I wrote this book because I want to help people understand Islam. This is not an attempt to spread a religion or to denigrate it. I offer it as a gift to anyone seeking to bridge the gap in their understanding of Islam. In the end, education and understanding—and acceptance of other cultures—will unite the world against hatred. Let this be a part of that education.
This book is intended for audiences that have very little familiarity with Islam, the Qur’an, or Muslim culture. It also may be beneficial for Muslims that cannot read Arabic but find the current English versions difficult to read.
As a student of Islam and frequent wanderer of the broader Middle East region for over 20 years I have had many an occasion to read the Qur’an, visit mosques, and talk with my acquaintances about Islam. I took advantage of every opportunity in my studies to learn about Islam from many different points of view. I also focused on the little-known “Ibadhi Muslims” of Oman in my postgraduate thesis. While many interpretations of the Qur’an have been written by Muslims (whose first language is usually not English), those translations are often difficult to read. I attempt here to make an easy-to-read version in an unbiased way using modern English.
There are people that feel threatened by Islam as a religion. Some people assume that a Muslim translating the Qur’an into English softens the language to make it more pleasant and less threatening, so they can spread the religion. Other interpreters are even suspected of making the passages sound like God is condoning unlawful violence. On the other side of the equation, many translations or analysis of the Qur’an are done by non-Muslims that seek to find faults in the messages of the Qur’an or vilify the entire religion of Islam.
I seek a middle ground here. My sole intent is to show people what is and is not in the Qur’an and thereby, strictly speaking, what could be expected from a Muslim that adheres to the majority of the teachings of the Qur’an. I think most readers will find that, like all religious people, not all Muslim adherents follow the teachings of the entire Qur’an.
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From the Publisher
“Jason Howk has spent a career working with people from the Middle East and the greater Islamic world. His deep interactions with those of the Islamic faith have helped shape his extensive understanding of the people of the region in a way that few in the West ever come to understand.” —Dr. Ahmed Qureshi, Adjunct Professor of Middle East Studies, US Air Force Special Operations School
“Jason Howk’s . . . impressive and easy to understand interpretation of Muslim orthodoxy allows the Western world an education in beliefs that are difficult to put into perspective.” —Michael Franckowiak, NFL football player; Wall Street finance trader; veteran supporter
“Jason’s work across the globe has led him literally to being in the trenches to develop Muslim coalitions and being at the most senior levels of government. His experience and expertise is truly fascinating and one of a kind; not a better man for this task than Jason Howk.” —Lieutenant Colonel Jim, Army officer with years of operational experience inside foreign cultures
“Now, more than perhaps ever before, efforts are needed to improve cross-cultural and religious boundaries. Opening up and explaining the key Islamic text to non-Muslims is so important when sound bites and prejudice are dominating the dialogue…..His work is timely and necessary.” —Evan Fuery, former U.K. Military and Joint Operations colleague; energy company executive
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