Loving Letters: An Islamic Alphabet

Loving Letters contains twenty-six full-colour plates, each devoted to a single letter of the Western alphabet. In the centre of each plate is a four-line verse, which is surrounded by illuminating, highly detailed illustration of familiar Muslim scenes and symbols. The verse itself, in each case, captures some aspect of the spirit of Islam, as a universal creed with an important message of peace, love, goodness and harmony for all humanity. The essential Oneness of God's creation is emphasised along with the concept that the Prophet's message is for people and children of all times and places. The message is imparted not only poetically, but also faithfully, through frequent echoes of the Qur'an and Hadith, as well as other Islamic texts and traditions. An introduction by Dr. Anas Al Shaike-Ali explains the purposes of the book for prospective adult purchasers, while a glossary at the end helps young readers understand the Islamic terms. Both the concepts and the vocabulary make the book suitable for older readers, but with its rhythms and evocative illustrations it will be attractive and inspiring to younger children too. Its potential for use in a classroom situation or as supplementary reading material is considerable.