The Great Themes of the Qur'an By Jacques Jomier. London: SCM Press Ltd, 1997.

Abstract

Jacques Jomier states that this book was written at the request of some nonMuslims
living and working in the Muslim world, who were daunted by the
seemingly "impenetrable" and "closed" nature of the Qur'an - a statement
that is rather surprising when one considers that, for several decades now, contact
with the Qur'an has made Islam the fastest growing religion in the Western
world. Note especially the author's statement that "Islam is the Qur'an" and
that, according to Christian estimates, Islam will be more practiced in Britain
than Christianity by the year 2006.
A superficial glance at the text gives the reader the impression that this is an
objective piece of work, but on closer examination the author's preconceptions
and personal bias become obvious. In the introduction, for example, Jomier
describes his colleagues - the non-Muslims living with Muslims, for whom
the book is intended - as having "persevered with their project" (p. ix), and
that ''before the present work was written, it was explored and discussed in two
or three closed groups and many of the observations it contains were suggested
by this experience" (p. x). He also defines their strategy in both a patronizing
and an evangelical tone, saying, "We will succeed only if we are prepared
to listen to them [Muslims] tactfully, without taking their positions as hard and
fast, knowing that there are different tendencies among them that are capable
of development" (p. xi) ...