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If the concept of divine unity dominates the mind, it is the principle of divine compassion that rules the

heart in Islam. Contrary to the harsh stereotypes of Islam - fostered both by fanatics within the religion

itself, and by biased critics - the culture of this religion is steeped in the ambience generated by mercy and

compassion, expressions of divine love. This spiritual culture issues from heartfelt conviction that God is to

be taken absolutely seriously when he declares in the seventh chapter of the Koran, "My Mercy

Encompasses All." Drawn from his own translations of the text, scholar and author Reza Shah-Kazemi has

selected key verses from the Koran which manifest the various facets of mercy, a mercy which bestows

profound peace and infinite love. In the spirit of 'Blessed Are the Peacemakers', Wendell Berry's collection

of quotations from the Bible, this is a book to help us illuminate an immensely influential text.