The Qur'an Translation

This translation is considered the most authentic by Muslim scholars. It is the one that is supported by the government of Saudi Arabia and is most widely read by English-speaking Muslims. A translation of the Qur'an can never fully transmit the meaning or reflect the beauty of the original text. But the reality is that many people who seek to understand the message of the Qur'an will not be able to learn Arabic. It should be kept in mind that though the Arabic word may have multiple meanings, only one of those meanings gets translated to English (imagine what would happen to one of Shakespeare's puns if it was traslated to Arabic). But for English-speakers, this is the best option (though Mohammad Asad's translation is also very respected). The caveat is that to truly understand the Qur'an, it is important to read not only the text itself, but to understand it in context of the time it was revealed. Though Muslims consider the Qur'an to be timeless, many passages relate specifically to events occuring in the prophet's life or in the young Muslim community.

This seems to be one of three of the most accurate and complete translations (together with Shakir and Pickthal) based on the fact that the Islamic Monitor utilizes them because the Muslim Students' Association at University of Southern California uses these three. You can actually compare these translations at http://www.geocities.com/islamic_monitor/, which provides translations of selected texts side by side in making their points about Islam. If you are trying to learn about Islam and determine for yourself whether or not Islam is really a "religion of peace" compatible with a tolerant & free democracy, I would suggest, in addition to consulting the above link, that you also hear what ex-Muslims have to say about Islam at http://www.faithfreedom.org/ , especially if you don't have time for pouring over the entire Qur'an. This site, like the one above, points out the important relevant passages in the Qur'an that will answer your questions (see for instance the citations at http://www.faithfreedom.org/faq.htm ,Questions # 7 and # 21, and check out the photo Gallery).

This is an excellent translation. Although some Muslims still think that the Qur'an should be read only in Arabic, more and more of them recognize that many people cannot do so and therefore endorse the appearance of ttanslations. This translation is writen in inspiring English. One can sense what Muhammad was communicating from Allah through him. Reading the Qur'an in English should dispell many misconceptions English Speaking people have of the Qur'an's contents. It is no longer necessary to rely on expert's summary comments on the Qur'an. Now people can read the text itself.

Henry Ruf, Philosophy, Florida Atlantic University

I am by no means an Islamic scholar. As the book on which the Muslim Faith is based, it obviously has special meaning to Believers. I myself decided to read the book in order to better understand some of the philosophies that motivated the 9/11 attack and also to further my research on my novels based on the Reconquista and the Spanish Conquest of Mexico.

The Qur'an is the word of God as recited by an angel to the unlettered Prophet Muhammad. Interestingly, in this way it is similar to the beliefs of the Christian Mormons. They also claim that an angel delivered God's word to their young prophet, Joseph Smith.

To my way of thinking one of the fascinating aspects of the Holy Qur'an is the many similarities between this Holy text and 'The Book' i.e. The Holy Bible of the Jews and Christians. The Bible and Qur'an are all clearly based on the same religious traditions. The Qur'an tells of God's creation of the first man and woman as well as their progeny. It tells of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and many other personages and prophets familiar to Jews and Christians in their Book. It refers to Jesus as 'The Messiah' but simultaneously says that it is a sacrilege to claim that God might condescend to procreate with a woman.

As a matter of fact, many of the Bible stories are referred to in the Qur'an but usually with significant twists and differences in significance and interpretation. This suggests to me the very real possibility that there was a common strain of belief running through the Middle East. Despite official and court dictated beliefs in Baal and Marmaduke, there must have been an ancient and verbal tradition--perhaps perpetuated at the peasant level--of one God as evidenced through a common belief in major prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham and Moses. Belief in Jesus as the Messiah would, most logically, have been due to Christian influence.

The Holy Qur'an certainly has many different aspects. Although God is merciful, there are dire warnings of torments meted out to Unbelievers in the Hereafter. There are also, of course, promises to the True Believers--those who follow the Commandments, Laws and God's Pillars of Wisdom--of eternal delights in Paradise. There are also interesting passages giving advice and warning to Muhammad's bickering wives. This can be interpreted as Godly advice to women to follow their fathers' and husbands' lawful guidance.

Ron Braithwaite author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico

Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation of the Qur'an is without question the most accessible translation of this book from Arabic to English.

That is to say, this is only a translation of the words of the Qur'an themselves. There is no analysis of the historical context of each sura (chapter) or anything like that. I am informed that this is probably a good thing, as Ali's interpretation is at odds with mainstream Muslim thought.

It is difficult to review a translation of a book deemed scripture by a large section of the world's population without reviewing the faith itself, and as a result these remarks will be neccessarily brief. However, speaking as a student of Islamic Studies - not as a convert to Islam, which I am not - I can say with a high degree of certainty that the claims that this text "endorses terrorism" or "explains why there are no Muslim theologians the equal of St Francis of Assisi" are untrue. In the first instance, anyone believing this to be the case would be well served to read works on Islam itself. In the second instance, much the same comment can be made, with the added fact that it is important to remember that Islamic theology evolved in a very different way to Christian or Jewish theology, and to apply one's own biases to another faith is an exercise in extreme futility.

A number of Qur'an translations here at Amazon have reviews pointing out that the only way to appreciate the text here is in its entirety, and this is quite true. Simply picking and choosing certain texts - often the ones known in the West as the "Sword Verses" - will result in a very biased view of this book. The world's Muslims believe this book to be true in its entirety, and it is in that respect that we who are not Muslim must view it.

To that, I would also like to add the recommendation that anyone trying to make a serious study of Islam not only read a Qur'an but also either take the time to ask Muslims about their religion or invest in books on the subject by respected authors (Esposito's "Islam: The Straight Path" and the recently-published "Jihad: From the Qur'an to bin Laden" by Bonney are highly recommended).

However, if the object is to buy an easily understandable English translation of the Qur'an, I can unreservedly recommend Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation.