HOLY QUR\'AN: An Intimate Portrait

Holy Qur'an: An Intimate Portrait A Book’s Journey into Light by John Herlihy _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Available on www.amazon.com and www.amazon.co.uk as Paperback and as Kindle (e-book). Product Details Paperback: 200 pages Publisher: Ansar Books (August 8, 2014) Language: English ISBN-10: 0692260013 ISBN-13: 978-0692260012 Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.5 x 9 inches

Written by an American Muslim who converted to Islam over 40 years ago, this intimate portrait identifies the Qur’an as a companion and friend to the Muslims wherever they may be, especially in this anti-spiritual world with its emphasis on money, power and material possessions as the main goal of life and the answer to life’s mysteries. It recounts the journey of a book that began

in 7th century Arabia in the darkness of a cave in the black mountains outside of Makkah in present-day Saudi Arabia. The author explains in depth the many reasons why the Muslims—and he himself as a practicing Muslim—continue to respect and love their holy book as a treasure of great value in this world, even now in the present era with its secular outlook on life and its emphasis on a modern-day scientific rather than traditional worldview that provides no opening into the life and world of the Spirit. The book is identified as "An Intimate Portrait” because in unveiling its very heart as a living presence for the Muslims, the author hopes to reveal the source and origin of all the emotions and higher sentiments that have descended to humanity through the book and will ascend back to God through its recitation and study. Readers will not be disappointed in having this unique access to the historical, devotional and spiritual record of this “final revelation” of divine origin. It is a book that provides a complete and traditional worldview that present and future generations can live by, a book that has virtually changed the way billions of people down through the ages understand the purpose and meaning of life, a book that gives a sense of personal identity to individuals in search of the profound questions and mysteries they must confront and come to terms with in their lives. In short, according to the Muslims, it is a book like no other in this world. The Preface and selected chapters are (or will soon be) posted here on the academia.edu website for the convenience of colleagues who have an interest in this work.