Bust-Down Books
Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an by Denise Spellberg
Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an by Denise Spellberg
Couldn't load pickup availability
Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders
by Denise Spellberg
📜 CONSTITUTIONAL PLURALISM & ENLIGHTENMENT PHILOSOPHY
An academic investigation into how the Founders utilized Islam as the "imaginary outer limit" of religious freedom to establish a truly universal legal foundation for American citizenship.
Extended Synopsis
In Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an, Denise A. Spellberg uncovers a transformative chapter in American intellectual history. In 1765, over a decade before drafting the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson purchased a copy of the Qur'an. While his interest was rooted in a personal disdain common among his contemporaries, Spellberg reveals how this study became the catalyst for a radical political vision. Jefferson and a handful of fellow Founders drew upon Enlightenment ideals of toleration to imagine Muslims—then considered the ultimate outsiders—as future American citizens.
This groundbreaking research demonstrates that the debate over Muslim inclusion was the decisive factor in the Founders' refusal to establish a Protestant nation. By setting the legal boundaries of religious freedom to encompass Islam, they intentionally created a pluralistic framework that would protect all "despised minorities," including Jews and Catholics. Spellberg’s work provides critical historical context for contemporary discussions on religious identity, state surveillance, and the essential pluralism that defines the American experiment.
Author Biography
Denise A. Spellberg is a Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. A specialist in Islamic history and its influence on Western political thought, her research bridge-builds between the early modern Islamic world and the formation of American democratic ideals. She is widely cited for her ability to integrate archival European and American legal history with Islamic religious studies.
Reader Targeting
- Constitutional Scholars: Academics analyzing the originalist intent of the First Amendment and the scope of religious liberty.
- American Historians: Researchers focusing on the Enlightenment's influence on the Founding Fathers and early American pluralism.
- Political Scientists: Professionals examining the historical roots of religious inclusion and exclusion in Western governance.
Accolades & Awards
- Acclaimed as an "original and illuminating" contribution to the history of American religious freedom.
- Praised by major historical reviews for its "revelatory understanding" of Jefferson's private library and public policy.
Product Specifications
| ISBN-13: | 9780307388391 |
| ISBN-10: | 0307388395 |
| Publisher: | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group |
| Format: | Paperback, Illustrated |
| Publication Date: | 2014-07-01 |
Bust-Down Books: A Name You Can Trust
Armed With Education
Share
