The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an (Hardcover)

by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Author)
Key Phrases: eest thou, will receive admonition, practise regular charity, Allah and His Messenger, Old Testament, Allah's Signs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
The Best in English translation, Quality of Print and Binding and not least the Price. -- Book Review January 25th, 2001

Product Description
PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION

It has been more than half a century since the first appearance of 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali's superlative work, The Holy Qur’an: Text, Translation and Commentary. Since that time, there have been innumerable reprinting and millions of copies distributed throughout the world. It is, by far, the best known, most studied, and most respected English translation of the Qur'an. It was the first monumental and authoritative work of its kind and it subsequently inspired many such similar endeavors. The eloquent poetic style of the translation and the authenticity of the extensive commentaries and explanatory notes, have, no doubt, contributed greatly to its much deserved reputation as the English translation of the meaning of the Qur'an.

The tremendous impact that this work has made upon the English-reading Muslims (as well as, many non-Muslims) of the world, has never been greater than it is today and shall continue-insha'a Allah (Allah willing)-for generations to come. It has enabled interested readers of English, who do not have a proficiency in reading and comprehending Qur'anic Arabic, to greatly enrich their understanding of the meaning and the incomparable beauty and perfection of the Glorious Qur'an. It has given them a more authentic and reliable translation and commentary from which they could make a serious study.

‘A. Yusuf 'All was quick to point out that there can be no absolute or perfect rendition of the meaning of the Qur'an and, at best, only an interpretation of its understood meaning can be offered. Probably, he never envisaged how universal his work would someday become, for he was primarily attempting to explain his understanding of the Qur'an to his fellow-countrymen-both Muslims and no Muslims alike. Therefore, he was apt to occasionally use references, which could not be easily appreciated outside the milieu of the Indian Subcontinent.

Although it may not have been the intention of the author to reach such a wide range of readers as exists today, there nevertheless has long been a need for a revised new edition reflecting the needs and demands of today's enthusiastic readership. In response to this need, the present edition represents the first major revision since the initial printing over fifty years ago.

Revisions have been made in both the content and form of the original work. Where necessary, the content has been brought up-to-date and within the current understanding and interpretation of the Qur'an. In the translation, the Surah introductions, and the commentaries, such changes were relatively few and infrequent and have been noted as having been revised. The reader will however, find such notable changes as the use of the name 'Allah' for the word 'God' (as used in previous editions) since it was felt that the use of this Most Glorious Name is more widely understood and accepted by the general reader today. In addition, the word 'Messenger' has been given preference over the word 'Apostle' for the meaning of the original Qur'anic word in Arabic 'Rasul'. The reason being, it was felt, that the former term more clearly expresses the Islamic usage of the term without any negative connotations, which may be associated with the latter term resulting from inaccuracies in its use by other religious or historical works.

The explanatory footnotes and the appendices, however, were subject to more frequent, and occasionally more substantial, changes than those in the translation and the commentaries. The reason being there was a greater need of general updating of information and clarification of certain explanations, which were subject to misinterpretation. There were also a few instances in which certain portions of the material were deleted, either due to its out datedness or due to its proneness to misinterpretation.

The form of this newly revised edition has undergone a more dramatic change in style and has been vastly improved in order to facilitate its readability and study. The type for the English text has been completely reset for the first time, thereby making the character definition more legible after many years of reprinting.

In addition, the spelling has been modernized and the system of transliteration of Arabic into English has been modernized and standardized. For reasons of practicality, the title of each Surah appears in its transliterated form at the head of each page within the Surah. This should enable the non-Arabic reader to not only become more familiar with the names of the Surahs in Arabic but also to begin to associate the content of what he/she is reading with the name of the Surah in which he/she is reading. In addition, the 'Abbreviated' Letters (or al Muqatta'at) have been transliterated as they are spelled out in Arabic to make it possible to learn their pronunciation.

Furthermore, anew system of Qur'anic notation of the Surah and Ayah numbers used in the English text has been adopted. The Roman numerals used in the original system have been converted to Arabic numerals thus making it easier for most readers to readily understand the notations and to encourage them to investigate the frequent references and cross-references found in the Table of Contents Index, and Footnotes. In this edition (1416/1995), anew and comprehensive index for the translation and the commentary has been added to the book to facilitate its use and maximize the benefits of the work. Finally the method of indicating each Juz' (or 1/30th part of the Qur'an) has been modified in order to incorporate the more conventional method of notation commonly used today and thereby reduce the potential for confusion to the reader.

