The Wisdom of Islam

The Wisdom Of series presents the essence of the world's great religions and cultures in the words of the sages and the images of master artists andphotographers. Each of the handsomely designed, richly illustrated volumes in this uplifting new series is devoted to the ageless teachings of one of the world's major religions or cultures. Excerpts from the most eloquent practitioners of the religion-be they poets, philosophers, or spiritual leaders-are paired with evocative images, whether paintings, sculptures, or photographs. The volume on Judaism, for instance, is illustrated with painting by Marc Chagall. Details of Pompeiian frescoes grace the pages of the volume on Ancient Rome. The words of the Buddha are accompained by images that depict important events in his life. The teaching of Jesus are paired with illuminations from the 15th-centuryBook of Hours of the duc de Berry. The introduction to each volume provides a concise summary of the basic tenets of the religion or culture and discusses it relevance to our lives today; the philosophy ofreconciliation at the heart of the Tao; the Ancient Greeks' continuous and manifold investigation of the world; the reworking, transforming, and "uplifting" of Nature aspracticed in the followers of Islam. As aesthetically pleasing as they are inspiratonal, the books in the The Wisdom of series offer spiritual guidance and advice for all readers, whatever their personal beliefs maybe.