Want to read
Kindle $0.00
Rate this book
The Quran (English - Gem Size) - Translator: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Wahiduddin Khan
4.38
69,452 ratings3,828 reviews
THE QURAN, a book which brings glad tidings to mankind along with divine admonition, stresses the importance of man s discovery of truth on both spiritual and intellectual planes.
Every book has its objective and the objective of the Quran is to make man aware of the Creation plan of God. That is, to tell man why God created this world; what the purpose is of settling man on earth; what is required from man in his pre-death life span, and what he is going to confront after death. The purpose of the Quran is to make man aware of this reality, thus serving to guide man on his entire journey through life into the after-life.
The main themes of the Quran are enlightenment, closeness to God, peace and spirituality. The Quran uses several terms, tawassum, tadabbur, and tafakkur, which indicate the learning of lessons through reflection, thinking and contemplation on the signs of God scattered across the world. The present translation of the Quran has been done keeping in mind these very themes.
GenresNonfictionClassicsPhilosophyReligionSpiritualityHistoryTheology
...more
Paperback
First published March 18, 632
Book details & editions
18.5k people are currently reading
74.1k people want to read
About the author
Wahiduddin Khan316 books375 followers
Follow
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is an Islamic spiritual scholar, who has adopted peace as the mission of his life. He was born in a family of landlords in 1925 at Badharia, a village near the town of Azamgarh, in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (formerly known as the Eastern United Provinces).
After his father’s death in December 1929 he was brought up by his mother, and his uncle, Sufi Abdul Hamid Khan, arranged for his education. He comments that becoming an orphan very early in life taught him that, to succeed in life, you have to take such situations as challenges and not as problems. Being an advocate of result-oriented and positive action, he explains that treating such situations as problems can only be negative in result. All you can do in this state is either try to fight to remove them or lodge complaints or protests against them. On the other hand, if you take such situations as challenges, you can positively and constructively work to overcome them yourself, as and when suitable opportunities present themselves. His success in life is largely due to the implementation of this and other such principles, which he has derived from Islamic scriptures.
Show more
Readers also enjoyed
Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources
Martin Lings
4.57
12.9k
No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam
Reza Aslan
4.13
27.5k
الرحيق المختوم
Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri
4.61
22.3k
لا تحزن
عائض القرني
4.13
30.6k
A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Karen Armstrong
3.89
50.5k
Islam: A Short History
Karen Armstrong
4.04
10.6k
لأنك الله: رحلة إلى السماء السابعة
علي جابر الفيفي
4.28
31.2k
تاريخ الفلسفة الغربية - الكتاب الأول: الفلسفة القديمة
Bertrand Russell
4.09
1,548
The Complete 54-Book Apocrypha: 2022 Edition With the Deuterocanon, 1-3 Enoch, Giants, Jasher, Jubilees, Pseudepigrapha, & the Apostolic Fathers
Covenant Press
4.64
219
The Holy Bible: Literal Standard Version (LSV), Large Print
Covenant Press
4.86
282
رياض الصالحين
يحيى بن شرف النووي
4.66
7,359
حوار مع صديقي الملحد
مصطفى محمود
3.88
34.5k
The Clear Quran : A Thematic English Translation : English Only
Dr. Mustafa Khattab
4.71
157
صحيح البخاري
محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري
4.6
2,185
The Holy Bible: Literal Standard Version (LSV), 2020
Covenant Press
4.86
389
In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad
Tariq Ramadan
4.45
4,303
نهج البلاغه
علي بن أبي طالب
4.55
2,096
The 120-Book Holy Bible and Apocrypha Collection: Literal Standard Version
Covenant Press
4.86
120
Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet
Karen Armstrong
4.19
6,906
حصن المسلم: من أذكار الكتاب والسنة
سعيد بن علي بن وهف القحطاني
4.7
2,871
All similar books
Ratings & Reviews
What do you think?
Rate this book
Write a Review
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
4.38
69,452 ratings3,828 reviews
5 stars
51,324 (73%)
4 stars
5,392 (7%)
3 stars
5,262 (7%)
2 stars
2,948 (4%)
1 star
4,526 (6%)
Search review text
Filters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,826 reviews
Manny
Author 38 books15.3k followers
Follow
Want to readJanuary 16, 2015
Have other people noticed that the Qur'an is listed here as being by Allah, whereas the Bible is by "Anonymous"? If I were a Christian, I think that would leave me feeling just a little annoyed.
_________________________________________
Since I posted this review, the entry has been changed, and the Qur'an is now also listed as being by "Anonymous"!
Well, whoever did that is a braver man or woman than I am. I admire your chutzpah. So to speak.
_________________________________________
And now it's "Allah" again!
My impression is that the Muslims and the Infidels are pretty evenly matched here. Looks like it'll be a close game.
_________________________________________
Mere days later, and now we're back to "Anonymous"!
I'm particularly impressed by the good sportsmanship both sides are displaying. Who says a religious war can't be carried out in a civilized and courteous manner?
_________________________________________
In a surprise move, the author has now been changed yet again to 'ALLAH "the creator" (As believed in Islam)'. Match that if you can, Infidels!
_________________________________________
"Anonymous" once more, but to be honest it seems rather unimaginative. Come on, Infidels, you can come up with something better than this, can't you? What would Dawkins do?
_________________________________________
Back to "Allah" again. I clicked on His page and was immediately confronted with some interesting options. I could become a fan! (I was surprised to see that Allah didn't have any fans. Evidently I'd been misinformed). I was also asked if He had a blog, and on reading further discovered that
As a librarian, you can create a blog for this author even if they're not on Goodreads by adding the feed URL (Atom or RSS) of a blog they keep elsewhere. This will make summaries of their blog posts available here.Unfortunately, I don't know of any blog kept by Allah, but if I discover one I'll make sure I use this feature.
Oh, and by the way He doesn't have any upcoming events either. Is this correct, or merely a reflection of the fact that He exists outside of space and time?
_________________________________________
Ho hum... "Anonymous" is back. He/she has written a whole lot more books than Allah, but also lacks fans. Well, that's one thing they have in common...
_________________________________________
Flash update: the author has now been changed to "God"!
This boldly ecumenical move impresses me. God, I learn from His Homepage, is the author not only of the Quran but also of The Gospels of Jesus (KJV) with Search Every Verse Navigation, Optimized for E-Readers, where He is credited as the author and King James as the translator. He has not written any other books. Well, I've never pretended to understand theology, but I recognize new thinking when I see it. I hope someone more competent than I am is already preparing an exegesis.
