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The Biblical Qur’an: A Christian Investigation
The Biblical Qur’an: A Christian Investigation
by Michael Healy, Jr.
Can Christians interpret the Qur’an Christocentricly, as we have always done with the Old Testament? How would such a reading of the Qur’an modify our understanding of Christian and Muslim history? Can it be that the challenge of Islam has played a positive role in God’s plan for the Christian People? These are among the questions this book seeks to answer.
Paperback: $29.95 | Kindle $9.99
TESTIMONIALS
“The Biblical Qur’an is a sincere and thoughtful theological reading of Islamic scripture. Michael Healy Jr. seeks out what is beautiful and true in the Qur’an and places it in conversation with Christian teaching. He is also interested in understanding the history of salvation and Islam’s place therein.” – Dr. Gabriel Said Reynolds, Department of Theology, University of Notre Dame
“I really appreciate the originality of Michael Healy’s vision and the amount of scholarship he displays. Healy sees correctly Islam as a kind of Old Testament of the Arabs that offers them truth although not (explicitly) the fullness of truth. Very often people judge before they understand. A correct method always tries first to understand, and one cannot understand without a fair amount of human sympathy for the object (the person or persons) who are the objects of your study. An error, moreover, is very often a truth out of its proper context, and the most convincing confutation of an error is the repositioning of that truth in its correct place.” – Rocco Buttiglione, Professor of Political Science at Saint Pius V University in Rome, and a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences
“The Biblical Qur‘an draws on deep religious, historical and philosophical insight into God’s plan for Muslims and their place in salvation. I think it will be an important tool in the evangelization of the Muslim world.” – Ligia Castaldi, Professor of Law, Ave Maria School of Law
“Michael Healy’s The Biblical Qur‘an is a fascinating study that lays out an original argument in a logical manner.” – Msgr. Michael John Witt, Church Historian, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis, MO
“The Biblical Qur’an is an extraordinarily original and provocative contribution of our understanding of the Islamic religion.” – Ronda Chervin, Ph.D., Emerita Professor of Philosophy, Holy Apostles College and Seminary.
“I am very happy to endorse The Biblical Qur’an by Michael Healy for publication. The book provides a Christocentric reading of the Qur’an that takes note of such readings by Giulio Basetti-Sani, OFM (1977) and earlier authors such as Bishop Paul of Antioch (12th century), the anonymous Letter from the People of Cyprus (fourteenth century), and Nicholas of Cusa (fifteenth century). Michael Healy’s book, however, shows a more profound awareness of issues related to contemporary hermeneutics, discernment of private revelations, philosophical approaches to verification, and divine providence. The book provides a fascinating study of certain Qur’anic passages that suggest a hidden Christian meaning. It also looks at various biblical texts (Gen 16:8–12; 17:17–27; 21: 8–21) that indicate a divine plan for the Muslims via Abraham and Ishmael. Michael Healy provides a thoroughly Catholic approach to his Christocentric reading of the Qur’an, and he shows possible allusions to the Eucharist, redemptive suffering, devotion to the saints and the Virgin Mary. He deals with the clear differences between Christian doctrines (e.g. the Trinity and the Incarnation) and those of Islam, but he suggests that the Muslim emphasis on the unity of God might help lead Christians to a renewed awareness of God the Father as the source of the Godhead. Healy likewise examines what seem to be anti-Jewish and anti-Christian passages in the Qur’an, but he suggests that these can be read as reactions to Jews and Christians who do not faithfully follow their own religions. There are likewise many original and interesting interpretations of Muslim concepts (e.g. Muhammad as the seal of the prophets) as well as discussions of Muslim claims that the coming Muhammad is predicted in the Bible. Healy manifests a clear awareness of the cultural milieu out of which Islam emerged, and this helps him discuss moral issues such as polygamy and war in the Qur’an as well as the relation of Islam towards Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. Perhaps the most original proposal of Healy is his suggestion that the Qur’an functions as a type of “midrash” that helps people abandon paganism and embrace a theocentric worldview. In this sense, Islam—even though it emerges chronologically after the coming of Christ—can play a role in God’s providence over history in ways that we might not fully understand. Michael Healy, though, is hardly a religious relativist. He is a committed Catholic who recognizes Christ as the most complete revelation of God to the human race. A Christocentric worldview, however, should enable us to ponder how God, in his mysterious providence, might even make use of the Qur’an and the Islamic tradition to bring people to the truth about Christ and the Catholic faith.” – Robert L. Fastiggi, Ph.D., Bishop Kevin M. Britt Chair of Dogmatic Theology and Christology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI USA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael Healy, Jr. holds a B.A. in Philosophy and History, an M.A. in Philosophy, and an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville as well as a J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law. He also reads voraciously, enjoys hiking and travelling with his wife Tara, and endeavors to live out his Catholic Faith.
Stephen D. Schwarz, Philosophy Professor emeritus, Ph.D. Harvard, author, and student of Dietrich von Hildebrand, taught philosophy forty-four years at the University of Rhode Island. His belief that the true spirit of a philosopher is that of wonder was the foundation on which he taught thousands of students in the classroom. Now in 
Kiki Latimer, author, public speaking coach, editor, and teacher of Homiletics, received her BA from the University of Rhode Island in the Oral Interpretation of Literature, Psychology, and Philosophy and her MA in Moral Theology from Holy Apostles College & Seminary. Student and life-long friend of Stephen D. Schwarz, she has accompanied him in transforming his classroom teaching experience to the written pages of 
Kimberly Bruce is an author, writer, and blogger. She has a master’s degree in Theology with additional leadership training from the Women of Grace Benedicta Institute for Women. Kim has been instrumental in leading Life Teen, Women of Grace, and other catechetical programs in her diocese. She is author of the book, 
Mary Kloska is from Elkhart, Indiana. She was raised in a huge Polish family (12 brothers and sisters) along with a lot of foster babies and other needy people in and out of the house. She presently has 70+ nieces and nephews. She has lived a very unique life. Upon graduating from Notre Dame in 1999 she spent almost 20 years in the missions serving the poor (including orphanages) as well as praying as a consecrated hermit all over the world –Siberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, South Africa, Philippines, Mexico, the Holy Land and all over Europe as well. Although she spent a lot of time away in silence praying, ironically she loves children and is very fun and outgoing when it comes to serving young adults, as well as the little ones. She also spent her time in the missions giving retreats, doing simple catechesis, leading prayer groups, giving spiritual direction, helping in deliverance, changing diapers, feeding babies and cleaning floors. After spending intense time serving in a mission she would withdraw for periods of ‘retreat’ as a hermit (including three years as an official diocesan hermit with vows under a Bishop.) The last few years she has spent as a fulltime nanny to infant triplets, twins and several large families. She speaks many languages (poorly) and enjoys playing guitar, painting icons, baking, gardening, reading, writing and simply filling in where there is the greatest need in the Church. Her WCAT Radio program, “The Heart of Fiat Crucified Love,” may be found