Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾān, Volume II Bea-C

Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾān, Volume II Bea-C, edited by M. Iqbal and G. Haddad. Ardrossan: Centre for Islamic Sciences: , 2024, 474pp. ISBN: 978-1963105049.

Reviewed by: Najam Abbas, London

The Integrated Encyclopedia of the Qurʾān (IEQ) is envisaged to be a seven-volume reference work that derives its content from primary sources incorporating a broad spectrum of traditional materials, including exegetical works, Hadith collections and commentaries, classical lexicons, and biographical dictionaries—sources that have often remained accessible primarily to those fluent in Arabic.

IEQ’s second volume is very helpful in identifying possible links and in providing a workable scheme that helps readers see a wide range of Qurʾānic concepts at a glance. The entries offer a clear gist of what linguistic analysis can contribute to developing a deeper understanding of Qurʾānic terms, while also showcasing—in a compact, accessible manner—a rich range of commentaries that have engaged key Qurʾānic vocabulary across the past millennium. The volume encourages readers to move beyond a word-for-word literal translation and to consider how meaning is shaped by usage, context, and conceptual relations; in doing so, it improves comprehension not only of individual words but also of the lexicon and style of the Qurʾānic narrative.