, whose 1999 book,

offered readers a glimpse of the literary qualities of Islam's holy book, will speak at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at

, 6300 S.W. Nicol Rd., Portland. The event, sponsored by the school and the

, is free and open to the public. A reception and book-signing will follow.

Sells is a professor of Islamic literature and history at the

.

of Ashland published Sells' book in 1999 and in 2002, the

made it a must-read for the incoming freshman class. Critics argued that Sells ignored passages of the Quran that appeared to condone violence.

Sells revised his book, which focuses on early suras, or chapters, of the Quran in 2007. His English rendering of these suras, which are not officially translated from Arabic, according to Islamic law, has been the first experience for many Americans who are curious about the Quran.

Sells will talk about researching and writing the book and the controversy it invoked in his Friday night lecture. He'll lead a teacher development workshop at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Muslim Educational Trust, 10330 S.W. Scholls Ferry Road in Tigard. Workshop space is limited and cost is $20.

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