My Mercy Encompasses All: The Koran's Teachings on Compassion, Peace and Love

by Reza Shah-Kazemi (Introduction), Wendell Berry (Foreword)

If the concept of divine unity dominates the mind, it is the principle of divine compassion that rules the heart in Islam. Contrary to the harsh stereotypes of Islam-fostered both by fanatics within the religion itself, and by biased critics-the culture of this religion is steeped in the ambience generated by mercy and compassion, expressions of divine love. This spiritual culture issues from heartfelt conviction that God is to be taken absolutely seriously when he declares in the seventh chapter of the Koran, “My mercy encompasses all.”

Drawn from his own translations of the text, scholar and author Reza Shah-Kazemi has selected key verses from the Koran which manifest the various facets of this mercy, a mercy which bestows profound peace and infinite love. In the spirit of Blessed Are the Peacemakers, Wendell Berry's collection of quotations from the Bible, here is a book to help us illuminate an immensely influential text

Genres: Religion, Islam

120 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2007

About the author

Dr. Reza Shah-Kazemi writes on a range of topics from metaphysics and doctrine to contemplation and prayer. He is presently a Research Associate at the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, where, amongst other projects, he has been working on a new, annotated translation of Nahj al-Balagha, the discourses of Imam ‘Ali. Dr. Shah-Kazemi is also the founding editor of the Islamic World Report. His degrees include International Relations and Politics at Sussex and Exeter Universities, and a PhD in Comparative Religion from the University of Kent in 1994. He later acted as a consultant to the Institute for Policy Research in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.

Dr. Shah-Kazemi has authored and translated several works, including Paths of Transcendence: Shankara, Ibn Arabi and Meister Eckhart on Transcendent Spiritual Realization (World Wisdom Books, 2006), Doctrines of Shi‘i Islam (I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2001), Avicenna: Prince of Physicians (Hood Hood, 1997) and Crisis in Chechnya (Islamic World Report, 1995). Reza Shah-Kazemi has edited several books, including Algeria: Revolution Revisited (Islamic World Report, 1997). He has also published numerous articles and reviews in academic journals.

Reviews

[moonglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, filled with direct quotes from the Qur'an and Shah-Kazemi's elegant introduction and notes, provides the reader with the fundamental values that are, contrary to popular belief, at the heart of Islam - peace, compassion, mercy, and love. If I had to recommend one book about Islam to a non-Muslim interested in learning more about the religion, this would be the one.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

The selections in this very small book are fine in themselves, but having read a good deal of the Koran, they are not at all representative, any more than a similar compilation from the Hebrew Bible would be. However, judging by my Muslim friends, such verses as these, emphasizing the goodness and mercy of God, are perhaps the most influential. It might be a good starting point when dealing with Islamaphobics.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collection of verses from the Koran with good commentary in the footnotes. I was trying to get the gist without having to read the whole Koran, but now I feel like I need to go read it.