholars on philosophy of religion. Assembling and translating 63 key texts, including many never before published in English, it captures the variety and influence of Islamic thought on how we think about the existence of God, the problem of evil and the relationship between faith and reason.

Focusing on the classical period of medieval Islamic thought up until the end of the 13th century, this one-of-a kind reader is organized thematically around five parts and covers:

Conceptions of faith and reason
The possibility of miracles as the sign of divine support
Arguments for the God’s existence
Strategies for understanding religious texts
The nature of salvation

Each Part has its own specialized introduction, relating medieval Islamic discussions on that problem to the contemporary discussions in philosophy of religion. Each reading is accompanied by an overview that provides context and background to the argument. Broad and rich, there is a wealth of translated writing here. Granting access to such valuable primary sources, this reader offers us deeper insight into the debates, discussions, and arguments of Islam thinkers on universal questions in philosophy.

Rahim Acar is Professor of Philosophy of Religion at Marmara University, Turkey.