Other books that might interest you

• 

  The Holy Quran

  Muhammad Habib Shakir

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Quran (Arabic: القرآن‎, romanized: al-Qurʼān, lit. the recitation), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from (Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. It is organized in 114 chapters (surah (سور‎; singular: سورة‎, sūrah), which consist of verses (āyāt (آيات‎; singular: آية‎, āyah)).Muslims believe that the Quran was orally revealed by Allah to the final prophet, Muhammad, through the archangel Gabriel (Jibril), incrementally over a period of some 23 years, beginning in the month of Ramadan, when Muhammad was 40; and concluding in 632, the year of his death. Muslims regard the Quran as Muhammad's most important miracle; a proof of his prophethood; and the culmination of a series of divine messages starting with those revealed to Adam, including the Tawrah (Torah), the Zabur (Psalms) and the Injil (Gospel). The word Quran occurs some 70 times in the text itself, and other names and words are also said to refer to the Quran.The Quran is thought by Muslims to be not simply divinely inspired, but the literal word of God. Muhammad did not write it as he did not know how to write. According to tradition, several of Muhammad's companions served as scribes, recording the revelations. Shortly after the prophet's death, the Quran was compiled by the companions, who had written down or memorized parts of it. Caliph Uthman established a standard version, now known as the Uthmanic codex, which is generally considered the archetype of the Quran known today. There are, however, variant readings, with mostly minor differences in meaning.The Quran assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in the Biblical and apocryphal scriptures. It summarizes some, dwells at length on others and, in some cases, presents alternative accounts and interpretations of events. The Quran describes itself as a book of guidance for mankind (2:185). It sometimes offers detailed accounts of specific historical events, and it often emphasizes the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence. Supplementing the Quran with explanations for some cryptic Quranic narratives, and rulings that also provide the basis for sharia (Islamic law) in most denominations of Islam, are hadiths - oral and written traditions believed to describe words and actions of Muhammad. During prayers, the Quran is recited only in Arabic.Someone who has memorized the entire Quran is called a hafiz (memorizer). An ayah (Quranic verse) is sometimes recited with a special kind of elocution reserved for this purpose, called tajwid. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims typically complete the recitation of the whole Quran during tarawih prayers. In order to extrapolate the meaning of a particular Quranic verse, most Muslims rely on exegesis, or commentary (tafsir).

  Show book

• 

  Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ

  Lew Wallace

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Called "the most influential Christian book of the nineteenth century," Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ was a best-seller in the 1880s, eclipsing the sales of Uncle Tom's Cabin and, later, Gone With the Wind to become the best-selling American novel of all time. The story recounts the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a fictional Jewish prince from Jerusalem, who is enslaved by the Romans at the beginning of the 1st century and becomes a charioteer and a Christian. Parallel with Judah's narrative is the unfolding story of Jesus, who comes from the same region and is a similar age. The novel reflects themes of betrayal, conviction, and redemption, with a revenge plot that leads to a story of love and compassion.

  Show book

• 

  The Age of Reason

  Thomas Paine

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  The Age of Reason written by legendary author Thomas Paine is widely considered to be one of the top 100 greatest books of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. The book was a bestseller in America, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. British audiences, however, fearing increased political radicalism as a result of the French revolution, received it with more hostility. The Age of Reason presents common deistic arguments; for example, it highlights the corruption of the Christian Church and criticizes its efforts to acquire political power. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature rather than as a divinely inspired text. The Age of Reason is not atheistic, but deistic: it promotes natural religion and argues for a creator-God.

  Show book

• 

  A Study in Scarlet - Classic...

  Arthur Conan Doyle

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Dr. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes meet and set up their lodgings at 221B Baker St. Over the course of several weeks, the good doctor finally persuades his mysterious roommate to reveal what exactly is his occupation. It seems that Sherlock Holmes is a self-proclaimed consulting detective. And as incredible as it sounds, the facts prove it to be true. A Study in Scarlet is the first Sherlock Holmes story/novella. Also included is the Edgar Allan Poe story: "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", generally considered the very first detective story. In this audiobook you get a firsthand glimpse into the very roots of detective fiction.

  Show book

• 

  Polinka

  Anton Chekhov

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Polinka, written by Anton Chekhov, is an evocative social commentary that explores the complexity of human relationships within a patriarchal society. Through the lens of a rural Russian family, we are presented with an artful inquiry into the negotiation of power and gender roles within a homogeneous cultural context. The narrative centers on protagonist Polinka, who struggles to find her voice amidst oppressive social constraints. In this way, Chekhov challenges the audience to question their assumptions about traditional gender relations. Read in English, unabridged.

  Show book

• 

  The £1000000 Bank-Note & other...

  Mark Twain

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  Collection contains:The £1,000,000 Bank-NoteMental TelegraphyA Cure for the BluesThe Enemy Conquered; or, Love TriumphantAbout all Kinds of ShipsPlaying CourierThe German ChicagoA Petition to the Queen of EnglandA Majestic Literary Fossil 
  This Mark Twain short story collection was published in 1893, in a disastrous decade for the United States, a time marked by doubt and waning optimism, rapid immigration, labor problems, and the rise of political violence and social protest.

  Show book