THE PEACE LIBRARY

Welcome to the Peace Library —

Throughout the page below, one will find books, videos, articles, lectures and more. One should begin by reading the Quran, since the Quran is the focal point of the other materials. Any questions are welcome, and can be sent using the contact address on the home page. God willing, responses will be forthcoming as soon as possible. Until then, Godspeed, due diligence and peace to the searchers.

Which English translations of the Quran are recommended for study?

The following Qurans have been selected for their focus on monotheism rather than adherence to a particular cultural environment or traditional philosophy (such as an established "religion"), acknowledgement of and relationship to the mathematical miracle based on the number 19, accuracy in the translation process, thoughtful insights, and last but not least, a willingness to allow the Quran to speak for itself. While any of these translations may not possess every quality listed above, each of them possesses its own merits and should be included in one's studies.

“The Quran: Authorized English Translation” (pdf) — Rashad Khalifa

“Quran: A Reformist Translation” (pdf) — Edip Yuksel, Layth Saleh al-Shaiban, Martha Schulte-Nafeh

“The Quran: A Monotheist Translation” (pdf) — The Monotheist Group *

“The Message of the Quran” (pdf) — Muhammad Asad *

“The Quran as it Explains Itself” (pdf) — Shabbir Ahmed *

“The Quran: A Complete Revelation” (pdf) — Sam Gerrans *

( * These Qurans do not recognize the mathematical miracle and still contain verses 9:128-129, but remain included for their perspectives.)

Which translation is best for someone who is reading the Quran for the first time?

If one is encountering the Quran for the first time, and isn't yet familiar with the ideas mentioned above, one will likely find the translation by Rashad Khalifa (the first in the list) the most pleasant and straightforward to read. It also offers an easy-to-follow introduction of some of the ideas mentioned above, such as the mysterious and powerful role played by the number 19.

Is there a preferred schedule for reading the Quran?

One should read the Quran in a way that's comfortable in order to absorb its important information. The main point is to read it, preferably on a daily basis when possible.

That said, the Quran can be divided into sixty roughly-even parts for scheduled reading sessions. A full reading can be completed over the course of a month by covering two such parts a day. My personal reading schedule generally involves reading one part each weekday, and supplementing this on weekends with other meditations, such as books, newsletters, and documentaries. The schedule of sixty parts can be viewed below, or downloaded and printed by clinking on the link:

Printable 60-part Quran reading schedule

Part 1 1:1 — 2:74

Part 2 2:75 — 2:141

Part 3 2:142 — 2:202

Part 4 2:203 — 2:252

Part 5 2:253 — 3:14

Part 6 3:15 — 3:91

Part 7 3:92 — 3:170

Part 8 3:171 — 4:23

Part 9 4:24 — 4:87

Part 10 4:88 — 4:147

Part 11 4:148 — 5:26

Part 12 5:27 — 5:81

Part 13 5:82 — 6:35

Part 14 6:36 — 6:110

Part 15 6:111 — 6:165

Part 16 7:1 — 7:87

Part 17 7:88 — 7:170

Part 18 7:171 — 8:40

Part 19 8:41 — 9:33

Part 20 9:34 — 9:92

Part 21 9:93 — 10:25

Part 22 10:26 — 11:5

Part 23 11:6 — 11:83

Part 24 11:84 — 12:52

Part 25 12:53 — 13:18

Part 26 13:19 — 14:52

Part 27 15:1 — 16:50

Part 28 16:51 — 16:128

Part 29 17:1 — 17:98

Part 30 17:99 — 18:74

Part 31 18:75 — 19:98

Part 32 20:1 — 20:135

Part 33 21:1 — 21:112

Part 34 22:1 — 22:78

Part 35 23:1 — 24:20

Part 36 24:21 — 25:21

Part 37 25:22 — 26:110

Part 38 26:111 — 27:55

Part 39 27:56 — 28:50

Part 40 28:51 — 29:45

Part 41 29:46 — 31:21

Part 42 31:22 — 33:30

Part 43 33:31 — 34:23

Part 44 34:24 — 36:27

Part 45 36:28 — 37:144

Part 46 37:145 — 39:31

Part 47 39:32 — 40:40

Part 48 40:41 — 41:46

Part 49 41:47 — 43:23

Part 50 43:24 — 45:37

Part 51 46:1 — 48:17

Part 52 48:18 — 51:30

Part 53 51:31 — 54:55

Part 54 55:1 — 57:29

Part 55 58:1 — 61:14

Part 56 62:1 — 66:12

Part 57 67:1 — 71:28

Part 58 72:1 — 77:50

Part 59 78:1 — 86:17

Part 60 87:1 — 114:6

What additional information resources are available?

Quranix.org (web) — A website providing side-by-side comparison of verses from a number of English translations of the Quran.

Rashad Khalifa’s Friday Sermons and Documentaries (web) — Videos collected in one place on Youtube.

Masjid Tucson’s Youtube Channel (web) — Collected sermons and talks by Rashad Khalifa as well as new videos produced by Masjid Tucson.

Library of Submitters Perspective Newsletters (web) — A wealth of articles and information on submission.

Edip Yuksel’s Website (web) — Collected writings and blog posts by Edip.

Edip Yuksel’s Youtube Channel (web) — Edip’s collected talks, debates and tangential explorations regarding the Quran and other topics.

“Quran, Hadith & Islam” (web) — A book by Rashad Khalifa on the pursuit of God alone.

Sam Gerran’s Youtube Channel (web) — The collected and ongoing lectures, Quranic recitations, and book readings of Sam Gerrans.

Sam Gerran’s Website (web) — Sam's books and articles can be downloaded here as PDFs for free.

Said Mirza's Youtube Channel (web) — Said's collected presentations and podcasts regarding the Quran and related subjects.

Said Mirza's Website (web) — Said's books can be downloaded here for free as PDFs, as well as his presentations in article form.

Keikhosrow Emami’s Youtube Channel (web) — A monotheist’s collected presentations on the Quran and related subjects.

Interested in another perspective, or have questions regarding anything above?

Once more, all inquiries are welcome, and can be emailed to me using the contact address on the home page. Responses will be forthcoming as soon as possible, God willing.