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.

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.

Klappentext

See what the Koran says about women, family, and law

Grasp the wisdom and power of Islam's sacred Scripture

Want to understand the Koran? This straightforward guide explains what the Koran says, how it says it, and how believers live according to its guidance. From how the Koran was revealed to Mohammad to how the Book relates to today's world, you'll see how to put the Islamic faith in perspective.

THE DUMMIES WAY^®

Explanations in plain English
"Get in, get out" information
Icons and other navigational aids
Tear-out cheat sheet
Top ten lists
A dash of humor and fun

Discover:

How Islam relates to other faiths
What the Koran says about God, prophets, humankind, and the self
The Koran's teachings on morality
Common misconceptions about the Koran

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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.

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

How This Book Is Organized 4

Part I: Revealing the Word of God: The Book 4

Part II: Searching for the Soul of the Koran 4

Part III: Seeing the Koranic Worldview 4

Part IV: Living the Koran 5

Part V: Relating the Koran to the World 5

Part VI: The Part of Tens 5

Icons Used in This Book 5

Where to Go from Here 6

Part I: Revealing the Word of God: The Book 7

Chapter 1: Getting to Know the Koran 9

Receiving Revelation Straight from the Source 9

Guiding the Way: Prophet Muhammad 10

Discovering the Basic Messages of the Koran 11

The unity of God 11

Worship and service to God 11

Prophets to teach and guide 11

Completion of past revelations 12

Guidance to a spiritual path 12

Movement for social change 12

Accountability of deeds 13

Naming the Revelation 13

The Guidance 13

The Criterion 14

The Proof 14

The Reminder 15

The Healing 16

Hearing the Words: The Audience of the Koran 16

Knowing the Essentials about Islam and Muslims 17

The Six Pillars of Belief 17

The Five Pillars of Islam 18

Muslims: The followers of Islam 19

Chapter 2: From Revelation to Written Book 21

Revealing the Koran to Muhammad 21

The beginning of revelation 22

The stages of revelation 24

The Meccan and Medinan periods 24

Transmitting revelation to the community 26

Collecting the Koran as a Book 27

Conforming the Koran's dialects 28

The Koran in modern-day print 29

Memorizing Miracles: Preserving the Koran throughout History 31

Experiencing the Koran as Divine Art 32

Recitation 32

Calligraphy 35

Chapter 3: Mapping Out the Structure of the Book 37

Discerning the Structure of the Koran 37

Ayat 37

Surahs 38

Juz' 39

Discovering Surah Names and Themes 40

Finding Your Way through the Moral Narrative 46

Through divine signs 47

Through laws 47

Through stories of the past 48

Simplifying the Moral Narrative of Shorter Surahs 52

Chapter 4: Discovering the Language of the Koran 53

Arabic: Plain, Clear, and Eloquent 53

Digging down to the roots 54

Reading translations of the Koran 56

Literary Style in the Sacred Scripture 57

Key literary elements of the Koran 58

Clear and figurative passages 60

Hearing the Voice of the Koran 62

Chapter 5: Relating the Koran to Abrahamic Revelations 65

Previous Revelations: Between Sacred and Corrupted 65