The Koran For Dummies

Front Cover
John Wiley & Sons, Mar 4, 2011 - Religion - 384 pages
With the current turmoil in the Middle East, there is a growing interest about Islam—the world’s second largest religion and one of the fastest growing—and its holy book, the Koran (or Qur’an). Now, with this easy-to-follow, plain-English guide, you can explore the history, structure, and basic tenets of Islam’s sacred scripture.

The Koran For Dummies is for non-Muslims interested in the Koran as well as Muslims looking to deepen their understanding. Islamic scholar Sohaib Sultan provides a clear road map, revealing:

  • The meaning of Koran and its basic message
  • The Koran’s place in history and in Islamic spiritual life
  • Explanations of its language, structure, and narrative style
  • How to live by the Koran’s teachings
  • The Koran’s role in key global issues, such as Jihad vs. terrorism
  • Different interpretations of the Koran

No other book provides such a straightforward look at what the Koran says, how it says it, and how believers live according to its guidance. From how the Koran was received by Mohammed and how it was compiled to how it’s interpreted by Islam’s two main branches, you’ll see how to put the Islamic faith in perspective.

Plus, you’ll discover:

  • What the Koran really says about women and civil law
  • How Islam relates to Judaism and Christianity
  • The Koran’s view of God, prophets, mankind, and the self
  • How its teachings are lived and recited every day by devout Muslims
  • Common misconceptions of the Koran
  • How to raise a family the Koranic way

Complete with lists of important passages, Koranic terminology, famous quotes, and further reading resources, The Koran For Dummies makes it easy and enjoyable for you to grasp the teachings and significance of Islam's holy book.

 

Contents

Introduction
1
The Part of Tens 309
5
Getting to Know the Koran
9
From Revelation to Written Book
21
Mapping Out the Structure of the Book
37
Discovering the Language of the Koran
53
Searching for the Soul of the Koran
79
Searching for the Soul of the Koran
81
Understanding the Koranic View of Self
191
Raising a Family the Koranic Way
215
Relating the Koran to the World
231
Connecting the Koran to Society
233
Purifying Society through Islamic Law
255
Struggling for God Jihad
273
The followers of Islam
283
The Koran and Modernity
295

Understanding Interpretations of the Koran Today
93
Seeing the Koranic Worldview
107
Divining Nature the Universe and the Unseen
133
Taking the Koranic View of Other Faith Traditions
147
Putting Meaning into Ritual
169
Ten Misconceptions about the Koran
311
Ten Ways to Dig Deeper into the Koran 321 Comparing Translations
321
Glossary of Koranic Terms
331
Finding Prophets in the Koran
339
Copyright

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About the author (2011)

Sohaib Sultan is a freelance journalist and student of the Islamic tradition who has studied the Koran and Islam extensively with Islamic scholars in the United States and Saudi Arabia.

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