The page ends with the following rather intriguing prayer:
Is this you? Let us know. If not, help out and invite God to Goodreads._________________________________________
I'm disappointed to say that we've now got "Anonymous" again. Whoever did that should be ashamed of themselves. "God" was inspired, this is just dull.
What other possible candidates could there be? Muhammad (PBUH)? The Angel Gabriel? Abu Bakr? Muhammad (PBUH), Bakr, Uthman and Hafsa? We need some fresh ideas here.
_________________________________________
After several months of inactivity, we have another change, but it was worth waiting for: "Allâh (God Almighty)".
Brilliant! Isn't that circumflex just to die for?
_________________________________________
The Infidels, with their characteristic rapier wit, have changed the author back to "Anonymous". Sorry, but I am not impressed. And don't give me that Goodreads Policy crap. Plenty of holy books are not listed as being by Anonymous, for example The Book of Mormon and The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
I look forward to seeing the Muslims' next move - I think they have the initiative.
_________________________________________
The Muslims score again with "ALLAH" (all caps), who has also written Study the Noble Qur'an Word-for-Word Volume 2 and Study the Noble Qur'an Word-for-Word Volume 3. Mysteriously, there is no Volume 1. ALLAH has three quotes, of which the first is "لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الل" ("There is no god but ALLAH and Mohammad is his prophet").
Now that's class. Okay, Infidels, let's see if you can change the author to something that's not yet another "Anonymous". I dare you. I double dare you.
_________________________________________
Boo! A few days later, and "Anonymous" is back. Honestly, it's enough to make you want to convert to Islam.
_________________________________________
Allah has returned again, but in a confusingly different form! This time, I found He was only the author of the Qur'an and had two fans, Nabila and Tarek. I decided that it was prudent to become a fan as well.
I checked to see which authors were like Allah, and was startled to see that the list included Alexandre Dumas and Italo Calvino. I'm sure it's greatly to their credit.
_________________________________________
That didn't last long. Notgettingenough, whose opinions I greatly respect, felt that it was inappropriate for me to be a fan of Allah. On reconsideration, I agree with her. I have cancelled my brief fanship and hope that both parties will understand it was an honest mistake.
_________________________________________
The Infidels only have one idea, and here it is again. Sigh...
_________________________________________
The Muslims are back, and score another fine goal with "الله". That's "Allah" in Arabic script for all you people who can't be bothered to check it on Google Translate.
Contrary to what certain skeptics may say, religious belief appears to give you imagination. Go Islam! !الله أكبر
_________________________________________
Without waiting for the Infidels to reply, the Muslims score again with "الله جلَّ جلاله". The person responsible has even created a cool avatar for His homepage. Nice work!
Admit it, Infidels: you have been comprehensively outplayed here. The classiest thing to do would be to have some suitable representative come forward and formally concede. That might at least win you back some respect.
_________________________________________
The Infidels refuse to admit defeat, and come back for the ninth time (I counted) with the single move they know how to make. Though, confusingly, the title of the book is now given only in Arabic script.
If it's an attempt at a compromise solution, I very much doubt that the Muslims will buy it. Watch this space.
_________________________________________
I presume that the Infidels' peace overture was scornfully rejected. They have retaliated by changing the title to Roman script only, even removing the apostrophe.
Cheeky! This flagrantly provocative gesture will surely not go unpunished.
_________________________________________
After 40 days of inactivity (significant or what?) the Muslims strike back with another "Allah". I suspect that the move is deeper than it looks, since His new homepage contains a long quote in Arabic referring to several passages in the Qur'an. Maybe someone better acquainted with these matters can explain it to the rest of us?
_________________________________________
A little more than a day later, it's "Anonymous" again.
I think the Infidels have a home side advantage here, which makes me admire the brave and resourceful Muslim hackers all the more. Come on Islam! You can beat those security measures!
_________________________________________
"Allah" has returned, and this time after only 21 days away! It looks like the Muslims have recovered from their unexpected loss of form.
Now, the question is how long they can keep possession. Both sides are demonstrating extraordinary tenacity in this long-drawn-out conflict! Quite inspiring to all us wishy-washy agnostics sitting on the sidelines...
_________________________________________
The pattern from last time repeats: "Allah" lasts less than a day, and is quickly set back to "Anonymous".
It's no good making excuses any more. The romantic in me wants the exciting, creative Muslims to win, but the facts are more than obvious: however they've managed it, the grimly humorless Infidels have taken their game to a new level. Over the last couple of months, they've been in charge 95% of the time.
Muslims, you need to figure out what the Infidels are doing and stop them. It's as simple as that.
_________________________________________
I was about to despair, but Allah is back! Though I am surprised to see that He still only has two fans, the ever-faithful Nabila and Tarek. Truly, their reward will be great.
I do wonder what thoughts Amazon have on this vital question. Which way could the different options push sales in the Muslim world? I imagine they have top analysts crunching the numbers as I write.
_________________________________________
Incredible but true: the Infidels have finally come up with a new idea! The author of the Qur'an is now given as "A".
Who is A, I hear you ask? I haven't the slightest notion. The one slim lead we're given is that A has also co-authored Jamba Juice Power with Kirk Perron - possibly a minor prophet, but, to be honest, I'm clutching at straws here.
I don't dare predict what might happen next. Stay tuned.
_________________________________________
"A" lasted mere hours, and now it's Allah again. For people who haven't yet looked at His Homepage, there is some interesting theological information:
gender: male
genre: Religion
influences: Almighty Yahweh, Jesus Christ
Oh, and He has now acquired a third fan, Esraa.
MJ claims to have tracked down the hackers. Kyle, Fil and Zain (if you are indeed the people responsible), please take a bow!
_________________________________________
An hour after the post above, Abbey and Amritorupa swear that the author was briefly changed to "A Nonny Mouse" - but it only lasted a few minutes before reverting to Allah.
I have never seen so much activity. Has a fatwa been issued? Are Amazon hoping to boost sales of the new Q'indle?
_________________________________________
And another hour later, it's Anonymous.
Whatever is going on? Is it the end of the world? I have consulted the Book of Revelation, but all I can find is 22:10:
And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.I suppose that may be a warning against blocking changes to authorship attributions on Goodreads, but I'm not at all sure.
