This translation into English of a great Islamic classic offers the western world a simple yet profound interpretation of Islam. Drawing upon years of unparalleled experience in diplomacy and government, Azzam examines the social and economic ramifications of the Muslim state, one based on humane ideals of law and justice expressed in the Qur'an, and one which can provide the foundation for a just society. Abd al-Rahman Azzam (1893-1976) is generally considered as the father of the Arab League. He served as the League's first Secretary-General between 1945-52 as well as distinguishing himself in a long career as an ambassador and parliamentarian. As Vincent Sheean points out in his introduction, 'In Damascus as well as in Djakarta, Istanbul and Baghdad, this man is known for valour of spirit and elevation of mind...He combines in the best Islamic mode, the aspects of thought and action, like the Muslim warriors of another time who are typified for us Westerners by the figure of Saladin.' Malcolm X's reading of The Eternal Message of Muhammad and his meeting with Azzam Pasha are vividly recounted in his Autobiography. It is clear that these events marked the point in his life at which Malcolm X turned towards orthodox traditional Islam.

A modern interpretation originally addressed to Muslims.

All Praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the [One Who] Sustains the Heavens and Earths, Director of all that is created, who sent the Messengers (may the peace and blessings of Allah beupon all of them) to rational beings, to guide them and explain the religious laws to them with clearproofs and undeniable arguments. I praise Him for all of His bounties. I ask Him to increase HisGrace and Generosity. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, whohas no partner, the One, Who Subdues, the Generous, the Forgiving. I bear witness that our leaderMuhammad is His servant and Messenger, His beloved and dear one, the best of all creation. Hewas honoured with the Glorious Qur'an that has been an enduring miracle throughout the years.He was also sent with his guiding Sunnah that shows the way for those who seek guidance. Ourleader Muhammad has been particularised with the characteristic of eloquent and pithy speech, and simplicity and ease in the religion. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, theother Prophets and Messengers, all of their families and the rest of the righteous.NO Copyrights!!!This book can be printed or reproduced or utilized in any form or by anyelectronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, without permission from the publisherfor the sake of spreading the True teachings of Isl

AN INDEPENDENT BEST BOOKS ON RELIGION 2014 PICK Few things provoke controversy in the modern world like the religion brought by Prophet Muhammad. Modern media are replete with alarm over jihad, underage marriage and the threat of amputation or stoning under Shariah law. Sometimes rumor, sometimes based on fact and often misunderstood, the tenets of Islamic law and dogma were not set in the religion’s founding moments. They were developed, like in other world religions, over centuries by the clerical class of Muslim scholars. Misquoting Muhammad takes the reader back in time through Islamic civilization and traces how and why such controversies developed, offering an inside view into how key and controversial aspects of Islam took shape. From the protests of the Arab Spring to Istanbul at the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and from the ochre red walls of Delhi’s great mosques to the trade routes of the Indian Ocean world, Misquoting Muhammad lays out how Muslim intellectuals have sought to balance reason and revelation, weigh science and religion, and negotiate the eternal truths of scripture amid shifting values.

If Tripping with Allah is a road book, it’s a road book in the tradition of 2001: A Space Odyssey, rather than On the Road. Amazonian shamanism meets Christianity meets West African religion meets Islam in this work of reflection and inward adventure. Knight, the “Hunter S. Thompson of Islamic literature” seeks reconciliation between his Muslim identity and his drinking of ayahuasca, a psychedelic tea that has been used in the Amazon for centuries. His experience becomes an opportunity to investigate complex issues of drugs, religion, and modernity. Though essential for readers interested in Islam or the growing popularity of ayahuasca, this book is truly about neither Islam nor ayahuasca. Tripping with Allah provides an accessible look into the construction of religion, the often artificial borders dividing these constructions, and the ways in which religion might change in an increasingly globalized world. Finally, Tripping with Allah not only explores Islam and drugs, but also Knight’s own process of creativity and discovery.

A life of the prophet Muhammad by bestselling author Karen Armstrong. 'Armstrong has a dazzling ability: she can take a long and complex subject and reduce it to its fundamentals, without over-simplifying' SUNDAY TIMES 'One of our best living writers on religion' FINANCIAL TIMES 'Not just a sympathetic book that would dispel the misconceptions and misgivings of its western readers, but also a book that is of considerable importance to Muslims' MUSLIM NEWS Most people in the West know very little about the prophet Muhammad. The acclaimed religious writer Karen Armstrong has written a biography which will give us a more accurate and profound understanding of Islam and the people who adhere to it so strongly. Muhammad also offers challenging comparisons with the two religions most closely related to it - Judaism and Christianity.

