Daniel and Islam: Muslim Traditions, Christian Readings and Apocalyptic Speculation examines the place of the Book of Daniel in Muslim and Christian traditions, exploring its significance for apocalyptic thought, interreligious relations, and contemporary interpretations of conflict in the Middle East.
The first of two volumes, this book establishes the historical and contextual foundations for a subsequent chapter-by-chapter reading of Daniel in an Islamic context. Bringing together Islamic and Christian perspectives, it explores traditions concerning the prophet Daniel in Sunni and Shiʿite Hadith, as well as the oral histories and devotional practices associated with Daniel shrines in Susa, Iran, and Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It then examines historical Christian interpretations of Daniel in relation to Islam and analyses contemporary Christian and Muslim apocalyptic discourse through case studies of American dispensationalist YouTube content, the New Apostolic Reformation movement, and official speeches from Hamas’s military branch. The final section considers how the Book of Daniel might contribute to Christian-Muslim relations through two contrasting Christian perspectives, including experiences of teaching Daniel to Arabic-speaking students across the Middle East and North Africa.
This book will appeal to students and scholars of Islamic studies, Christian-Muslim relations, biblical studies, religious studies, and Middle Eastern studies, as well as readers interested in apocalypticism, eschatology, and contemporary interreligious dialogue.