American Qur'an

What a beautiful resource! As a scholar of Islam and material and visual culture I stumbled across this while looking for resources on my class on the Qur’an. I got it and used it in my classroom multiple times using it to investigate topics such as illumination, pictorial arts, and Islam in the United States. My students really loved this volume and a few bought it on their own after the class. The artwork is unique and covers prescient American issues like the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, homelessness, veterans issues, or even bodegas and national parks. The font is unique and hand lettered by the artist. It is not supposed to depict actual scenes of the Quran but reflect an interpretation of how to make something that could be considered an American Quran. As a classroom teaching tool it’s great and it’s also just beautiful to look at.

Beautiful binded book. Very heavy! I love the way it’s written. Easy and understandable read. Very impressed!Kristin Anglum

Fantastic rendition of a classic book.A book like no other, it's huge, it had the complete koran in english, with illustrated scenes from American life.If you're American and want to study islam, this is a good place to start.

i LOVE this edition! as an american muslim, i see the need for more art that documents the life and times of our faith in this country. the idea that there are muslims who surf, shop in supermarkets, work at school bake sales or are just part of the american landscape is something we are missing in this age of fear and divisiveness. i adore sandow birk's simple, ordinary illustrations. i feel lucky to have stumbled upon this work - based on an NPR interview - and have given copies to my brother, my parents and my kids.

If you are already a fan of Sandow Birk this is the book for you. If you are new to his work you will become a fan.

I'm obsessed with reading this Quran! I can't stop reading it! Beautiful script, illustrations, imagery of American life and politics all in an easy to read English translation that it is simply magnetic! Highly recommend it!

A beautiful rendering of the Qur'an that I am proud to have in my home.

Enjoyed looking through this huge book. the cover is beautiful and well made. The colors within the pages are vibrant. So grateful for my client to recommend this book. A treasure indeed.

I have just received my copy. These are my first day's feelings about it. Over time, if needed, I will update. For now, I find this a monumental piece of loving endeavour. Birk brings to everyday life words revealed over 1400 years ago. The translation used is in modern English, simple and readable without strain. Birk's illustrations are universal reminders of words meant to remind. While the well written preface and lengthy intro say the work was intended for American society, the scenes illustrated will be recognized by, and touch every human being, save possibly a few members of an isolated tribe.The volume is well produced. In both size and heft, it makes the work one of deliberate table top reading. Even then, at 5 lbs, it's not possible to hold up the work while leafing through it. In a way, it had to be so to celebrate the millennium old tradition of elaborate artistic rendition of the Quran. In another, it inhibits the second key objective of Birk, that of wider access to the core of that Other called a Muslim.

I first came across the 'American Quran' in the public library in Nashville, TN. USA. I leafed through it and soon realized that I must have it to take the time and enjoy the text and the artistic drawings. As a Muslim living in Canada I bought two copies to give to my son and my son-in-law. The effort by Birk is incomparable. It is a reference book to be read piecemeal. I recommend parents in North America to acquire it to pass onto their children and grandchildren. To sum up: it is the Quran with North American perspective.

Que dire de plus si ce n'est que je salue le travail d'un artiste génial qui a su trouver un projet et l'a mené à bon port. Le livre est "livré" dans un carton, il est beaucoup plus grand que je ne l'imaginais environ 50cm sur 35cm, il est plutôt bien fini, la reliure est très bien et la calligraphie en dorée est très bien faite. Petit bémol peut-être, je trouve que les couleurs sont un peu pastel sur les illustrations...J'aurais néanmoins aimé avoir le texte en arabe à côté, ce qui aurait ajouté un élément d'orientalité qui m'aurait bien plu.à avoir dans une bibliothèque, par contre je vais me mettre à chercher un élément pour le poser dessus