The Quṣṣāṣ of Early Islam, by Lyall R. Armstrong

Abstract

First Paragraph: This meticulously researched, thoroughly developed book about quṣṣās and qaṣaṣ in the Islamic traditions represents a long established literature discussing the elusive nature and role of quṣṣāṣ in the classical period of Islam. I. Goldziher, J. Pedersen, Ch. Pellat, C.E. Bosworth, K. ʿAthamina and many others in both the Western world and the Arab world have previously attempted at finding some answers. Armstrong’s book however is probably the most accomplished version of them all due perhaps to the diligence and erudition of what is originally a PhD dissertation.

Keywords

• Quṣṣāṣ
• Early Islam
• Lyall R. Armstrong
• Islamic tradition
• Umayyad period