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Rating: 
Summary: No philosphy
Review: A problem for anyone trying to get to grips with Islam is that it has no structured philosophy. Those who tried to formulate one, such as al-Suhrawardi in 1191, tend to be executed.It is just faith. Believe these ideas, however daft they may seem to the rational mind. That is all there is. However much a book may emphasise the poetry and beauty of the writing, it does not develop into anything intellectually valuable or acceptable to rationally minded people. The effect of this it to create an aggressive and expansionist society, intolerant of any questioning or free discussion.
Rating: 
Summary: A very poetic translation
Review: At a little over two hundred ages this isn't meant to be a whole translation of the Quran. Selected surahs are translated and Cleary provides notes on them in the back of the book. As he also translates eastern religious texts many times he will provides parables from Buddhism within the notes. He has a very poetic and simple way of translating the surahs.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Introduction to the Quran
Review: Thomas Cleary's "Essential Koran" is a great introduction to those who are vaguely familiar with the Quran. Cleary attempts to give the translation a poetic quality which is the essence of the original Arabic. Undoubtedly, the correct way to understand the essence of Quran is to learn Quranic Arabic.
Every translation has its shortcomings. However, Cleary's effort to simplify the translation of the Quran for the lay non-Muslim or lay Muslim is appreciated.
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