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Title: Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations by Michael Sells ISBN: 1-883991-26-9 Publisher: White Cloud Press Pub. Date: 15 November, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.66 (32 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Approaching the Qur'an
Comment: Both non-Muslims and the large non-Arabic-speaking Muslim popluation for whom English is a second language can be deeply thankful for this book, in which Michael Sells literally does lead the reader to "approach" the Qur'an -- to get as close as can be in translation and without the linguistic and cultural context of a Muslim society -- first by being pointed to the mystical, early, short suras that were the first revealed to Mohammed; and then by being offered the best English translation ever of these chapters. Many of these remain deeply lyrical in English, thanks to Sells's readiness to stay close to the Arabic meaning and cadence. Sells explains the subtlety of the Qur'an's Arabic and shows the inadequacy, for example, of the male or female pronoun to translate the Qur'anic "hiya" that is "all peace, until the rising of the dawn" in the Surat al-Qadr (Chapter of Power). Best of all, one can actually hear the words of the Qur'an chanted by some of the best muezzins of the Muslim world, thanks to a CD included with the book. Sells writes of Islam with deep respect and love for both its spiritual basis and its incomparable language.
Muslim friends to whom I have read from these translations have been deeply moved by the sincerity and the success of Sells's project, and I imagine this book being given by many Muslims in the West to their Christian and Jewish friends.
Now is certainly the time for this book, as we all struggle to understand each other's faith and practices.
Rating: 5
Summary: Informative & painstaking in his attempts to help readers
Comment: I didn't really know what I would think of this book given the controversy on both sides. Those against the book (& against this being "required" reading at Univ of NC), are vehement in their criticism. Those who seem to appreciate the content of this book gave good reasons why. I wanted to see for myself whether the criticism was valid.
The author is clearly trying to give readers the tools needed to understand the Qur'an, rather than preaching or analyzing the entire book. Just as with biblical studies, one book cannot explain an entire sacred scripture, but can only focus on certain aspects. (And just as with bible studies, the numerous verses discussing, even condoning and instructing, violence are not the central focus when learning about the bible.)
Those who have studied the holy scriptures of the 3 major monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and who are not prejudiced against Islam will appreciate the commonality of the verses of love, peace and goodwill found in all the sacred texts.
This book is a good source to help people who truly want to understand how to read the Qur'an so they can see the same divine truths spoken of in each of those religions.
Rating: 5
Summary: The best way to be introduced to the Qur'an
Comment: So many non-Muslims have the idea that the Qur'an is just a dry book of laws, with little or no poetic value. But most of the time, that's because they're reading it backwards! The traditional ordering of the Qur'an puts the earlier, shorter and more spiritual chapters towards end (near chapter 114). If you read from the beginning, you see the long legalist chapters first, and the effect is similar to opening the Bible at Leviticus or Deuteronomy and reading through the old Israelite legal codes.
Michael Sells solves this problem by concentrating on the shorter, earlier revelations. Since these are the first ones any young Muslim would be exposed to, it successfully gives readers the closest thing possible to a "natural" acquaintance with the Muslim scripture.
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Title: Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0062508865 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 10 September, 1993 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Desert Tracings: Six Classic Arabian Odes by 'Algama, Shanfara, Labid, 'Antara, Al-A'Sha, Dhu Al-Rumma (Wesleyan Poetry in Translation) by Michael Sells ISBN: 0819511587 Publisher: Wesleyan Univ Pr Pub. Date: 15 May, 1989 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy by Emran Qureshi, Michael A. Sells ISBN: 0231126670 Publisher: Columbia University Press Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.50 |
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Title: Islam : A Short History by KAREN ARMSTRONG ISBN: 081296618X Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 06 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Early Islamic Mysticism: Sufi, Quran, Miraj, Poetic and Theological Writings (Classics of Western Spirituality (Paper), Number 86) by Michael A. Sells ISBN: 0809136198 Publisher: Paulist Press Pub. Date: July, 1996 List Price(USD): $27.95 |
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