Customer Reviews

Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation.

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This translation of the Koran by Ahmed Ali is about as good as it gets for the English-speaking reader. Out of all the translations available locally, (and I compared many, side by side, passage to passage), this is IT. True, Ali does hang on to a generally archaic tone, but no more so than 'Lord of the Rings' does. 'Haply' and 'verily' are peppered throughout the text very much like the 'hark's and 'lo's of the JPS Tanakh. 'Compeer' is a regularly occuring word (has any contemporary English speaker used THAT in a sentence lately?). My favorite is 'obliquities'. Nonetheless, these things do not interfere with the basic clarity and readability of the translation. And unlike a couple of readable versions done by non-Muslims, Ali communicates a great deal of cultural and literary information sensitively and with style. Other reviews give me the idea many Christians are reading this for indications of the barbarity of Islam. I guess the savagery of the Hebrew Bible is insufficient for them. Christians might be better served by reading the Koran for its statements about Jesus, Mary and the Trinity. Mohammed's views do not represent his personal, idiosyncratic views. They represent sectarian Christian traditions that were alive and well in his time: that Jesus did not rise from the dead, nor was he the son of God. Read your books carefully!

Ahmed Ali has done a wonderful job attempting to present the initimable beauty of the Qur'an in English. His command of modern English idiom makes this translation easier to read for contemporary audiences. The only area where there is a notable weakness is the lack of extensive commentary which can place the verses in historical context and expalin issues such as jihad, women's rights etc. as they have been analyzed over 1400 years.

I have found that non-Muslims who read a translation which lacks such historical analysis can end up being misled as to true Islamic teachings. The reader below, who is "appalled" by the Qur'an seems to be ignorant of the historical context of verses on war etc. Any reading of the Bible, and yes of the Buddhist or Hindu scriptures, without such historical analysis will also portray these texts in a negative, brutal and primitive light. Reading about the terrible wars and massacres that God commands in the biblical stories of Moses, Joshua, David, etc. without historical context will convince you that Judaism and Christianity are barbaric religions. If you have no historical context in which to place these Bible stories, or understand how these religions evolved from such violent births, you have really no understanding of either faith. And uncritical study of some early Buddhist texts which held that women do not have souls would unfairly protray Buddhism as a primitive religion without historical understanding of how these ideas have evolved and changed over hundreds of years.

I suggest to the reader below, and to all who wish to learn about the loving tradition of Islam, to actually read books on Sufism, the heart of Islam which is indeed based on the Qu'ran and the example of Prophet Muhammad. Approaching a text like Ahmed Ali's translation without this basic knowledge and with an attitude of preconceived hostility will only reinforce your ignorance.

I have found Ahmed Ali's translation to be the best English translation of the Qur'an. The language of Ahmed Ali's translation is befitting and beautiful. Ali has managed to retain the Qur'anic poetry and cadences in his translation of this holy book into English, which makes it a joy to read. I am very moved by the poetic quality of this translation. It is also easy to read and to understand. It gives the reader a clearer insight into Islam and its concepts and I would recommend it to readers of all ages and creeds around the globe.

This is the first translation of the Qur'an in English that I have not found labourous to read. I finished reading it in a short time - often stopping to re-read verses - enjoying the eloquence of the language and the amazing retention of the rythms of the original Arabic. The text is poetic and the meanings come across gracefully - reading this translation leaves a spiritual impact . The translation is a pleasure and a joy to read. I strongly recommend it to all who wish to know the Qur'an and its true meaning. I find it to be the best of all the available translations.

I just happened upon this translation by chance, and I am glad that I did. This is an easily readable translation of the Quran. I really find comfort in the author's handling of the translation of 4:34 - a verse that when translated by other authors has been misused by some.

The style was more lyrical than many and less fraught with translation and interpretation issues than the Khan/Hilali version.

I would like to see this version carried more often in masjid bookstores. I have not seen one in a masjid, only in secular bookstores.

The footnotes were in an easy to read format that was not distracting from the main text.

No other translation captures the natural fluidity and poetry of the Arabic Qur'an like this translation does.

Many people who have read the Qur'an often complain that the English is hard to understand, and after I sent this Qur'an as a gift to friends, they are now able to "feel" the Qur'an much like the Arabic readers, which is one of the true treasures of this revelation.

5 stars...the only Qur'an I would buy.

Finally, a translation of the Quran that stays true to its intended meaning. I had become confused when I read Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation of 4:34 in which he translated one line of the verse to mean that husbands can beat their wives. Ahmed Ali clearly analyzes this translation and claims that it is completely incorrect which is in line with Islamic beliefs.

First of all, if one is really to criticize quality of this translation of the Qur'an, one should learn Arabic thoroughly enough to actually read the Arabic portion of Prof. Ali's bilingual text (understanding what was implied and nuanced therein) and compare it to his rendering. This translation, however, is actually readable (though I cannot vouch for its accuracy) and really does convey the message of Islam quite persuasively -- a great book for English speakers who have only a basic knowledge of the Islam. Prof. Ali's footnotes, in this regard, are excellent in terms of contextualizing certain verses. Unfortunately, however, a few of the reviews still express ignorant, prejudiced, and intolerant views of Islam. Such would definitely be remedied by reading Prof. Ali's translation of the Qur'an with an open mind.