_________________________________________
Yesterday, I started reading Richard Burton's translation of the Arabian Nights, and this morning I see that Allah has returned! I must quote Burton's wonderful opening lines:
PRAISE BE TO ALLAH - THE BENEFICENT KING - THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE - LORD OF THE THREE WORLDS - WHO SET UP THE FIRMAMENT WITHOUT PILLARS IN ITS STEAD - AND WHO STRETCHED OUT THE EARTH EVEN AS A BED - AND GRACE, AND PRAYER-BLESSING BE UPON OUR LORD MOHAMMED - LORD OF APOSTOLIC MEN - AND UPON HIS FAMILY AND COMPANION TRAIN -PRAYER AND BLESSINGS ENDURING AND GRACE WHICH UNTO THE DAY OF DOOM SHALL REMAIN - AMEN! - O THOU OF THE THREE WORLDS SOVEREIGN!I was a bit puzzled by the bed, but after a couple of chapters realized that it must be a "carpet-bed", presumably some kind of Middle Eastern futon. Just in case you were also wondering.
_________________________________________
The Muslims are having a good week, and Allah (the most merciful, the most magnificent) is now in correct Arabic script again! If you cut and paste into Google Translate and click on the loudspeaker icon, you can even hear how it's pronounced.
_________________________________________
There is no Majesty and there is no Might save in Allah the Glorious, the Great! (I understand from Richard Burton that this is the polite Islamic equivalent of our own "Jesus H. Christ!") We're back to Anonymous.
Come on Infidels, you're boring us all to death. But I just know you can do better. Raise your game and make your fellow-atheists proud of their lack of belief!
_________________________________________
Allah has returned to Goodreads, and has yet again reorganized His homepage! The opening at any rate looks familiar:
But a little further down, I found this:
I'm sorry, it's more responsibility than I can handle. Someone else will have to take care of it.
_________________________________________
And the new author is A... a... a... nonymous. Don't know why, but I just can't stop yawning today. Must have stayed up too late or something.
_________________________________________
Looking at the Librarian Edits Page is almost scary. While I was asleep, the author was first changed to "كلام الله جمعه عثمان بن عفان" by Wafa, and then to "Allah الله" by Anwaar. All in all, there are 87 pages of edits.
I hope someone is archiving this priceless cultural document, which surely contains enough material for at least two doctoral dissertations...
_________________________________________
An hour later, it's briefly flipped back to "Anonymous" before changing yet again to "'الله aka Allah", and we're now up to 89 pages of edits.
I see it's going to be Another Of Those Days. I should have guessed as much when I saw on Yahoo News that a two-headed calf had been born, a rain of frogs had occurred, and Lady Gaga had been photographed wearing a sensible outfit with flat shoes...
_________________________________________
It's all I can do to keep up. Since it'll probably change even before I've finished posting, here's a screenshot I saved from the current version of Allah's Homepage:
_________________________________________
Back to Anonymous. Though now I don't know who to root for, since it appears that some Infidels have started ironically supporting Allah. I wish theology was less confusing.
_________________________________________
Allah has returned once more! I immediately click to His new Homepage, and find a book ad with the title Earth Is In Dire Trouble.
Just a coincidence, I suppose.
_________________________________________
Alhamdulillah! (الح��د لله; one of the many useful expressions I have learned from Richard Burton). The Infidels once again change the author to Anonymous, but Islam's ever-vigilant cyberwarriors immediately change it back, even using "Allah Almighty" to show that they, at least, possess imagination and a sense of fun.
I apologize to my atheist friends for my obvious partiality, mais c'est plus fort que moi.
_________________________________________
(after taking a break from my reporting duties)
ALLAH (ALL-CAPS) IS BACK! GABRIEL AND MUHAMMAD (PBUH) ARE ALSO CREDITED! TAKE THAT, INFIDELS!
_________________________________________
Anonymous returns, but with an interesting new twist: he (He?) is now credited as "Speaker". In other words, the Qur'an was dictated, not by Allah, but by someone else.
I do not pretend to understand these theological subtleties at any but the most superficial level. All the same, I feel I should remind the person who made the change that this seems uncomfortably close to the idea which got Mr. Rushdie into so much trouble a few years ago.
_________________________________________
I just stumbled across the Uncyclopedia entry for Anonymous. At risk of repeating myself, it is entirely inappropriate that this person should be credited with the authorship of the Qur'an.
islam-and-arabic linguistics-and-philosophy transcendent-experiences
...more
1,681 likes
9 comments
Like
Comment
RB
191 reviews177 followers
Follow
July 24, 2013
Before you read on, it is important that you read and understand this:
THIS REVIEW IS WRITTEN BY AN ATHEIST. I DO NOT SUGAR-COAT NOR DO I WRAP MY OPINIONS IN COTTON TO "PROTECT" THE DELICATE AND/OR EASILY OFFENDED RELIGIOUS READER.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND GET OFFENDED WHEN YOUR HOLY BOOK (AND RELIGION) RECEIVES CRITICISM READ NO FURTHER! YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE QURAN. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ FURTHER THEN YOU WANT TO BE OFFENDED. STOP HERE. DON'T SAY I DID NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS REVIEW.
Why the above disclaimer?
I am extremely fed up with all the people who come here and do nothing but whine and complain about my review. All you do is showing us your lack of education, intelligence and respect.
Your comments clearly shows the world that you have actually read nothing at all: not the review in question, nor have you actually read and understood the content of the Quran, a book you profess to call sacred. All you do is read half a sentence, see the 1-star-rating and then you start complaining, instead of continue reading with an attempt of neutral eyes. God forbid (pun intended) that you even start reading the comments that this review already has gotten before you start jotting down what has been written down before.
From this moment on users who post comments that show disrespect and the above mentioned ignorance will be instantly blocked. Only people that show respect and a minimum of half a brain will be allowed to discuss. Not happy? Go write your own review instead of whining about my opinion of a book I have read.
*******************************************
Start of original review below this point.
*******************************************
I've studied religion, and as part of my studies the Qu'ran was one of the Holy Books that I've encountered (as with Judaism, Christianity and other faiths). Volumes can be written about this book, but now I just want to ask only one question about this particular work of literature (fiction):
How can a book that:
1) legitimise violence against women,
2) murder and persecute "infidels"/people of different faith, and
3) encourage sex with children
ever get a 4.32 rating on GoodReads? (at the time of the review)
Ok, technically that's four questions, but you get my drift.
*******************************************
End of original review.
*******************************************
*EDIT 12/12/2012*
I have received a lot of personal attacks and insults (which have been both flagged and reported to GoodReads) because of my above claim, by people who obviously feel that they need to protect their faith. I refuse to keep answering them, I've grown fed up with it especially because of their insulting and unfounded remarks.
