Approaching the Qu'ran: The Early Revelations by Sells

From the Publisher

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.

What People Are Saying

Carl Ernst
Michael Sells is to be congratulated for making a major contribution to religious literature with Approaching the Qu'rn, the best version of Muslim scriptures available in English. Sells succeeds in a strategy that is endorsed by most Islamicists, which is to concentrate the beginner's attention to the short suras at the end of the Qu'rn....Approaching the Qu'rn is an important and illuminating work, one that will be welcomed by scholars, students, believers and all who seek to better understand Islam and its sacred scripture. - professor of Islamic studies at the University of North Carolina and author of The Shambhala Guide to Sufism

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