Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revalations

Michael A Sells

ISBN 10: 1883991269 / ISBN 13: 9781883991265

Published by White Cloud Press, 1999

About this Item

Approaching the Qur'an is a major event in religious publishing. Professor Michael Sells has captured the complexity, power, and poetry of the early suras of the Qur'an, the sacred scripture of Islam. In this second edition, Sells introduces important new translations of suras and a new preface that addresses the ongoing controversy over teaching about Islam and the Qur'an in American universities. Approaching the Qur'an presents brilliant translations of the short, hymnic suras associated with the first revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. Most of these early revelations appear at the end of text and are commonly reached only by the most resolute reader of existing English translations. These suras contain some of the most powerful, prophetic and revelatory passages in religious history. They offer the vision of a meaningful and just life that anchors the religion of one-fifth of the world's inhabitants. Approaching the Qur'an is enriched by inclusion of free downloadable audio recordings of Quranic reciters, allowing readers an opportunity to hear the Qur'an in its original form. The book includes Sells' Introduction to the Qur'an, commentaries of the suras, a glossary of technical terms, and chapters discussing the sound nature and gender aspects of the Arabic text.

Seller Inventory # CIN1883991269VG

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revalations
• Publisher: White Cloud Press
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1883991269
• ISBN 13: 9781883991265
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Approaching the Qu'rn is a translation of the early suras-the short, hymnic chapters at the end of the book. A major event in religious publishing, this book captures the complexity, power and poetry of the early suras and the majesty and intimacy of the distinctive Qu'rnic voice.

These early revelations to Muhammad involve little of the political and legal detail found in the suras of his later career. Here they speak directly to every human being, regardless of religious confession or cultural background. Approaching the Qu'rn is also designed to be as accessible as possible, to offer the full lyric and literary experience to readers: Opposite each sura is a short commentary that explores some of the subtleties and context of the Qu'rnic passages; an annotated glossary explains key Qu'rnic concepts and Arabic terms with English translations; there is even a compact disc of recordings by renowned Qu'rnic reciters chanting the early suras.

About the Author

Michael Sells is Emily Judson Baugh and John Marshall Gest Professor of Comparative Religion at Haverford College and chairperson of the Haverford Department of Religion, Haverford, Pennsylvania. Sells is author of "The Bridge Betrayed: Genocide in Bosnia" (University of California Press, 1997), "Mystical Languages of Unsaying" (University of Chicago Press, 1994); "Desert Tracings: Six Classical Arabian Odes" (Wesleyan University Press, 1989). He is co-editor and contributor to the "Cambridge History of Arabic Literature, Andalusia (Cambridge University Press, 2000).