In sum, the editors have acted out of a sincere desire to improve upon this great work. It is hoped that this will-insha a Allah- help in furthering the aim of 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali by enhancing the usefulness and relevance of his work to the ever-changing needs and demands of the countless readers of today. May Allah bless him for his truly extraordinary efforts in producing this invaluable work of translation and commentary.

International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)

Herndon, Virginia U.S.A.

Jumada al Akhirah,1409 A.H./January,1989 A.C.

Herndon, Virginia U.S.A.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1762 pages
• Publisher: Amana Corporation; 10th edition (January 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915957760
• ISBN-13: 978-0915957767
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #315,857 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the beginner, March 1, 2002

By	Kerry Walters (Lewisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As a non-Muslim who teaches courses in world religions and mysticism, I find this translation of the Qur'an the most helpful to those persons who want to read the holy book of Islam. 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali's translation is both clear and beautiful, and his near verse-by-verse commentary is nonintrusive and extremely useful to the beginner. The commentary not only explains the context of individual verses but also serves as a concordance. Moreover, each surah (chapter) is prefaced by an informative summary that helps orient the reader. Finally, the whole has an extremely comprehensive index of almost thirty pages.

I can't recommend a better edition of the Qur'an to those of us who are non-Muslims but who wish to know more about Islam.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the books that has shaped the world, February 26, 2003

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an (pocket size) (Paperback)

"The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an" includes the Arabic text of this revered book side-by-side with an English version by 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali; this bilingual text is accompanied by a running commentary in the form of footnotes. This is a new edition with revised translation; the introductory material notes that the revision occurred after the death of 'Ali.

Not knowing Arabic myself, I can't comment on the accuracy of the translation. But 'Ali's version has a stately, classic quality. There are passages of real majesty and poetic grace. The translator uses archaic terms like "thou" and "verily," but I think they have a poetic effect and don't hurt this version's readability.

'Ali's footnotes are admittedly one-sided; they are written from an explicitly Muslim perspective, rather than a neutral or interfaith standpoint. Still, the footnotes are often very informative, even fascinating, as he puts passages in context and discusses theological and linguistic points.

Regarding the Qur'an itself: because it is a sacred text to over a billion people and has had such a profound impact on world history, I assert that it is essential reading for any person, regardless of religious belief, who wants to be an educated citizen of the world. The Qur'an has an epic quality. It is an intriguing mix of poetic ecstasy and down-to-earth concerns.

The Qur'an is an intensely self-conscious text; it constantly refers to itself, asserting its claim of divine origin and claiming a relationship to older divine revelation. Those familiar with Jewish and Christian scriptures will find the stories of familiar figures (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.) retold in the Qur'an, but often with a twist.

If you aren't a scholar of the Arabic language, I recommend you supplement your reading of 'Ali's version with other translations of the Qur'an; I would recommend A.J. Arberry's in particular. For intriguing companion texts to the Qur'an; try the Book of Mormon, the "Autobiography of Malcolm X," and the texts of the Baha'i religion.

38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Update of Jusuf Ali's Edition, November 5, 2000

By	Jonathan Bailey (Lawton, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a very well put together book. The Arabic and English print is very easy to read, and transliterated text is both easy to read and accurate to the sounds of the Arabic. (The Arabic Koran is left in the Arabic alphabet.) On each page there is a column of Arabic text and its English translation is set next to it in a column of its own. At the bottom there are Jusuf Ali's notes, which are very extensive and excellently cross-referenced. At the beginning of each Sura is commentary by Jusuf Ali which sheds light on the historical situation of the Sura as well as commentary on its meaning. The Koran, because it is smaller and subsequently less complete than the Bible, often requires the reader to endlessly sift through the voluminous literature of the Hadith and Sunna in order to properly understand its Suras. This volume does much to bring the meaning of the Koran to individuals who are not yet full-fledged scholars of Islam. I would have given this work 5 stars, but this edition is actually an alteration of Ali's work, having updated both the translation and the commentary. I feel that it is slightly dishonest to put a man's name on a work after altering it after his death. But the product itself is nearly flawless.