The Qur'an: A Biography is a beautifully written and authoritative account of one of the world's most famous, and most misunderstood books. Few books in history are as poorly read or understood as the Qur'an. Sent down in a series of revelations to the Prophet Muhammad, it is regarded by the faithful as the unmediated word of Allah. It is revered by Muslims throughout the world, it inspires unparalleled levels of devotion, passion, fear and, sometimes, incomprehension. In this book, the distinguished scholar Bruce Lawrence shows precisely why the Qur'an is Islam. He describes the origins of the faith in seventh-century Arabia and looks at why the Qur'an needs to be both memorized and recited by its followers. Lawrence also discusses the book's many doubters and commentators and assesses its important influence in societies and politics today. Above all, Lawrence emphasizes that the Qur'an demands interpretation, and can only be properly understood through its history.

Why not just Allah? Why Muhammad's Allah? This unique book explains that Allah is not a god (deity) and that this god-concept we have all come to embrace, as a result of misleading information and conditioning, is not the Allah expounded by Muhammad (saw). Everyone, from the most learned to the most ignorant, has a concept of God. A God that we love, get angry with, judge and even accuse, at times, for doing wrong by us! We imagine this God, who sits on a star in the heavens or dwells somewhere in space, to be like a benevolent paternal figure or a majestic sultan! Those with broader views (!) are well aware, of course, that such a God cannot exist and claim they do not believe in a God, proudly declaring themselves as atheists. Whereas, neither the aforementioned believers who postulate a God with their hearsay knowledge and conditionings, nor the atheists who deny and reject the idea of a God, have any awareness of Allah as explained by Muhammad (saw)! So what is the reality of Allah revealed by Muhammad (saw)? Muhammad (saw), who articulated the Quran to us, taught us there is no God, that there is only Allah; that there is a System present within life, by which those who fail to comply, are led to suffer the consequences of their own actions. If we live with the awareness of the existence of an afterlife, our primary concern should be to know Allah and the life awaiting us after death, so that we may prepare accordingly. Taking this into consideration, let us now try to understand the One denoted by the name Allah disclosed by Muhammad (saw).

"The Qur'an has been interpreted by many scholars (Muslims and non-Muslims) for centuries, and many interpretive works presently in circulation are more or less similar in tone and contents. The "Essential Message of Islam," however, is a challenging book that stands apart from the traditional interpretive works. Evolved primarily by a computer-aided scrutiny of the Qur'anic text, the book provides an invaluable source that offers eye-opening and enlightening insights to the Muslims' sacred Text, without any personal, sectarian, cultural or gender influences. The book removes any misconception about Muslim-Christian-Jewish relationships, presenting Islam as a 'Universal Religion' that promotes a peaceful coexistence of people of all faiths. A must read book for all!" -- Publisher description.

Although the biography of Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH), has been the subject of many studies, books, references, and commentaries, the book written in Arabic by the Author, Abbas Mahmoud Al-Akkad, remains unique in the way it has addressed the personality of the Prophet (PBUH), producing such an elegant thesis. This book is not a mere citation of the acts and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); rather, Al-Akkad opted to dive deeply into the traits and attributes underlying the Prophet's legacy as a manifestation of his genius, still as a human being. According to Al-Akkad, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had naturally practiced all facets of genius and greatness, because he was gifted by the talents that had made him the best preacher, politician, manager, warier, friend, and father. The Author illustrated how the Prophet (PBUH) had such lively heart, soul, and conscience that enabled him to register the irrefutable genius in every creation around him, subtle or obvious, from the air lifting of a single grain of sand to the ever-glowing sun and moon. It was such lively elements instilled in the Prophet that prepared him for the divine call and enabled him to endure the struggle associated with receiving the 'heavy' message and delivering it successfully to all mankind. And in the way the Prophet reflected upon the genius of all creations around us is a strong message to every human being to search, ponder, and listen to the wonders of Allah's creation. The Author succeeded in presenting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a human being whose human nature made him appreciative of people's weaknesses, needs, and aspirations, while catering for these astonishingly during his delivery of the message of Islam. Al-Akkad proved how the Prophet (PBUH) persisted and persevered in his call to make it a success despite all the odds, barriers, and challenges; a message to be emulated by every individual who has goals to pursue and achieve in this life and in the hereafter. The Author also showed that during only 23 years, the duration of Prophet Muhammad's mission, the world has changed forever; thanks to this one single man. Yet this change would have never been possible without the special qualities that were inculcated in the Prophet. It is these qualities that every person should strive to acquire and act upon, notwithstanding the divine preparation that qualified Prophet Muhammad for the most serious mission in history. In the course of guidance and aspiration to mankind, the way the Author presented the genius traits of the Prophet (PBUH) inspires individuals to strive for nobility and justice, societies to aim for reforms and prosperity, and nations to establish and maintain order and peace. Finally, the book shows how the Prophet (PBUH) spent all his life expending his skills, talents, and genius for the benefit of mankind, entertaining none of life's glamour; a fact that characterized all prophets before him. But in return, people will always celebrate his contribution to mankind until the end of time. Dr. Mostafa Ismail