BRUCE B. LAWRENCE

The Quran: A Biography is a beautifully written and authoritative account of one of the worlds most famous, and most misunderstood books. Few books in history are as poorly read or understood as the Quran. 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 Quran is Islam. He describes the origins of the faith in seventh-century Arabia and looks at why the Quran needs to be both memorized and recited by its followers. Lawrence also discusses the books many doubters and commentators and assesses its important influence in societies and politics today. Above all, Lawrence emphasizes that the Quran demands interpretation, and can only be properly understood through its history.

A pesar de la saturación de cobertura por parte de los medios de comunicación, los escritos de Osama bin Laden han permanecido curiosamente ausentes del análisis de la «guerra contra el terrorismo».

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

Una introducci#n seria y magn#ficamente escrita por el respetado historiador de las religiones Bruce Lawrence a uno de los libros m#s famosos del mundo. "Lo hemos hecho descender con la Verdad y con la Verdad ha descendido. No te hemos enviado [Mahoma] sino como anuncio de buenas nuevas y como monitor." El Cor#n Pocos libros han sido tan mal comprendidos a lo largo de la historia como el Cor#n. Considerado la palabra directa de Al#, fue enviado en una serie de revelaciones al profeta Mahoma, y es adorado por los musulmanes de todo el mundo, en quienes despierta devoci#n, pasi#n, y en ocasiones miedo. En este libro, el respetado historiador de las religiones Bruce Lawrence, muestra por qu# el Cor#n es el islam. Describe los or#genes de la fe musulmana en la Arabia del siglo VII y explica por qu# el Cor#n ha de ser memorizado y recitado por sus seguidores. Lawrence tambi#n estudia a los esc#pticos y los comentaristas del libro, y eval#a su inmensa influencia en la sociedad y la pol#tica contempor#neas. Sobre todo, Lawrence subraya que el Cor#n es un libro sagrado de s#mbolos que no tiene un #nico mensaje. Es un libro que exige ser interpretado, y que solo puede ser comprendido correctamente a trav#s de su historia.