Books : The Essential Koran: Heart of Islam, The
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by: Thomas Cleary
List Price: $14.95Amazon.com's Price: $10.92 You Save: $4.03 (27%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 297.122521
EAN: 9780062501981
ISBN: 0062501984
Label: HarperOne
Manufacturer: HarperOne
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 224
Publication Date: March 11, 1994
Publisher: HarperOne
Release Date: March 11, 1994
Sales Rank: 94893
Studio: HarperOne
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
A guide to freeing ourselves from the inappropriate and crippling behaviors that sabotage our success.
Amazon.com Review:
This collection of readings from the Quran is designed to help non-Muslim Westerners approach this sacred book and savor something of its amazing power through a selection of chapters and verses encapsulating some of its central ideas and essential beauties. A 'rosary of readings and recitations,' the excerpts chosen represent the 'six aims' of the Quran (which range from knowledge of God to refutations of unbelievers' arguments), all of which point to the need for intelligent, considered faith in order for humans to come to a true knowledge of God. The selections, from hymns of praise to calls for compassion toward the most needy, reveal the majesty and poetry of this extraordinary text while illuminating its spiritual lessons. Cleary's graceful translation makes the ancient verses clear and accessible to the modern reader:
Worship nothing but God;
be good to your parents and relatives,
and to the orphan and the poor.
Speak nicely to people,
be constant in prayer,
and give charity.
The excellent linguistic notes, which Cleary calls an intrinsic part of the translation itself, amplify the meanings of untranslatable words through reference to their Arabic roots and related derivatives. The book is a first-rate introduction for non-Muslims both to the beauty of the Quran and to the core teachings of Islam, which have too often been misrepresented or misunderstood in the West. --Uma Kukathas
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - VERY FULL OF TRUTH AND PEACE THROUGH HARMONY. IT'S A SOUL'S MELODY
THE TITLE I LEAVE ABOVE TO MY REVIEW!!!!IS IT ENOUGH?????I DO NOT HAVE ANY ABOUT MORE TO ADD.
Rating: - The essential koran is the best introduction for many to Islam
Before all the religious rules and tribal stories that can be boring at first, the "Essence of Koran" presents faith in ONE invisible GOD, spirituality and human attainment of goodness first, as they were first presented by all known Prophets. This is a great introduction for non-Muslims and for Muslims of habit who may need to simply start over to rediscover Islam on their own, beyond traditions and religious customs that have inundated them. I think this book is great for classrooms. This is ... Read More
Rating:  - An Introduction
This book was my closest introduction to Islam apart from a few classes in college which only touched on a few aspects of the religion and its cultures. I am very happy that I read it.
First off, I am a slightly biased reader. That is to say, I admire Thomas Cleary as a scholar for two reasons (therefore, anything he puts out I will most probably appreciate for one reason or another) First, upon receiving his PhD, he made a real effort to remove himself from the constraints of the academic ... Read More
Rating: - Brilliant
Dr.Cleary has a pen that keeps on turning out brilliant stuff. The translation is poetic and grips the reader tightly as one goes through it. I would recommend this translation to any non-muslim or muslim for that matter, on account of its accuracy and brilliance. I gave it as a gift to some Catholic guests and they Loved it.
Rating: - Essential Reading
If you want to look behind today's headlines, read this powerful translation of the Qur'an by a sensitive, spiritually-musical, artistic translator. His commentaries are especially helpful (he provides linguistic insights and compares passages with similar themes in other scriptures), which is why this book is helpful despite the fact that he now has a translation of the complete Qur'an available.
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