However, I know that I am not telling tales or being unprecise or untrue or even prejudiced in my claims. I am not islamaphobe as some claim. I despise all organised religion that condones abuse and bigotry in any form, including the faith that I have been raised with: Christianity.
After some research I have found the actual text in the Quran that proves that it does encourage sex with prepubescent girls (a.ka. girls who have not menstruated yet). Please find below the actual Arabic text, it's transliteration and it's translation. Again, I do not read/speak Arabic, but I trust my sources to be correct.
at-Talaq 65:4
وَاللَّائِي يَئِسْنَ مِنَ الْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَائِكُمْ إِنِ ارْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَاثَةُ أَشْهُرٍ وَاللَّائِي لَمْ يَحِضْنَ وَأُولَاتُ الْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا
Transliteration:
"Waalla-ee ya-isna mina almaheedi min nisa-ikum ini irtabtum faAAiddatuhunna thalathatu ashhurin waalla-ee lam yahidna waolatu al-ahmali ajaluhunna an yadaAAna hamlahunna waman yattaqi Allaha yajAAal lahu min amrihi yusran"
Enlish translation (one of many):
"If you have any doubt concerning those women of yours who have finished with menstruation, then their count is three months; as it is with the ones who are still not menstruating [my emphasis]. With those who are pregnant, their term will be whenever they give birth. God makes His matter easy for anyone who heeds Him."
English translation by T.B.Irving (T.B Irving was an American Muslim author, professor, and scholar, who produced the first American English translation of the Quran).
Language sources:
http://www.islamawakened.com/Quran/65...
http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Pedophilia_...
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafhee...
To quote Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - clearly he could not say this any clearer than I:
[...] Here, one should bear in mind the fact that according to the explanations given in the Quran the question of the waiting period arises in respect of the women with whom marriage may have been consummated, for there is no waiting period in case divorce is pronounced before the consummation of marriage. Therefore, making mention of the waiting-period for the girls who have not yet menstruated [my emphasis], clearly proves that it is not only permissible to give away the girl in marriage at this age but it is also permissible for the husband to consummate marriage with her. Now, obviously no Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Quran has held as permissible. [...]
Source: http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafhee...#
I will refrain from commenting further and let the above speak for itself and encourage everyone who has read this book to re-read it again and write your own review. Hateful, disrespectful and harassing comments will be flagged, reported, deleted and the user who is posting said comments will get blocked.
EDIT: 20/02/2013
For those of you who might still doubt the validity of the claim that Islam condones paedophilia and worships a paedophile, I would like to draw your attention to the second most important book in Islam after the Quran: The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari - Arabic-English. In particular I would like to draw your attention to Sahih Bukhari 5.236:
[...]and then he married 'Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was nine years old[...]
For those who are still in denial and claim that Aisha entered an early puberty - clearly the below passages clearly state that she was NOT:
Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 151
Narrated 'Aisha:
I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Apostle used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for 'Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fateh-al-Bari page 143, Vol.13)
Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3311
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.
Don't have a copy of Sahih Bukhari at hand? Not to worry, I have links to the remarkable passages here:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/...
http://www.answering-islam.org/Index/...
And about the illusion of Islam being a religion of peace? Then I encourage you to watch this enlightening documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krvCQb...
Muhammad 47:4
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
Translation:
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
< sarcasm >Of course, these words show nothing BUT tolerance, peacefulness and about finding mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence with people who are ideologically, politically and socially in opposition to. < / sarcasm >
While you are at it, check out this thought provoking
article: http://sheikyermami.com/2012/10/31/eg...
And again to those of you who wish to censor me and post hateful remarks and comments then please open your eyes and educate yourself instead. If you disagree with what Islam's holy books clearly state then I encourage you (again) to write your own review and see if you can prove the teachings of Islam wrong!
1-star are-you-kidding-me-worst-ever classic
...more
689 likes
Like
Comment
Doris
35 reviews
Follow
December 4, 2013
what I learned from this book is that Islam is NOT what they say it is in the media and that it is also not what the radicals claim it is. The Qur'an is the perfect companion to our own Holy Bible.
1,358 likes
5 comments
Like
Comment
Alireza
57 reviews
Follow
December 5, 2013
who am I to say my opinion about this Miracle
579 likes
Like
Comment
Rinda Elwakil
501 reviews4,820 followers
Follow
ReadJanuary 28, 2019
توقفوا عن تقييمه بالنجوم
توقفوا عن وضع مسميات في خانة : المؤلف
حبًا بالله توقفوا عن جعل أنفسكم و مقدساتكم أضحوكة
قرأت مراجعة لكاتب أسترالي في قائمة اصدقائي حصر فيها علي مدار عام او يزيد عدد المرات الذتي تم فيها تغيير (المؤلف) من مجهول إلي الله و God و الله جل جلاله
بالإضافة لعمل صفحة شخصية لل (مؤلف) و اضافة بلد له (السعوية)
Anonymus
و الذي وضع في خانة المؤلف الآن
او مجهول، ينسب اليه العديد من الكتب الغير معروف مصدرها !
هل يعقل هذا يا أولي الألباب؟
* لن يقدس أحد مقدساتك انت لمجرد انك تؤمن بها و تراها الحق
** يمكن أن يحترم أحدهم مقدسًا لا يؤمن به، فقط إذا ما رأي شيئا يدعوه لذلك
***لم يؤذ أحد مقدسًا يدافع عنه كما آذي المتطرفين الجهلاء اصحاب التقديس الأعمي لدينهم و قرآنهم
**** شئنا أم أبينا ، كثير من الملحدين النشطين في مهاجمة الأديان شديدي الثقافة، لا يصح أن ترد علي نقاشاتهم سوي بعلم بما يتحدثون عنه، لا يصح لا يصح لا يصح أن تخاطب احدا لا يؤمن بدينك بروحانيات و مقدسات هي من صميم ايمانك
سبابك و صوتك العالي لن يجعل أحدهم يكن احتراما لمعتقدك او يؤمن به، لا تجعل نفسك أضحوكة، لا تعتبر تقديسك لدينك شئ يلزم للآخرين من حولك أن يحذوا حذوه
لا تناقش في شئ تجهل غير انك توارثت تقديسه
قل خيرًا أو - ارجوك - اصمت
Show more
393 likes
Like
Comment
A
70 reviews180 followers
Follow
June 18, 2021
تحديث ٢٠١٦
- القرآن كلام بشري جميل، يحمل جملة عربية رائعة
ولكنه لا يصلح ليكون دليل للناس في هذا الزمن.
