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Acknowledgements xiiiAcknowledgementsThe present book, and the larger initiative in Qur'anic studies of which it is a part,have been made possible by the generous support of the University of NotreDame. The University sponsored the first Notre Dame Qur'an conference in 2005,which led to the publication of The Qur 'an in Its Historical Context (Routledge2008). Subsequently the Institute for Scholarship in tl1e Liberal Arts at NotreDame awarded us a Small Research and Creative Work grant to support the translationof that work into_ Arabic. The second Notre Dame Qur'an conference(19-21 April 2009), which lies behind the present work, was supported by aHenkels Lecture grant, also from the Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Artsat Notre Dame. The University's regular financial support is an expression ofconfidence which I do not take lightly. I am particularly grateful for Notre Dame'svision that the strengthening of its commitment to ilie Catholic tradition shouldcoincide with the meaningful study of another.I would also like to thank my colleagues in the Department of Theology atNotre Dame. They have supported my work on the Qur'anic studies initiative andoffered numerous insights on how to approach religious texts, and how to thinkabout the intersection of critical scholarship and belief. I am particulariy gratefulto John Cavadini, former chair of the Department of Theology, who never failedto help me when I needed it most, and who set an example for me and many otherswith his wisdom and his generosity.Joshua Robinson was my assistant during the 2008-9 academic year andworked with great efficiency and professionalism throughout our preparations forthe 2009 Qur' an conference and during ilie conference itself. Hannah Hemphillwas my assistant during the 2009-10 academic year, during which time.she carefullyread and edited the papers in ilie present volume, while offering valuablesuggestions for its improvement. I am also grateful to Joseph Khalil, who compiledthe two indices of this book in a precise and professional manner. Cheron Price,administrative assistant in the Department of Theology, has helped me withnumerous matters over the past several years in her infailingly patient and diligentmanner.My doctoral advisor at Yale University was Gerhard Bowering, and he hascontinued to be an important source of support and insight since I have joined thefaculty at Notre Dame. I have also benefited from ilie support of David Bertainaof ilie University of Illinois (Springfield), who has helped me improve this andother publications with his judicious comments. I am grateful to Prof. AbdolkarimSoroush, who led an extraordinary roundtable at the conclusion of ilie 2009Qur'an conference, during which he made the wise proposal that we translate theworks ofilie Notre Dame Qur'an initiative into Arabic.I must add that the work of Routledge Press and its affiliates has been excellent.I am grateful to Joe Whiting, ilie editor of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies atRoutledge, to Prof. Andrew Rippin, ilie director of the Routledge Studies in ilieQur' an series (who has been a faithful source of guidance throughout this project),and to the talented team of editors and typesetters who have dedicated iliemselvesto this work. The two anonymous outside reviewers of this work both submitteddetailed reports which allowed us to improve it substantially, and to them I amlikewise grateful.Finally I would like to iliank my family for their love and support: my parentsand step-parents, my lovely wife Lourdes, and my children Luke, Emmanuel, andTheresa.