"Appropriately epic and consistently erudite, yet accessible for lay readers." —Kirkus (Starred review)
Based on extensive scholarship, an innovative biography of the central text of Islam
Over a billion copies of the Qur'an exist – yet it remains an enigma. Its classical Arabic language resists simple translation, and its non-linear style of abstract musings defies categorization. Moreover, those who champion its sanctity and compete to claim its mantle offer widely diverging interpretations of its core message – at times with explosive results.
Building on his intimate portrait of the Qur'an's prophet in Muhammad the World-Changer, Mohamad Jebara returns with a vivid profile of the book itself. While viewed in retrospect as the grand scripture of triumphant empires, Jebara reveals how the Qur'an unfolded over 22 years amidst intense persecution, suffering, and loneliness. The Life of the Qur'an recounts this vivid drama as a biography examining the book's obscured heritage, complex revelation, and contested legacy.
The Qur'an re-emerges with clarity as a dynamic life force that seeks to inspire human beings to unleash their dormant potential despite often-overwhelming odds – in order to transform themselves and the world.