___________________________
لفهم القرآن والكتاب
انصح بقراءة كتب محمد شحرور
الكتاب والقرآن
الاسلام والايمان
قصص القران1 ،2
والاستماع لبرنامجه التفكير والتغيير
٢٠١٢
Show more
400 likes
1 comment
Like
Comment
Heba
68 reviews
Follow
ReadJune 3, 2010
يا جماعة يجب أن يرفع القرآن الكريم من هذا الموقع فهو للمسلمين كلام الله المنزل على عبده ونبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم فكيف يُقيم بالله عليكم ويو ضع بين الكتب التي ألفها بشر؟!!ا
385 likes
Like
Comment
Mariam saleh
11 reviews15 followers
Follow
October 16, 2007
A book for life, a book for the next life, a book for all eternity, unspoken by man, engulfed by humanity but indiscribable of any earthly tongue. I cannot let you understand it, but i can invite you to feel it...
384 likes
Like
Comment
كريم
Author 2 books186 followers
Follow
ReadFebruary 3, 2012
أنا أدعو لحذف المصحف من الموقع،فلا يصح أن يوضع كتاب الله للتقييم مثل بقية الكتب
327 likes
Like
Comment
Marcio Tomazela
Author 1 book46 followers
Follow
December 5, 2013
My Noble Qur'an is Arabic with Meanings translated to Portuguese(Br).
Amazing interesting and free of misteries.
Islam goes straight to the point, based on science and logic.
"Biʾsm Allāh ar-raḥmān ar-raḥīm" (“in the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate”).
302 likes
1 comment
Like
Comment
Romie
1,171 reviews1,368 followers
Follow
ReadMarch 20, 2024
Remember He covered you with a sort of drowsiness, to give you calm as from Himself, and He caused rain to descend on you from heaven, to clean you therewith, to remove from you the stain of Satan, to strengthen your hearts, and to plant your feet firmly therewith.
Still one of my favourite passages from the Quran. Now more than ever, it's important to keep an open heart and an open mind. As a Jew committed to fighting Zionism daily, reading the Quran was important to me.
adult buddy-read non-fiction
287 likes
Like
Comment
Ahmad Sharabiani
9,563 reviews427 followers
Follow
August 28, 2020
The Qur'an = القرآن الكريم, Anonymous
The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the verbatim word of God (Arabic: الله, Allah).
قرآن مجید دارای یکصد و چهارده سوره و جمعا 6236آیه است؛ لفظ جلاله الل�� به یازده شکل در قرآن مجید آمده است: الله = خدا، الفاتحة 1 آیه 1، آلله = آیا خدا، یونس 10 آیه 59، ابالله = آیا به خدا، التوبة 9 آیه 65، لله = برای خدا، خدای را، الفاتحة 1 آیه 2، ولله = و از آن خداست، البقرة 2 آیه 115، فالله = پس خدا، البقرة 2 آیه 113، فلله = پس خدای را است، الانعام 6 آیه 149، بالله = به خدا، خدا به، البقرة 2 آیه 8 ، النساء 4 آیه 6، والله ِ= به خدا سوگند، الانعام 6 آیه 23، تالله ِ = به خدا سوگند، یوسف 12 آیه 73، وتالله = و سوگند به خدا، الانبیاء 21 آیه 57، همچنین در قرآن مجید فقط کلمات و الفاظ یک، ...، تا 11 حرفی وجود دارند؛ فاسقیناکموه الحجر 15 آیه 22 بزرگترین و تنها کلمه ی یازده حرفی در قرآن مجید است، و تنها یازده حرف از حروف: الف، ب، ح، ر، س، ل، م، ن، ه، و، ی، در همه ی یکصد و چهارده سوره ی قرآن مجید وجود دارند
تاریخ نخستین آموزش و خوانش: یک یا دو سال پیش از سال 1959میلادی؛ و بارها و بارها در طی سالیان کلام الله را خوانده ام؛ متن با اعراب کتاب آسمانی را با ادیتور گرافیکی خویش، که برای نخستین بار در جهان این فراموشکار نوشته بودم، در سال 1981میلادی تایپ کرده ام، و بارها متن مکانیزه را، با نسخه های متفاوت کلام الله، مقابله و گاه متن و گاه نسخه ی چاپ شده را تصحیح کرده ام؛ ...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 06/06/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Show more
Like
Comment
lamarcus brown
47 reviews4 followers
Follow
April 17, 2007
It's the Koran. Even if, like me, you are not religious you should still read the Koran since it is such a big part of this world. If for no other reason than to have some sort of understanding into what everyone is talking about and fighting over and if you are religious, if you are Christian or Muslim you HAVE to read this so that no one else can tell you what it says; if you rely on others they can mislead you, whether purposely or not, down the wrong path to understand the true message of this collection of stories.
191 likes
Like
Comment
Jimmy
Author 6 books259 followers
Follow
March 29, 2017
This book has been one of the biggest reading disappointments of my life. It starts off with the line: "This Book is not to be doubted." My brain is my second favorite organ. Why would I want to hang it up on a rack while I read the Koran? Of course, I am going to doubt it if I feel it is warranted. Why would any intelligent person not doubt?
Then it gets into a retelling of the Old Testament of the Bible. And actually just some of the stories, some of the more famous ones. It's sort of like retelling just those that are on his mind at the time. Then the same stories are referred to again and again.
It is forbidden to eat swine. I guess because it is an "unclean" animal. So keep a clean pigsty. How much uncleaner is a pig than any other farm animal? Isn't it time to put these ancient ideas about clean and unclean animals away?
Women who are menstruating are considered "unclean." Maybe this made sense at one time. But shouldn't it be put behind us? Do modern Muslims consider this an outdated idea? I would hope that some do.
"Women are your fields: go, then, into your fields whence you please." Is that all that women are: fields to be plowed? Is God talking here only to men? Is the entire Koran just meant to be for men? Does God ever talk to women in this book?
Then it is said that "men have a status above women." Followed by the line: "God is mighty and wise." God must have a low regard for women. How can any woman read this book and not be concerned? How can any man?
"He that chooses a religion other than Islam . . . in the world to come he will surely be among the losers." So much for religious tolerance. God does not care for members of other religions.
"No one dies unless God wills. The term of every life is fixed." A fatalistic view of life. Why be afraid of anything? You will not die until God wills it. In fact, that end is already fixed in time.
