The timeless insight of Islam’s
sacred writings can enrich
your own spiritual journey.
For many in the West, the teachings of the
Qur’an often are enshrouded in mystery and fear.
Yet Islam’s holy book gave birth to one of the most
powerful and enlightened civilizations the world has ever seen.
By the sixteenth century, Muslim culture stretched from India
to Africa to Europe, preserving with it the ancient learning
that helped spawn the Renaissance. With its interwoven
ideas of faith and reason, justice and mercy, the path of
Islam—which literally means “surrendering to
God’s will”—offers a uniquely focused and
balanced approach to living life with a profound awareness of
God.
With gentleness and insight, Sohaib N.
Sultan leads you through the central themes of both the
Qur’an and the collected sayings of Prophet Muhammad,
known as hadith. These teachings dispel common misconceptions about
Muslim beliefs and offer practical guidance for your own
spiritual journey, from understanding the merciful nature of
God; to cultivating peace and justice in the self, family, and
society; to answering questions about the afterlife and how to
attain it.
Now you can experience the wisdom of
Qur’anic teachings even if you have no previous knowledge
of Islam or Muslim writings. Insightful yet unobtrusive
facing-page commentary explains the texts for you, allowing you
to enter into the path of surrender to God.
“A superb guide ... intelligently
illuminates each thematically arranged passage and concisely
summarizes centuries of Islamic interpretive wisdom.”
—Scott C.
Alexander, PhD, associate
professor of Islam and
director of Catholic-Muslim Studies,
Catholic Theological Union
“Lays before us ... the insights and
beauty of one of the world’s great sacred texts. A
valuable book for any reader who honestly wants to understand
the Qur’an and what it teaches.”
—Michael
Wolfe, author of The Hadj: An American’s Pilgrimage to Mecca
“Takes complex, wide-ranging aspects
of Islam and makes them clear and accessible for the non-Muslim
and Muslim alike. Comes alive with thoughtfully presented
insights and reflections. Whether you have a passing interest
in Islam, or have serious questions about this community of
faith, you will want to consult [this book].”
—Rev.
Steven Blackburn, PhD, Duncan
Black Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and
Christian-Muslim Relations
Jane I. Smith
is professor of Islamic studies and co-director of the
Macdonald Center for Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford
Seminary in Connecticut. She is co-editor of The Muslim World, a
journal dedicated to the study of Islam, and editor of the
Islam section of The Encyclopedia
of Women in World Religions.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1872–1953) was a highly respected scholar
of Islam from India who also studied in England. As a child, he
memorized the entire Qur’an and was an ardent student of
early Qur’anic commentaries. He had the distinct honor of
serving as vice chancellor of Islamia College in Lahore,
Pakistan.
