Koran - Softcover

Rodwell, J. M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 046087134X ISBN 13: 9780460871341

Publisher: Everyman, 1992

Synopsis

Phe Koran admittedly occupies an important position among he great religious books ot the world. Though the youngest fthe epoch-making works belonging to this class of literature, tyields to hardly any in the wonderful effect which it has )roduced on large masses of men. It has created an all but lew phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. tfirst transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes )f the Arabian peninsula into a nation of heroes, and then )roceeded to create the vast politico-religious organisations )f the Muhammedan world which are one of the great forces vith which Europe and the East have to reckon to-day. The secret of the power exercised by the book, of course, ay in the mind which produced it. It was, in fact, at first lot a book, but a strong living voice, a kind of wild authori:ative proclamation, a series of admonitions, promises, threats, ind instructions addressed to turbulent and largely hostile issemblies of untutored A rabs. As a book it was published ifter the prophets death. In Muhammed slife-time there vere only disjointed notes, speeches, and the retentive nemories of those who listened to them. To speak of the Koran is, therefore, practically the same as speaking of I uhammed, and in trying to appraise the religious value of ;he book one is at the same time attempting to form an opinion of the prophet himself. It would indeed be difficult :o find another case in which there is such a complete identity Detween the literary work and the mind of the man who produced it. That widely different estimates have been formed of Muhammed is well-known. To Moslems he is, of course, the prophet par excellence, and the Koran is regarded by the orthodox as nothing less than the eternal utterance of A llah, rhe eulogy pronounced by Carlyle on Muhammed in Heroes and Hero Worship will probably be endorsed by not a few at the p
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

About this title

From the Publisher

Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards.

From the Inside Flap

The Qur'an, a masterpiece of immense religious and literary value, is presented in a convenient, affordable edition for a new generation of readers. The earliest known work in Arabic prose, the Qur'an is divided into 114 "suras," or chapters, containing the religious, social, civil, commercial, military, and legal codes of Islam.

Edition details

• Publisher: Everyman
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 046087134X
• ISBN 13: 9780460871341
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 544