"A male shall inherit twice as much as a female." And this is the word of God. He seems to have a very low view of women.
If any woman commits a "lewd act," it takes "four witnesses" to convict them. Then they shall be "confined" in their homes "until death overtakes them." Or until "God finds another way for them."
"Do not kill yourselves." Suicide is a no-no. I wish someone would pass that word on.
"Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those for whom you fear disobedience, admonish them, forsake them in beds apart, and beat them. Then if they obey you, take no further action against them." And this is the word of God. Women must be obedient; disobedient women can be beaten. This is unacceptable to me.
"Those that deny Our revelations We will burn in fire." No mercy. Oh wait, I forgot "Surely, God is merciful and wise."
"The unbelievers are your inveterate foe." Not a very tolerant religion. Or am I misreading this?
Jewish people "practice usury and cheat people of their possessions." Of course, people of the Islamic faith never do that.
Jesus is not the son of God. I have no problem with that, but there is a major religion which does believe that. I do not understand how Muslims can accuse Christians of being intolerant.
"You will ever find (Jewish people) deceitful, except for a few of them." Of course, people of the Islamic faith are never deceitful.
"They do blaspheme, who declare: 'God is the Messiah, the son of Mary.'" There are a few people in the world who do happen to believe that.
People who are guilty of theft should have their hands cut off. Sharia law must be quite wonderful.
God knows everything. It is "recorded in a glorious book." He really gets around. Is this a real book? How many words could it possibly contain? Why would anyone want to record everything?
The Noah story is constantly repeated, but as a threat. It shows us what God could do to us if we misbehave.
God says, "I shall cast terror into the hearts of the Infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers." He's doing a good job of casting terror. And "it was not you but God who smote them." So if you kill someone, it's God doing it and not you? Sort of absolves you of responsibility.
"When the sacred months are over slay the idolaters wherever you find them." I'll have to watch out during that time. "Make war on them." Not exactly a peaceful book.
"The desert Arabs surpass others in unbelief and hypocrisy." As opposed to the non-desert Arabs?
"Woe betide those who love this life more than the life to come." The threats continue.
I simply cannot figure out how people can speak of being inspired by this book. What a sad world we live in.
atheism
182 likes
2 comments
Like
Comment
yellow tree
13 reviews21 followers
Follow
ReadFebruary 11, 2009
i am not going to rate it, because it can't be approximated enough; and for the same reason i'm not going to say much about it either. just this: it changed my life. to the good.
quran
186 likes
Like
Comment
Tim Franzen
30 reviews14 followers
Follow
January 14, 2008
I found this a lot easier to read then the bible. It's also a lot shorter.Anyone concerned with the state of modern Islam should read this inspiring text. As wityh the bible there are parts that are clearly outdated and even offensive. One must really imagine life a very long time ago, before there there was computers and silly puddy.
170 likes
Like
Comment
BookHunter M ُH َM َD
1,582 reviews4,052 followers
Follow
ReadDecember 2, 2022
01
إِنَّ هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا
Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most suitable and gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a great reward.
02
مَّنِ اهْتَدَىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَهْتَدِي لِنَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَن ضَلَّ فَإِنَّمَا يَضِلُّ عَلَيْهَا ۚ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۗ وَمَا ��ُنَّا مُعَذِّبِينَ حَتَّىٰ نَبْعَثَ رَسُولًا
Whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] his soul. And whoever errs only errs against it. And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And never would We punish until We sent a messenger.
03
لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ اللَّـهِ إِلَـٰهًا آخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًا مَّخْذُولًا ﴿٢٢﴾ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًا ﴿٢٣﴾ وَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا ﴿٢٤﴾ رَّبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُمْ ۚ إِن تَكُونُوا صَالِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ لِلْأَوَّابِينَ غَفُورًا ﴿٢٥﴾ وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ وَالْمِسْكِينَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّرْ تَبْذِيرًا ﴿٢٦﴾ إِنَّ الْمُبَذِّرِينَ كَانُوا إِخْوَانَ الشَّيَاطِينِ ۖ وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِرَبِّهِ كَفُورًا
Do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken. (22) And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. (23) And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small." (24) Your Lord is most knowing of what is within yourselves. If you should be righteous [in intention] - then indeed He is ever, to the often returning [to Him], Forgiving. (25) And give the relative his right, and [also] the poor and the traveler, and do not spend wastefully. (26) Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
04
وَقُل رَّبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَل لِّي مِن لَّدُنكَ سُلْطَانًا نَّصِيرًا ﴿٨٠﴾ وَقُلْ جَاءَ الْحَقُّ وَزَهَقَ الْبَاطِلُ ۚ إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا ﴿٨١﴾ وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا ﴿٨٢﴾ وَإِذَا أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَأَىٰ بِجَانِبِهِ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ كَانَ يَئُوسًا ﴿٨٣﴾ قُلْ كُلٌّ يَعْمَلُ عَلَىٰ شَاكِلَتِهِ فَرَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنْ هُوَ أَهْدَىٰ سَبِيلًا ﴿٨٤﴾ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
And say, "My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority." (80) And say, "Truth has come, and falsehood has departed. Indeed is falsehood, [by nature], ever bound to depart." (81) And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers, but it does not increase the wrongdoers except in loss. (82) And when We bestow favor upon the disbeliever, he turns away and distances himself; and when evil touches him, he is ever despairing. (83) Say, "Each works according to his manner, but your Lord is most knowing of who is best guided in way." (84) And they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
05
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالصَّابِئِينَ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّـهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّ��ِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
06
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَادُوا وَالصَّابِئِينَ وَالنَّصَارَىٰ وَالْمَجُوسَ وَالَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَفْصِلُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associated with Allah - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed Allah is, over all things, Witness.
07
قُلْ صَدَقَ اللَّـهُ ۗ فَاتَّبِعُوا مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, "Allah has told the truth. So follow the religion of Abraham, inclining toward truth; and he was not of the polytheists."
islamic
160 likes
Like
Comment
Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill)
1,358 reviews3,412 followers
Follow
April 25, 2023
The Qur'an is the main religious text of Islam. Muslims believe that it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad 1400 years ago by God. It is considered the book of guidance for humankind.
The Qur'an was revealed in the month of Ramadan on the night of Laylatul Qadr (Night of Decree). It is considered that completing this greatest literary masterpiece in Arabic during Ramadan brings an abundance of rewards. I am delighted as I was able to finish reading it during this Ramadan.
