The Qur'an and Sayings of Prophet Muhammad: Selections Annotated and Explained »

For many in the West, the teachings of the Qur'an often are enshrouded in mystery and fear. Yet Islam's holy book gave birth to one of the most powerful and enlightened civilizations the world has ever seen. By the sixteenth century, Muslim culture stretched from India to Africa to Europe, preserving with it the ancient learning that helped spawn the Renaissance. With its interwoven ideas of faith and reason, justice and mercy, the path of Islam-which literally means "surrendering to God's will"-offers a uniquely focused and balanced approach to living life with a profound awareness of God.

With gentleness and insight, Sohaib N. Sultan leads you through the central themes of both the Qur'an and the collected sayings of Prophet Muhammad, known as hadith. These teachings dispel common misconceptions about Muslim beliefs and offer practical guidance for your own spiritual journey, from understanding the merciful nature of God; to cultivating peace and justice in the self, family, and society; to answering questions about the afterlife and how to attain it.

Now you can experience the wisdom of Qur'anic teachings even if you have no previous knowledge of Islam or Muslim writings. Insightful yet unobtrusive facing-page commentary explains the texts for you, allowing you to enter into the path of surrender to God.

Foreword     ix
Introduction     xv
A Note on the Translation     xxxvii
On Contemplation, Reason, and Faith     3
On God and Divine Attributes     15
On Revelation and Scripture     23
On Prophetic Character and Message     39
On the Purpose and Responsibility of Human Life     57
On the Stages of Human Life     63
On the Psyche, Heart, and Soul     81
On Spiritual Practice and Discipline     89
On Laws in Daily Life     107
On Noble Character and Good Morals     119
On Envisioning a Just and Moral Society     129
On Pluralism, Inclusive Theology, and Interfaith Relations     143
On Peace, War, and Reconciliation     155
On Women and Gender Relations     175
On Marriage and Family Life     193
Acknowledgments     202
Notes     203
Suggestions for Further Reading     204