What the Qur'an Meant


Book Description

America’s leading religious scholar and public intellectual introduces lay readers to the Qur’an with a measured, powerful reading of the ancient text Garry Wills has spent a lifetime thinking and writing about Christianity. In What the Qur’an Meant, Wills invites readers to join him as he embarks on a timely and necessary reconsideration of the Qur’an, leading us through perplexing passages with insight and erudition. What does the Qur’an actually say about veiling women? Does it justify religious war? There was a time when ordinary Americans did not have to know much about Islam. That is no longer the case. We blundered into the longest war in our history without knowing basic facts about the Islamic civilization with which we were dealing. We are constantly fed false information about Islam—claims that it is essentially a religion of violence, that its sacred book is a handbook for terrorists. There is no way to assess these claims unless we have at least some knowledge of the Qur’an. In this book Wills, as a non-Muslim with an open mind, reads the Qur’an with sympathy but with rigor, trying to discover why other non-Muslims—such as Pope Francis—find it an inspiring book, worthy to guide people down through the centuries. There are many traditions that add to and distort and blunt the actual words of the text. What Wills does resembles the work of art restorers who clean away accumulated layers of dust to find the original meaning. He compares the Qur’an with other sacred books, the Old Testament and the New Testament, to show many parallels between them. There are also parallel difficulties of interpretation, which call for patient exploration—and which offer some thrills of discovery. What the Qur’an Meant is the opening of a conversation on one of the world’s most practiced religions.




God in the Qur'an


Book Description

Who is Allah? What does He ask of those who submit to His teachings? Pulitzer Prize-winner Jacke Miles gives us a deeply probing, revelatory portrait of the world’s second largest, fastest-growing and perhaps most tragically misunderstood religion. In doing so, Miles illuminates what is unique about Allah, His teachings, and His resolutely merciful temperament, and he thereby reveals that which is false, distorted, or simply absent from the popular conception of the heart of Islam. So, too, does Miles uncover the spiritual and scriptural continuity of the Islamic tradition with those of Judaism and Christianity, and the deep affinities among the three by setting passages from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur’an side by side. In the spirit of his two previous books, God and Christ, and with his characteristic sensitivity, perspicacity and prodigious command of the subject, Miles calls for us all to read another’s scriptures with the same understanding and accommodating eye that we turn upon our own.




The Explanation of the Qur'an Is Allah's One Religion Book


Book Description

My explanations are only an attempt to present this Holy Miracle Book. This interpretation trial to extract the exact deep meaning of these texts' verses, ayah, and surah of this Final Testament Quran . This attempt is for every one searching for the truth in this world, in a mannerly, civilized dialogue, while respecting each others beliefs and looking for the real second birth for each one of us. Since no one has gotten the chance to read about all other faiths, this Miracle Book will bring to you all this information, which will lead us to find the One Religion. Allah (SW) wanted the Quran to be a miracle and proof. It was sent as a challenge for the non-believers. And, if you want to challenge someone to prove superiority, you must challenge them in something they excel at. You cannot challenge a weak or disabled person in weightlifting, which would prove nothing. You have to challenge a weightlifter. So, when the Quran came and challenged the Arabs in their own language and prevailed, it did not mean that the Arabs at that time were weak in language arts. To the contrary, it is a testimony that they excelled in their language and mastered it at a high -Shakespearean- level. So, when the Quran prevailed over them linguistically, it became a real triumph. The purpose of the revelation of the Quran was not to reveal scientific explorations or to explain the secrets of creation. These matters remain hidden in its verses and are revealed in their proper time. It is when the scientific minds are active in the search and study of such areas that Allah (SW) makes these verses shine with their true meaning. This makes each scientific revelation in the Quran more appropriate for its time and more impactful as it is delivered when the scientific minds are ready for it. The Prophet left the explanations of the Quran, which are not related to matters of duties and religious law, to be revealed by time. This real story with two separate events, first one starts with a rich man who owned a vast estate, but had no heir to inherit this wealth. His nephew, filled with greed, conspired against and killed him. When night fell, he threw the body at the doorstep of another village in order to frame them for his uncle’s murder. The next morning, as people saw the body, they naturally accused the village of his murder. And despite their denial, the relatives of the victim insisted on blaming them. After the matters escalated, and the two villages clashed, they decided to resort to Prophet Moses so that he may ask Allah (SW) to resolve the issue and identify the murderer. The second event, Allah (SW) was helping a pious man on his straight path. This man from among st the Children of Israel kept Allah (SW) in mind in all his business and social dealings. As death approached him, all he had was a baby cow and his only heir at the time was his little boy. He was unsure about whom he should entrust his small fortune to. Who would be best to take care of the calf until his son is able to take care of it for himself and his mother? He pondered long, then turned to the heavens and supplicated “Lord! I entrust this cow to you, protect it for my son until he grows older”. Then he said to his wife “I have entrusted the cow to Allah (SW). I didn’t find anyone more trustworthy than Him”. She asked: “So where is it now?” He replied “I left it to roam free in the fields.” Shortly after, he died. When the son grew older, his mother told him the story. He asked: “Where can I find that cow after all these years?” His mother replied: “your father entrusted the cow to the Lord. Rely on Him, and search for it.” The young man supplicated “Lord of Abraham , return to me what my father had entrusted to you” and then set out searching for it. He found the cow, exactly as his mother described it to him. This cow was also the only one that perfectly fit Allah’s description to the quarreling villagers. Thus, when they found, they set out to purchase it at any price. The young man agreed to sell it in exchange for its weight in gold. When the villagers slaughtered this cow and struck the dead victim with it, he was resurrected to declare the name of his killer. Thus, the name of this chapter “The Cow” affirms the central issue of resurrection in all faiths leading to the One Religion creed. In addition, the story also teaches us that parents’ righteousness plays a great role in the protection of their children. Through the good deeds of the parents, Allah (SW) facilitates the affairs of the children and protects them from harm. When the righteous man entrusted all he had to Allah (SW), Allah (SW) blessed, protected and nurtured it so that his son may find great treasure when he grew older. Being upright and righteous is the best insurance one can give his or her children as it instills Allah's blessing and protection into every aspect of the child's life.




