The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an English/Arabic: New Edition with Arabic Text and Revised Translation, Commentary and Newly Compiled Comprehensive Index

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Reader Reviews:

Impressive (3/3 people found this helpful)

This was one of the best Qur'an translations I have come across - I really liked the footnotes and Abdullah Yusuf Ali obviously had a lot of zeal and passion for translating and explaining the beauty of the ayat. I liked his footnotes, and the words he used to translate the Noble Qur'an. I also liked the layout and the clarity of the side-by-side Arabic and English text; additional transliteration may have improved it I think. I would suggest using several Qur'an translations and comparing the words used because that shows just how the meaning can be interpreted often in slightly different ways. The Qur'an exists in Arabic, anything else is just an interpretation of the meaning and English can seem sometimes just too thin to convey the original essence.

Solid but not spectacular (34/45 people found this helpful)

An illustration of the worth of this particular edition is that it is often distributed free to those who wish to become Muslim.

However, there are two points to note.

Firstly, it should be perfectly clear that the Qur'an is only authentic in its original language, Arabic. Since perfect translation of the Qur'an is impossible, Muslims use the phrase translation of the meaning of the Qur'an' (TMQ) as the result is only a crude meaning of the Arabic text. This work is a TMQ.

Secondly, the Prophet Mohammed (sallalahu aleihe wasallam) is reported as stating, to the nearest meaning, that "...he who interprets the Qur'an without knowledge should should his abode in hellfire" (Tirmidhi).

Therefore the Qur'an or TMQ should always be read with the commentary (Tafseer). For those who cannot afford to own a complete tafseer (such as Ibn Abbas (RA)) then it is best to buy a Qur'an or TMQ with the tafseer of certain verses included.

The very best I have seen in English is the TMQ by M. Muhsin Khan and Taqiuddin an-Hillali (published by Darussalam) which includes excerpts from three classic mufasireen (Ibn Katheer, at-Tabari and al-Qurtubi) as well as hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari.

H

Excellent introduction to the Qu'ran (20/22 people found this helpful)

I found this book (hardback edition)an excellent introduction for anyone interested in gaining an understanding of the Qu'ran. Each page contains the english translation plus arabic text and an explanation of each passage.

Read with an open mind (20/21 people found this helpful)

I have been reading this text for the past couple of months. Unlike some other translations/interpretations the arabic text is as clear as the english and both are placed side by side for easier reference. The annotated notes also help to clarify the english text further. Though this text should not be read in isolation (I would also recommend Symbols of Islam by Tanja Al Hariri-Wendel) the notes help frame context and are invaluable for a better understanding.

Absolutely fantastic (57/58 people found this helpful)

This translation is without doubt the best I have come across. The power and beauty of the original Arabic verses come through wonderfully into the English; you can feel the spirtual impact of many verses from the translation alone! Yusuf Ali's mastery and command of the English language is second to none; he is a truly gifted writer who is a pleasure to read. The notes and appendixes attached by him make this work encyclopaedic in its scope allowing the reader to delve into the meanings and significances of many different verses and symbolisms. He has knowledge of both the Western as well as Eastern traditions which he synthesises to produce a monumemtal work, encompassing enough knowledge to allow the reader to gain a comprehensive understanding of what the book is about.

All in all this is a fantastic translation of the Qur'an into English - regular contact with this book was probably the most significant thing which triggered my own spirtitual journey to God. I would reccomend this book to anyone who sincerely desires to know what the Islamic faith is about and/or who seeks to understand what the message of the Qur'an is. My personal opinion is that this is THE definitive translation to own.

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