Book excerpt: Islam means ‘submission to God’. A Muslim is someone who has submitted to God, recognizing Muhammad as a prophet of God. Jaico’s 366 Gems Series is the first comprehensive collection of the spiritual literature of the whole world presented in accessible form. It is aimed at people who wish to broaden their spiritual outlook, and also at the much larger group who have little or no attachment to a religious community, but seek spiritual wisdom. Each volume in the series contains major writings of one of the world’s spiritual traditions, presented in the form of an annual cycle of daily readings. 366 Gems from Islam includes: • The life of Muhammad by Ibn Ishaq, written soon after the prophet’s death • The Quran, received by Muhammad, which is the sacred text of Islam • Stories, poems, sayings and spiritual insights of the Sufi mystics • Philosophical reflections of the great Arab thinkers