25 Icons of Peace in the Qur'an: Lessons of Harmony

by Mary Saad Assel

The prophets in the Qur'an condemn war, hatred, and disparity and advocate the belief in God's oneness and His call for peace among mankind. Assel successfully captures the minds of readers by giving them the opportunity to analyze and compare the stories of the prophets in the Qur'an with those of the prophets from the Old and New Testaments. She brings together the validated interpretations of both Sunni and Shia schools of thought in order to sustain objectivity and allow room for comparison and interpretation. Islam is an important force of solidarity and unity among mankind. It is the ultimate triumph to Muslims who perceive it to be the final test to a peace-seeking democratic society that denounces the dominant forces that are conspiring against it. This book is a valuable reference and text for students, professionals, scholars, and all who are interested in learning about Islam without having to read the entire Qur'an. It brings to the forefront the belief that Islam is truly a religion of peace. It was the death of her thirty-three year old son, Mazen, and her search for spiritual and emotional peace that inspired her to write this book.

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2010

About the author

Mary Saad Assel is a Dearborn native who worked under the Dearborn Board of Education from 1989 to 2012, teaching at Dearborn High School before transitioning to Henry Ford College. She earned a doctorate in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in brain science, memory, and retention from Wayne State University. In 2001, she co-founded the English Language Institute at Henry Ford College, where she served as instructor, advisor, and co-director. Assel has authored three books and translated numerous articles and books from Arabic to English. She is one of the few women worldwide to have recently translated the Quran into English. The Holy Quran: Verbatim Translation will be available in bookstores next week. In addition to her academic work, she remains active in Michigan’s interfaith community and has written original plays for the IIA Women’s Club.

Reviews

[Mary Assel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is for anyone who is interested in learning about the mission of Islamic prophets. It is written is story format that carry reflective weight. The structural logic makes it much easier for the reader to connect with each story and its precise message. The author places herself in an on-looker role and outlines each story objectively to offer Muslims and non Muslims alike an insight into Islam and the forces that define it as a religion of peace.