Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders
Denise A. Spellberg
Oct 2013 ¡ Sold by Vintage
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In this original and illuminating book, Denise A. Spellberg reveals a little-known but crucial dimension of the story of American religious freedomâa drama in which Islam played a surprising role. In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qurâan. This marked only the beginning of his lifelong interest in Islam, and he would go on to acquire numerous books on Middle Eastern languages, history, and travel, taking extensive notes on Islam as it relates to English common law. Jefferson sought to understand Islam notwithstanding his personal disdain for the faith, a sentiment prevalent among his Protestant contemporaries in England and America. But unlike most of them, by 1776 Jefferson could imagine Muslims as future citizens of his new country.
Based on groundbreaking research, Spellberg compellingly recounts how a handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jeffersonâs political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Foundersâ ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done.
As popular suspicions about Islam persist and the numbers of American Muslim citizenry grow into the millions, Spellbergâs revelatory understanding of this radical notion of the Founders is more urgent than ever. Thomas Jeffersonâs Qurâan is a timely look at the ideals that existed at our countryâs creation, and their fundamental implications for our present and future.
Based on groundbreaking research, Spellberg compellingly recounts how a handful of the Founders, Jefferson foremost among them, drew upon Enlightenment ideas about the toleration of Muslims (then deemed the ultimate outsiders in Western society) to fashion out of what had been a purely speculative debate a practical foundation for governance in America. In this way, Muslims, who were not even known to exist in the colonies, became the imaginary outer limit for an unprecedented, uniquely American religious pluralism that would also encompass the actual despised minorities of Jews and Catholics. The rancorous public dispute concerning the inclusion of Muslims, for which principle Jeffersonâs political foes would vilify him to the end of his life, thus became decisive in the Foundersâ ultimate judgment not to establish a Protestant nation, as they might well have done.
As popular suspicions about Islam persist and the numbers of American Muslim citizenry grow into the millions, Spellbergâs revelatory understanding of this radical notion of the Founders is more urgent than ever. Thomas Jeffersonâs Qurâan is a timely look at the ideals that existed at our countryâs creation, and their fundamental implications for our present and future.
In this original and illuminating book, Denise A. Spellberg reveals a little-known but crucial dimension of the story of American religious freedomâa drama in which Islam played a surprising role. In 1765, eleven years before composing the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson bought a Qu...
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11 reviews
Awesome Cat
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January 22, 2021
Not only do you hide facts aboutEuropeanS0lutreans but you falsely claim now the ls la m lcs been here as an excuse for these criminals to take over.We know whos behind these lies sinceFedRes took over.You all and your ls lam lc pals are liars who think they have a right to take from others, over places, many chrlstlans exposed them and theM a s ks.Books like this should be gone instead this nation was proConstitutional and proNationalist not gIobaIlstlc we also know you criminals on top spread them out to our places to take advantage!You guys are the real r a c l s t s ones who should leave!! OnceFedRes took over questionable m l g r a n t s came.Many are just as bad spewing antlwh lt e hating lies esp their hate for chrlstlans while taking advantage.Your last name ends in,berg that explains a lot you guys should be lockedUP for supporting those real domestic and f0relgn ls l a m lc t e r r 0 r l s t s to do your dirty work!LikeUSSRcrimes to.We deserve reparations and justice
RDtheTruth Est.1963 So.Bx. Douglas
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May 25, 2019
This isn't an Bible, Thomas Jefferson was never God, can't be God, and why is Jesus Christ name not mentioned in this bible?. Thomas Jefferson was an idiot and so are the ones who believe in a bible that the Author isn't "GOD:.
Michael Ihsan
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October 24, 2021
In the Name of God Most Gracious Most Mericful, the author has written American history that is not taught in our school systems. Those who object to the book as not a Quranic translation, or as an attempt to change America are slow minded and can not face truth still in their lives. Evey negative saying about "submitting oneself to God" is ignorance in itself. Islam means Submission to God, so try to insert the definition into the sentence each and every time you see the word Islam and if it makes literature sense to you and how it is being applied. If idoes then All.praises are due to God because you are a learnt person, if it doesn't then may God continue to bless with more light of understanding and we all are praying for you to come out of your own darkness. I will purchase this book for my library, I have not read it đ
but I know the history of TJ and admire him dearly for his open mindness to a new nation freedom of religion with the knowledge of knowing that the world at his time had many faith and he wanted to know them all, to take a.piece of them all maybe and make his new nation God fearing without making it another idle worshipping nation like the one his for fathers had just left. This is American history not just Islamic history. Jesus never read the Bible because it wasn't written when he was here, he read and was raised on the Torah, Jesus is written well in the Hy Qur'an and so is his Mother Mary, she has a Whe surah (chapter) dedicated to her. Book the book as a history book and know your religion before condemning another. Islam has been in America for 800 years, the Imam of America is known in Washington DC as the Late Imam W.Deen Mohammed. This is American history learn it, don't reject it. Peace be unto you, God HAS bless America and will continue.
About the author
Denise A. Spellberg is an associate professor of history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches courses on Islamic civilization and Islam in Europe and America.
Denise A. Spellberg is an associate professor of history and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches courses on Islamic civilization and Islam in Europe and America.
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