author

Duncan Black MacDonald

1863–1943

A pioneering early scholar of Islam in the United States, this Scottish-born academic helped introduce generations of American students to Arabic, Muslim thought, and Christian-Muslim understanding. His work ranged from theology and law to literature, showing a rare curiosity about the inner life of a tradition often misunderstood in his time.

1 Audiobook

Development of Muslim Theology, Jurisprudence, and Constitutional Theory

Development of Muslim Theology, Jurisprudence, and Constitutional Theory

by Duncan Black MacDonald

About the author

Born in Glasgow on April 9, 1863, he studied at the University of Glasgow and later in Berlin before joining Hartford Theological Seminary in the early 1890s. There he taught Semitic languages, including Hebrew and Arabic, and became one of the key figures in establishing serious Islamic studies in the United States.

Macdonald is remembered as a pioneer in the academic study of Islam in America. He wrote influential works such as Development of Muslim Theology, Jurisprudence and Constitutional Theory and contributed articles to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His scholarship was noted for treating Islamic thought, law, and religious life as subjects worthy of close and respectful study.

He remained closely associated with Hartford for decades, and his legacy continued there long after his death on September 6, 1943. The Macdonald Center at Hartford International University reflects the lasting impact of his teaching and research on the study of Islam and Christian-Muslim relations.