The Qur'an

“Meditative and unique, a lovely read for any spiritual person, Muslim or not.”—Publisher's Weekly

Few books in history have been as poorly understood as the Qur’an. Sent down in a series of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad, the Qur’an is the unmediated word of Allah, a ritual, political, and legal authority, an ethical and spiritual guide, and a literary masterpiece. In this book, one of the launch titles in Atlantic Monthly Press’ “Books That Changed the World” series, the distinguished historian of religion Bruce Lawrence shows precisely how the Qur’an is Islam. He describes the origins of the faith and assesses its tremendous influence on today’s societies and politics. Above all, Lawrence emphasizes that the Qur’an is a sacred book of signs that has no single message. It is a book that demands interpretation and one that can be properly understood only through its history. Bruce Lawrence’s work is a beautifully written and, in these increasingly troubled times, invaluable introduction to and exploration of the core sacred text of Islam.

KLIATT

Duke professor Bruce Lawrence is the director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center. He describes himself as an Abrahamic pluralist. This book attempts to introduce the Qur'an to the non-Muslim reader by tracing the history of its development, its translations and its use over the centuries. While one might initially feel trepidation about reading a work on such a serious topic, the reader will find that Lawrence's prose flows smoothly. He includes many verses of the Qur'an as examples as he explains why the Qur'an is both memorized and recited by Muslims. He traces Muhammad's reception of the Qur'an, its codification over time, its outstanding translators and commentaries, and then its use by African American Muslims and by Osama bin Laden. Still, the text is designed for the serious student who wants to understand how and why the Qur'an influences today's world. Reviewer: Patricia Moore