The Qur'an: An Introduction (Foundations of Islam)
"[A] masterful exposition of the sacred book's content, format and literary style, the history of its interpretation, and its relevance to a host of contemporary issues. . .  This book will provide a gateway to intercultural understanding and a deeper appreciation of the world's diverse spiritual heritage." --Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, editor ofA Handbook of Global Religion, and President of the American Academy of Religion"Those who seek an explanation of what Muslim readers look for in the Qur'an will find this introduction to be a useful and rewarding text." --Carl Ernst, William R. Kenan, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina"With a concern for both context and relevance, Anna Gade's lucidly written work presents an accessible introduction to the Qur'an, intricately exploring the text within the compass of traditional perceptions of its form and content."  -- Mustafa Shah, Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East, School of Oriental and African Studies, London Mustafa Shah - Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East, School of Oriental and African Studies, London"[Gade] introduces the reader to many authoritative approaches to the Qur'an and works in a manageable way with actual Qur'anic passages, here in the 2002 Majid Fakhry English translation, to support confidence in reading the text, enabling students to understand how Muslims approach their holy book. Works of this kind are essential to help Western readers make sense of a difficult religious text." -- Library Journal