The Qur'an

Millions of non-Muslims know the name of the Muslim scripture, whether it is written as "Qur'an" or "Quran" or "Koran." But for most, that is all they know. Many have fallen victim to the mass of misinformation that circulates about the Qur'an. Others may have tried to read the Qur'an, but the
text itself is tough to decipher. With no sense of context, chronology, or interpretive history, many would-be readers of the Qur'an quickly give up the effort. As for those trying to find out what the Qur'an says about any particular subject or issue, they, too, soon discover that this is not a
simple or straightforward undertaking.

A clear, concise introduction to the holy book that guides the lives of 1.6 billion people on our planet, this brief volume opens the world of the Qur'an to interested readers who want to know where this scripture came from and how it has achieved a profound influence in today's world. Writing in
an easy-to-read question-and-answer format, Jane McAuliffe, one of the world's foremost scholars of the Qur'an, introduces readers to this important text by discussing its origins, structure, themes, interpretations, and what it has to say about a host of critical contemporary issues. Where did the
Qur'an come from? Do Muslims believe that the Qur'an is God's own word? How do Muslims study the Qur'an? What does the Qur'an say about God? About family? About ethics? About violence? By answering the questions that many people have about the Qur'an and its role in Muslim faith, this book offers
an invaluable resource for anyone who is curious about one of the world's most important faiths.

""The connectivity fostered by globalization coupled with the increased tension generated by the tragedies of September 11th and other terrorist atrocities have created an intellectual hunger on both sides of the divide between the West and the Islamic world. Americans, Europeans, and others in "the West" want adequate and reliable information about Islam and the Muslim world. But what they get is often misleading, distorted and sensationalized. To offset this, those of us who know something about these subjects have been working overtime to correct the inaccuracies and to stop the flow of misinformation. Many religious leaders and scholars in the Muslim world are on a similar quest. They want to know how people in non-Muslim countries learn about Islam, the Qur'an, and the fundamentals of Muslim faith and practice because they, too, are fully aware of the falsehoods and fabrications that often pass for the truth in many American and European media outlets, whether news media or social media. Even more urgently, they seek to present a counter-narrative to the perverse and corrupted versions of Islam preached by groups like the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Boko Haram. Hope this book will be helpful in their efforts. ""--