The Miraculous Language of the Qur'an: Evidence of Divine Origin


Book Description

This study illustrates why the language of the Qur'an is miraculous, unique, and evidence of divine authority. The author compares the language of the Qur'an with the language of pre-Islamic poetry, the Prophet's words (hadith), and the language of the Arabs both past and present, to demonstrate that although the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic it was at the same time an Arabic which was entirely new. Original and early Muslim audiences viewed this as miraculous and responded to the Qur'an's words, sounds, rhythms, etc. in a manner consistent with a deeper appreciation of its beauty and majesty which modern ears, trained by familiarity, and despite being surrounded by all manner of dictionaries and studies, are at a loss to capture. The author attempts to remove this veil and present the Qur'an to readers as if hearing it for the first time, to bring to life some of this wonder. In doing so he guides readers to appreciate the beauty of the Qur'an, to become more immersed in it, and to have a clearer understanding of its structure and flow. Devoting special attention to Surah Al Muddaththir, to underpin his analysis, Saeh thus brings the Revelation to life, to demonstrate that each surah has distinct features and characteristics that make it stand out uniquely within the design and sweep of the whole.




The Qur'an and the Christian


Book Description

Understanding Islam's sacred text is integral to understanding your Muslim neighbor Cross-cultural missionary and scholar Matthew Aaron Bennett blends the insights of Islamic believers, secular Qur'an scholars, and missionaries to Muslims, making The Qur'an and the Christian like no other resource for Christian ministry to Muslims. Combining these perspectives in one guide better equips Christians to communicate the biblical gospel to friends and neighbors who are adherents to Islam--both in and out of majority-Muslim cultures. The Qur'an and the Christian addresses issues both simple and profound, such as: 1. How the Qur'an came to be, including Muhammed and the Qur'an's textual precursors 2. The major themes of the Qur'an and how these shape the practice of Islam 3. The presence of Bible characters, Jews, and Christians in the Qur'anic text 4. Whether and how a Christian should read the Qur'an 5. Avoiding miscommunication with Muslims when the Qur'an and Christian teaching seem to overlap This book will help Christians learn how to explore Islamic faith with missiological wisdom and biblical precision. The Qur'an and the Christian will give believers the insight to deepen friendships, promote understanding, and clarify the biblical gospel among Muslim friends and neighbors.




The Qur'an and the Bible


Book Description

"While the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament are understood to be related texts, the sacred scripture of Islam, the third Abrahamic faith, has generally been considered separately. Noted religious scholar Gabriel Said Reynolds draws on centuries of Qur'anic and Biblical studies to offer rigorous and revelatory commentary on how these holy books are intrinsically connected."--Dust jacket.




Exploring the Qur'an


Book Description

The teachings, style and impact of the Qur'an have always been matters of controversy, among both Muslims and non-Muslims. But in a modern context of intercultural sensitivity, what the Qur'an says and means are perhaps more urgent questions than ever before. This major new book by one of the world's finest Islamic scholars responds to that urgency. Building on his earlier groundbreaking work, the author challenges misinterpretations of particular Qur'anic verses from whatever quarter. He addresses the infamous 'sword' verse, frequently cited as a justification for jihad. He also questions the 'tribute' verse, associated with the Muslim state subjugating Jews and Christians; and the idea of Paradise in the Qur'an, often viewed by the West as emphasising merely physical pleasures, or used by Islamic fighters as their just reward for holy war. The author argues that wrenching the verses out of the context of the whole has led to dangerous ideologies being built on isolated phrases which have then assumed afterlives of their own. This nuanced, holistic reading has vital interfaith ramifications.




The Sources of Islam


Book Description




A Concise Guide to the Quran


Book Description

What is so unique about Islam's scripture, the Quran? Who wrote it, and when? Can we trust its statements to be from Muhammad? Why was it written in Arabic? Does it command Muslims to fight Christians? These are a few of the thirty questions answered in this clear and concise guide to the history and contents of the Quran. Ayman Ibrahim grew up in the Muslim world and has spent many years teaching various courses on Islam. Using a question-and-answer format, Ibrahim covers critical questions about the most sacred book for Muslims. He examines Muslim and non-Muslim views concerning the Quran, shows how the Quran is used in contemporary expressions of Islam, answers many of the key questions non-Muslims have about the Quran and Islam, and reveals the importance of understanding the Quran for Christian-Muslim and Jewish-Muslim interfaith relations. This introductory guide is written for anyone with little to no knowledge of Islam who wants to learn about Muslims, their beliefs, and their scripture.




I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist


Book Description

To some, the concept of having faith in a higher power or a set of religious beliefs is nonsensical. Indeed, many view religion in general, and Christianity in particular, as unfounded and unreasonable. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek argue, however, that Christianity is not only more reasonable than all other belief systems, but is indeed more rational than unbelief itself. With conviction and clear thinking, Geisler and Turek guide readers through some of the traditional, tested arguments for the existence of a creator God. They move into an examination of the source of morality and the reliability of the New Testament accounts concerning Jesus. The final section of the book deals with a detailed investigation of the claims of Christ. This volume will be an interesting read for those skeptical about Christianity, as well as a helpful resource for Christians seeking to articulate a more sophisticated defense of their faith.