false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170874616m/75312.jpg 75312 3 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: <p> <blockquote> Worship nothing but God; <br> be good to your parents and relatives,<br> and to the orphan and the poor. <br> Speak nicely to people, <br> be constant in prayer, <br> and give charity. <br> </blockquote> <p> 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. <I>--Uma Kukathas</I> 72850 1994 The Essential Koran total:41|5:6|4:16|3:15|2:4|1:0| 41 147 73 3 0 0 false false Wed Feb 13 19:00:20 -0800 2008 Sat Feb 16 13:03:14 -0800 2008 Thomas Cleary is in league with Stephen Mitchell and others who have done such a service to all of us in bringing to a wider audience the essence of different traditions. ]]> 3 0 false false Thu May 01 12:24:53 -0700 2008 Thu May 01 12:24:53 -0700 2008 3 0 false false Mon Aug 18 17:50:48 -0700 2008 Mon Aug 18 17:51:16 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Mon Nov 23 18:57:44 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 23 18:57:44 -0800 2009 4 0 true false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Mon Nov 02 20:57:06 -0800 2009 Mon Nov 02 20:57:23 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Oct 29 21:29:38 -0700 2009 Thu Oct 29 21:30:03 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Mon Oct 19 06:57:41 -0700 2009 Mon Oct 19 06:57:41 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Oct 06 10:21:16 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 06 10:21:16 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Tue Oct 06 09:50:35 -0700 2009 Tue Oct 06 09:50:35 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Fri Sep 11 21:26:11 -0700 2009 Fri Sep 11 21:26:11 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sat Sep 05 20:40:14 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 05 20:40:14 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Fri Aug 21 13:00:45 -0700 2009 Fri Aug 21 13:00:45 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Wed Jul 29 11:48:13 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 11:48:13 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Mon Jul 20 17:56:34 -0700 2009 Mon Jul 20 17:57:02 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Tue Jun 16 20:42:04 -0700 2009 Tue Jun 16 20:42:04 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Fri Jun 12 17:25:17 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 12 17:25:21 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Wed May 20 00:50:43 -0700 2009 Wed May 20 00:50:43 -0700 2009 4 0 false false Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2005 Sun May 17 19:13:48 -0700 2009 Sun May 17 19:14:03 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Wed May 13 16:24:23 -0700 2009 Wed May 13 16:24:23 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Aug 02 19:32:39 -0700 2009 Fri Apr 17 17:54:25 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 02 19:32:39 -0700 2009 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=75312