This book is a very beautiful and well established interpretation of the Koran.( There is no translation which can capture its true literary eloquence as a Universally acknowledged World standard in Classical Arabic Literature due to the complex root based structure of Arabic - a sister language of Jesus's own tongue - Aramaic)

Arabic is a Semetic Language (like Aramaic)

FIRST : THE ONLY SEMETIC TERM FOR GOD = AaLaH
( see Aramaic Lexicon and Concordance )

Jesus Spoke Aramic ( not English!)
He called God 'AaLaH ' - the only word for GOD in his language

Muhammad Spoke Arabic ( not English!)
He called God 'Allah ' - the only word for GOD in his language

To understand this book fully requires a fairly detailed understanding of the history (to give meaning to the context of some of the verses)as well an appreciation of the original language and style. But a minimum basic understanding may be gained from e.g. Sarwar and Toropov's 'The Koran'. Without some sort of navigation the first time reader will find some of the passages difficult to appreciate.

I recommend this translation/interpretation as an all-round good rendition.However,there are several other (entirely different ) styles of English translation ranging from King James English to near-current day English translations. All versions give different shades of emphasis on the original Arabic text.( E.g. Aberry , Pickthall, Asad ,Haleem, G.Sale's etc...... to name a few)

There is a great British Tradition in appreciating the Koran:

1. The first ever translation from English direct From Arabic was by the London Lawyer George Sales in 1734 ( with a fabulous 'preliminary discourse' giving the History and background detail...download a free copy from www.manybooks.net !)

2. Marmaduke Pickthall - another Englishman whose translation is now a standard.

3. Arthur J Aberry - Professor of Arabic , Cambride University. Also a standard work.

4. John Penrice - An East Anglian based English Scholar of Arabic who , as far as I am aware has produced one of the best ever 'Dictionary and Glossary of the th Koran' - highly recommended for those who want to understand the original lanugauge of the 7th Century Arabia.

5. Karen Armstrong - an ex-Roman Catholic Nun ,graduate of Oxford University and author of extremely informative historical , popular text ( e.g. A History of God, Islam, a short History and Muhammad , a biography of the Prophet etc..).Her views are balanced and informative, and a good general background read to set the scene for the Koran and its proper interpretation.

6. Michael H Hart 'The 100:A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History' placed Muhammad at first place. Why ? Answer:Read for yourself. The Key of course is.. The Koran.

Finally - I think any reader who wants to read this translation ,provided he is properly prepared and informed will gain a great deal from Ahmed Ali's excellent translation of a very complex and intellectually stimulating , emotionally stirring and fabulously acclaimed Arabic Book

What a way to find a new Quran. It pays to be selective about the copy you keep in your household. I did some research before buying this rendition. There is in fact an online rendering but I had to hunt awhile to find it. I wanted a rendition that is fair and cosmopolitan when it came to the verse 4:34 and seeing this copy led me to believe it was a fair translation. I felt confident in the translation.

Professor Ali communicates the cultural and literary information in the Quran in a modern and sensitive manner. Do a quick online search and see this rendition has readability and is very well translated. To translate 4:34 of Nisa the best way is very important and can do alot for Islam.

The Quran's deep meaning has to be presented the right way so it can do the most for the religion as it can. Some reviews give me the idea Christians are reading the Quran for indications of barbarity. I think the savagery of the Bible would be enough for them. Such as Corinthians 14. Women make up almost half the world population the fairness and readability means everything when considering what Quran to read. Being an open minded version doesn't mean it's less accurate in fact there was a great deal of effort put into this one. If it encourages women and others to become interested in the religion it's a good thing and helps the religion. Fair minded interpretations are hard to find and this one shows its uniqueness in being fair and containing the right vocabulary. I hope all translations such as French Spanish and Russian come in copies that are fair and unique like this one so the beauty of the Quran is displayed just as it should be. The Quran's statements about Jeses and other prophets do not represent Mohammed's personal views. They do represent sectarian traditions that were alive and well in his time. Every arabic word has about 15 different meanings. ÇáÇÒåÇÑ or Zahara for example means shining or radiant but also means flower.

I regard this to be a very accurate and authentic Quran. Best one I've discovered lately and I can say that as a student of Arabic. Do you want a Quran that makes you confident to read it no matter if you're a male or a female? This is the one. You won't put it down feeling you've read something archaic that talks down to you and makes you feel guilty for being you. This makes a perfect beginner Quran for those of us who are just starting to find out about te Quran. If you still have questions after finishing the Quran, then visit a masjid and a talk with the imams that should address your concerns. I would love to see this Quran gain a larger circulation in mosques, bookstores and campus libraries. All in all this is a very beautiful and well established rendition of the Quran. Holy books change with the times and so does Al Quran. Please check this one out before you make up your mind about Islam. Like I said Corinthians 14 has some very negative lines about women that they should stay indoors and never get an education that is useless for this modern age. And for the political climate some argue there is a hadeeth that forbids females from politics but that's off subject. Several muslim countries have had female presidents, like Indonesia. That means after 200 years as a democracy the United States could too and it is a great advancement to have a Quran that regards womens' lives as just as important, though in a different way, as mens.' Any views of the Quran as primitive would be resolved by taking hold of this very Quran and reading it with an open mind, it is a result of years of study and hard work.

Make it your copy you choose so you have a fair and balanced, eloquent and energizing, redeeming rhythimic Quran that will encourage any reader to learn more about Islam, a modern and balanced, thoughtful and cultured Islam. It's the best. This is going to make a superb addition to the study. Islam means submission, but it doesn't have to be made in a way that's tacky or uncultured, and to me this Quran shows finesse. Highly recommended.

A Somers