About the Author:
Laleh Bakhtiar has a BA in History from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA, MA in Philosophy, MA in Counseling Psychology and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and is also a Nationally Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Psychotherapist in the State of Illinois. She studied classical Arabic at Tehran University, Ph. D. program and with a private Egyptian tutor for 3 years. She is co-author of A Sense of Unity: The Sufi Tradition in Persian Architecture (University of Chicago Press) and author of SUFI Expressions of the Mystic Quest (Thames and Hudson), three volumes of God s Will Be Done on Moral Healing and some 15 other books on various aspects of Islam. Through the works on psychology she has become the leading authority on the Sufi origins of the Enneagram. She has also translated over 30 books on Islam and the Islamic movement into English. She is the first American woman to give a critical translation of the Quran. In her Sublime Quran translation she interprets the controversial verse that has lead to domestic violence in the Islamic community to the way the Prophet understood it. Instead of husbands being allowed to beat their wives, she translates: husbands should go away, let the anger subside and then consult with one another. She has traveled around the world three times giving lectures on topics on the right of Muslim women. She is an expert in the psychology of spiritual chivalry (futuwwa, javanmardi). She directs her work towards Muslim women and youth who, once they learn of this model of spiritual chivalry become more positive oriented towards their faith and family. She is presently Director of the Institute of Traditional Psychology and In-House Scholar at Kazi Publications. She taught Islam at the University of Chicago. She has a computer based training program on the internet. SHAIDA KHAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOMESTIC HARMONY FOUNDATION. Equally as important as Dr. Bakhtiar's interpretation is the very fact that as a knowledgeable female scholar. She is an exemplary individual particularly for women who have been victimized by domestic violence, and also for all Muslim women to look up to. Shaida Khan INGRID MATTSON, PAST PRESIDENT THE ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA AND PROFESSOR OF ISLAMIC STUDIES HARTFORD SEMINARY. Current events have left Americans fascinated and frightened by Islam and Muslims. With no end in sight of the war on terror; and questions about the compatibility of Islam with Western societies, the need for honest and accurate information about Muslims has never been greater. In the case of Muslim women especially, ignorance and sensationalism abound. What could be more welcome than an examination of the life of a Muslim woman who is neither a silent victim of oppression, waiting to be saved by a secular revolution, nor an apologist for misguided ideology, but an intelligent woman of faith and integrity? Laleh Bakhtiar has lived a remarkable life - but a life with which we can relate, because while some of her experiences appear exotic to the typical American, her values and principles are not. A biography of Laleh Bakhtiar is sure to shed much needed light on humanity.
Review:
MARCIA HERMANSEN DIRECTOR OF ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES PROGRAM AND PROFESSOR IN THE THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO. One of things that strikes me about the translation is how its reception in the mainstream; Muslim community--at least in North America, made it less acceptable or even unacceptable for Muslim community leaders to simply repeat misogynistic interpretations. I refer specifically to the ISNA representative in Canada who wanted to ban the book--and the response from US leadership that ISNA supports women's rights and allows expression of a variety of opinions on Islam. It is clear that this pioneering project opened up conversations about gender relations in the community that needed to take place, and provoked a productive re-examination of assumptions about interpretation and authority. --Sublime Quran website; Wikipedia: Laleh Bakhtiar
YORIYOS SON OF YUSUF ISLAM (FORMERLY CAT STEVENS) We love and appreciate the work your mother has done and continues to do, Alhamdullilah. MashAllah, Thank you for your work Laleh. My father (Yusuf Islam) and I have been reading your books in admiration. We champion you and pray you are eternally blessed. With Peace and Much Respect Yoriyos --Sublime Quran website; Wikipedia: Laleh Bakhtiar
DAVE EGGERS AMERICAN NOVELITY AUTHOR OF ZEITOUN on the Oprah show recommends the Sublime Quran. I'm giving copies of the Qur'an, in a new translation by Laleh Bakhtiar. For anyone who wants to know more about Islam, or simply wants to read a beautiful book, this really is the most accessible version in English. ASMA BARLAS, PHD ITHACA COLLEGE DIRECTOR CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE, RACE AND ETHNICITY. As to my thoughts on the Sublime Qur'an, since I am not a scholar of Arabic, I can't talk about its linguistic accuracy, etc. However, what I think is significant about Laleh Bakhtiar's translation is that it opens up new interpretive possibilities for Muslims. As I always point out, the Quran says that those who read it for its best meanings are the ones whom God has guided (39:18). This suggests that we can-- and should --have more than one reading/ interpretation/ translation so that we can find the best among these. Of course, notions of best are likely to differ over time but that is to be expected. Besides, what makes the Quran a universal text, by which I mean a text that is always integral to our lives, no matter the age in which we live, is that each generation can continue to find new meanings in it. In contributing to that endeavor, Dr. Bakhtiar has opened new doors for Muslims; whether someone wants to walk through these or not is, naturally, up to them. --Sublime Quran website; Wikipedia: Laleh Bakhtiar
YORIYOS SON OF YUSUF ISLAM (FORMERLY CAT STEVENS) We love and appreciate the work your mother has done and continues to do, Alhamdullilah. MashAllah, Thank you for your work Laleh. My father (Yusuf Islam) and I have been reading your books in admiration. We champion you and pray you are eternally blessed. With Peace and Much Respect Yoriyos --Sublime Quran website; Wikipedia: Laleh Bakhtiar
DAVE EGGERS AMERICAN NOVELITY AUTHOR OF ZEITOUN on the Oprah show recommends the Sublime Quran. I'm giving copies of the Qur'an, in a new translation by Laleh Bakhtiar. For anyone who wants to know more about Islam, or simply wants to read a beautiful book, this really is the most accessible version in English. ASMA BARLAS, PHD ITHACA COLLEGE DIRECTOR CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF CULTURE, RACE AND ETHNICITY. As to my thoughts on the Sublime Qur'an, since I am not a scholar of Arabic, I can't talk about its linguistic accuracy, etc. However, what I think is significant about Laleh Bakhtiar's translation is that it opens up new interpretive possibilities for Muslims. As I always point out, the Quran says that those who read it for its best meanings are the ones whom God has guided (39:18). This suggests that we can-- and should --have more than one reading/ interpretation/ translation so that we can find the best among these. Of course, notions of best are likely to differ over time but that is to be expected. Besides, what makes the Quran a universal text, by which I mean a text that is always integral to our lives, no matter the age in which we live, is that each generation can continue to find new meanings in it. In contributing to that endeavor, Dr. Bakhtiar has opened new doors for Muslims; whether someone wants to walk through these or not is, naturally, up to them. --Sublime Quran website; Wikipedia: Laleh Bakhtiar
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