After Heraclius, Caesar of the Byzantine Empire, had captured Constantinople from the Persians in 628 C.E., he went to Jerusalem to thank God for his victory. In the ancient holy city, he received a most extraordinary letter from a land further to theIn the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. From Muhammad, slave and messenger of God, to Heraclius, ruler of Byzantium. Peace upon all who follow I call you with the call to submission to God. Surrender to God, and you will be safe. Surrender to God, and God will give you a double reward. If you turn away, then the misdeeds of the peasants will be your fault. People of the Book, come to a Word common to both of us, that we worship only God.Heraclius summoned a noble Arab to inquire about the author of this letter. Afterwards he declared, "I asked what he enjoins upon you, and you stated that he enjoins you to worship God, and not to associate anything with God, and not to worship the fetishes of your ancestors. And he enjoins you to pray, to give charity, to be chaste, to keep promises, and to fulfill trusts. This is the description of a Prophet. l knew he would appear, but I did not know he would be from among you."Heraclius could not have known the profound impact this Prophet was to have. From an early community of Koran reciters surrounding Muhammad, Islam was soon to spread over vast distances, becoming one of the world's major religions.For too long the realities of Islam and the Koran have been a mystery to the Christian West. In this brilliant rendition, Thomas Cleary distills the essence of the Koran, presenting primary teachings from the sacred Book in an accessible and illuminating manner. Cleary's notes on the spiritual language and psychology of the Koran reveal an astounding richness, subtlety, and depth in this extraordinary Book.