I think that this is a book that people from every religion and culture should read. The amount of wisdom in it is remarkable.
—————————————————————————
You can also follow me on
Instagram ID - Dasfill | YouTube Channel ID - Dasfill | YouTube Health Channel ID - Dasfill - Health | YouTube Malayalam Channel ID - Dasfill - Malayalam | Twitter ID - Dasfill1 | Snapchat ID - Dasfill | Facebook ID - Dasfill | TikTok ID - Dasfill1
Show more
160 likes
1 comment
Like
Comment
Shelli
183 reviews
Follow
September 30, 2008
Everyone should read this book at least once in their lifetime. I think it's especially critical given the conflict between Islam and the West.
world-religions
148 likes
Like
Comment
Sina
39 reviews13 followers
Follow
March 28, 2007
One Day I Will Understand it Perfectly!!!
147 likes
Like
Comment
Werner
Author 4 books675 followers
Follow
May 23, 2013
Note, May 22, 2013: Some of the discussion below convinced me that I should add a couple of clarifying sentences, which I've just done.
With the current controversies over the projected "Ground Zero" mosque and the threatened Koran burning, a review of the Koran (also spelled Quran; there isn't always a one-on-one correspondence of Arabic and Latin letters) seemed topical. That might seem ground that angels fear to tread, fraught as it is with controversy, deeply-felt sensibilities for some, and the potential for verbal abuse and even physical violence in response. (It's also a challenge to distinguish between a review of the Koran per se and a full-blown discussion of Islam and its role in the world; the two subjects inevitably impinge on each other, but they aren't identical.) But Goodreads exists to provide book discussion --especially discussion of books with ideas that greatly impact the modern world; and by any definition, this one fits that description. Reviews so far tend to fall into three camps: those by Moslems lauding the book to the skies, those by Christian and Jewish believers angrily attacking it, and those by skeptics who see it as a prime example of the ludicrous nature of any and all religions. My own perspective is that of a committed Christian believer convinced of the truth claims of Jesus Christ. That stance is not only compatible with an effort to be fair in describing and evaluating others' beliefs in an attitude of respect for fellow human beings, but positively mandates it.
Unlike the Bible, which contains the writings of many authors spread over millenia, the Koran preserves the oral discourses of just one man, Mohammed, during his lifetime in seventh-century Arabia. (So it has a single basic historical-cultural context, and reflects the theology and style of just one author.) Moslems regard Mohammed as the last and ultimate prophet of God ("Allah" is simply the Arabic word for God, cognate with the Hebrew "El") --and by "God," they mean the God of the ancient Near Eastern religious tradition that also underlies the Bible, the God who revealed Himself to Noah and Abraham. (This in itself doesn't mean that their beliefs perfectly comprehend Him --arguably, nobody perfectly comprehends Him-- but it does mean that "Allah" should not be viewed by Christians as some alien deity comparable to Baal or Molech.) Mohammed's words were dictated to scribes; he was himself illiterate (not a disgrace, in that time and place). Raised in a polytheistic environment, he had some personal contact with Jews, and mostly second-hand information about Christian beliefs, and he connected Jewish and Christian conceptions of God with the primitive monotheistic tradition of his Arab ancestors, but he obviously never read either the Old or New Testaments. He viewed himself as a prophet called to uphold God's cause, and claimed Divine authority for his words.
The content of the Koran itself is sermonic material; it lays down some laws, which reflect a fairly primitive tribal society, and touches incidentally on theology in places, but the overwhelming majority of the content is a pounding reinteration of the twin themes of demand for absolute loyalty and obedience to God and threats of judgment against the disobedient, expressed over and over with a high degree of repetitive language (useful for memorization in a mainly oral culture) and in what I found to be a turgid style. (For me, it was a chore to read, and I think it would be for most Occidental readers.) Naturally, for Christian readers the obvious question here is the legitimacy of Mohammed's claim that this represents divinely inspired teaching. That this is not a claim to be rejected a priori is indicated by the fact that there are an increasing number of Moslems who accept Jesus as the Savior, and who see this as compatible with various views of Mohammed's prophetic role as legitimate. (See "Moslem Followers of Jesus?" by Joseph Cumming, Christianity Today, Dec. 2009, p. 32-5.) There is no hint here of the gospel of grace through faith on the basis of Christ's sacrifice, and not much hint of Divine compassion (beyond pro forma statements that God is "compassionate and merciful" --though here He doesn't sound like it); and the legislation allows things like slavery, polygamy and the subordination of women, and prescribes the death penalty much more liberally than we would. The same, however, can be said of parts of the Old Testament (though the Koranic command to cut off the hands of thieves and its encouragement of wife-beating goes beyond anything found in the Mosaic law). Those parts are set in a total context of Divine revelation that modifies or qualifies them; we accept them as Scripture, but if our sole understanding of God came from, say, the book of Obadiah, we'd have a severely mutilated picture. Much of the content of the Koran, on the most charitable assessment, could be seen as primitive and incomplete, in the same sense as some of the Old Testament that we can now view through the lens of progressive revelation and of Divine accommodation to limited human understanding on the part of the people He had to work with; a parent, as Calvin pointed out, speaks baby talk to an infant. (Though Mohammed lived in a time long after Christ, for all practical purposes his part of the world was a pre-Christian culture, and neither he nor his people had heard the gospel in anything like a coherent or understandable sense.)
IMO, though, there are aspects of the Koran that resist such a charitable view. To be sure, the stress on God's oneness is an Old Testament theme that no New Testament believer would deny, either; and even the insistence that God does not beget can be taken as a refutation of a misunderstanding of Christian doctrine, much as James in his epistle rebuts a misunderstanding of Pauline theology, not the genuine article. (God did not literally beget Jesus by sexual intercourse with Mary, in the manner of pagan gods siring children on human women, and no Christian believer would argue that He did.) But from a Christian standpoint, the Koranic insistence that Jesus was not really killed by his enemies, but was rescued by God, is incompatible with Divine revelation (not to mention history). It stems from the conviction that God must always necessarily rescue and vindicate the righteous, in this world --which, experientially, is NOT true-- and from (understandable) ignorance of the vicarious role of Jesus' death. Here again, Mohammed's lack of acquaintance with the New Testament was a serious liability --much as a lack of acquaintance with the Koran would be a liability to anyone making claims about Islam. (That isn't, obviously, anything that he could have helped; he had the information that could realistically be available to him in his time and place. By all accounts, he was actively interested in obtaining verbal information about both Judaism and Christianity; he can't be faulted for inevitable gaps in what he could acquire that way.) Also, while the Old Testament applies the Mosaic Law only to Israel, and the New Testament supersedes the letter of it with the spirit/Spirit, the Koran suggests no such limits for its laws --which is seen by strict Moslems today as a mandate to impose them on the entire world! Finally (and related to the latter) the Koran in places clearly commands a Moslem theocracy as the form of human government, and calls for its forcible imposition on the world. To be sure, not all Moslems are inclined to follow this to the letter. But this kind of Koranic teaching (coupled with its death penalty provisions for blasphemy and apostasy) certainly creates a built-in ratchet towards intolerance and religious violence, and provides religious justification for social policies which, no matter how constructive or mitigating they might have been in 7th-century tribal society, today more often create and perpetuate horrible injustice rather than mitigate it. To be wisely aware of this is not the same thing as calling for persecution of peaceful Moslems.
So in conclusion, my recommendation regarding the Koran is to read it, not burn it --but read it with a discerning critical faculty. :-)
other-nonfiction
128 likes
Like
Comment
Anum
327 reviews94 followers
Follow
Want to readMay 18, 2019
This is one book that I will never be finished reading. I believe no one can be finished with it unless they understand it fully and completely and then implement it fully and completely in their lives. As that is near to impossible unless Allah wills it, I will never be changing the status to read of this miracle.
I know that this book can change lives and will always enlighten the path of those who Allah wills and of those who will let it enlighten their path.
Every human being, I emphasise again that every human being should be give an oppertunity to read the Quran and those who are not previllaged enough to have the means should be helped by those who are. I think that it is the right of every human being to be guided and Allah is the only one who can do so.
I hope that more and more people will be able to find the means to read this amazing book and will also ask others to read it. And I pray to Allah that those who are misguided in the facts as to what the Quran holds, both muslims and non-muslims, that they would not heed what other people say anymore and would try to learn themselves. Ameen.
And of course, I cannot rate this book. I have no right and am a no body in front of that Almighty Allah who has blessed us with its magnificence. May he guide us all! Ameen.
favorites the-qur-an
121 likes
Like
Comment
ظل البروق
29 reviews
Follow
Currently readingAugust 22, 2009
هو كلام الله .. الذي لا يبلى مع التكرار .. ولا يمل مع طول الايام ..
آه على ساعات ضاعت ما قرأناه فيها ..
و آه على أيام ضاعت دون انشغال بمعانيه و آياته ..
122 likes
Like
Comment
Jeruen
523 reviews
Follow
June 10, 2011
I've been raised as a Christian, pretty much from the very beginning. After 25 years, I decided to call it quits and identify as an atheist. There are plenty of reasons I have for making that decision, but one day, I thought, that those reasons were all due to my reactions against Christianity. So here I am, finding myself rejecting religion, all due to assumptions based on one religion: Christianity. Thus, I felt uncomfortable to reject religion across the board, using only data points from one religion. After all, it's just like saying that I hate seafood when the only seafood I have eaten is shrimp. Thus, I picked the Qur'an. And I read it.
So what is this about?
This, as many people know, is the Holy Book of Islam. It is composed of 114 chapters, called surahs, and each surah has several verses. From a statistical point of view, the opening surahs tend to be longer than the closing ones. The second surah, for example, entitled "The Cow", has 286 verses, while the 110th surah only has three. Each surah opens with In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful.
I initially wanted to read the Qur'an because it is believed that the Qur'an is the most spectacular piece of Arabic literature. It also helps perhaps to understand what the cultural references are to novels that I have read in the past, especially those that dealt with Islamic characters. I previously read Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red and Nagīb Maḥfūẓ's Palace Walk, and it would definitely have helped if I had a better idea what were the religious assumptions that the characters held. Now that I have read the Qur'an, it would be easier to see where these characters are coming from.
But another reason I wanted to read the Qur'an is because I wanted to put my thoughts to the test. I identify as an atheist, which means that I rejected the belief of religion in general. But in actuality, I've never known what I was rejecting, at least with respect to Islam. I need to read about it first, before I can be more comfortable in saying that I do not buy it as well. After all, it's the scientific approach, that of experimentation.
So, 114 surahs later, I now have an opinion of what the Qur'an is. I was surprised at how some story lines are parallel to what I know the best, which is the Bible. There are characters that appeared in both, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, even Jesus. The Jews and Christians both appear in the Qur'an, but unlike Christianity, for Muslims, Jesus is just another prophet. Somewhere the stories split, and there are characters that appear in the Qur'an but not in the Bible.
I quite do not appreciate the catechism-like style of writing. There were plenty of repetitions. Several lines of thought were repeated: how Allah is all merciful and most benevolent (repeated before every chapter); how humankind emerged from a drop of holy sperm; how Allah is all-powerful and all-wise; et cetera. I never expected it to be a scientific book, and as the Bible, the writing style is geared toward indoctrination. The perspective is one of infallibility: the Qur'an only tells you that Allah is powerful, wise, and knows what is best for you. But it doesn't tell you WHY he is indeed claimed to be so. All you have to do is believe, and if you don't, you will face eternal destruction. I guess after reading this, I still conclude that Islam is not for me, and my personal conviction still holds ground. I am still an atheist.
One thing though that I have to say regarding the Qur'an, is that many people think that the Qur'an is a violent book and Islam is a violent religion. But after reading it, I think that the violence is just the same as what the Bible has. There is plenty of talk about believers and unbelievers, with the main gist as that the unbelievers will be punished by Allah. But the Bible also says the same thing. Believers will be blessed, while unbelievers will be punished, both in the Qur'an and in the Bible. Thus, to those people who burn Qur'ans because they think it's a violent book, perhaps they might want to read their own Bible too. If the Bible were made as a movie, I am pretty sure it would get an R rating.
I understand that that is not the whole problem. There's the fundamentalists too. But there are fundamentalists in Christianity too. Just check out what's found in Topeka, Kansas and you'll know what I am talking about.
So, as this is a book review, I am giving it 3 out of 5 stars. It's an awesome piece of cultural heritage, but it failed to persuade me to change my beliefs. I ended the book feeling untouched.
121 likes
Like
Comment
Erin
11 reviews15 followers
Follow
April 27, 2007
If you only ever in your entire life read one book, read this one. I promise you, it is unlike anything else you'll ever read.
113 likes
Like
Comment
