The Meaning Of The Holy Quran [Hardcover]

Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2004 | Series: Meaning of the Holy Quran

This is a new 11th edition of the best-seller translation of the Meaning of The Holy Qur'an by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, published by Amana Publications.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Best in English translation, Quality of Print and Binding and not least the Price. -- Book Review January 25th, 2001 --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Language Notes

Text: English, Arabic (translation)
Original Language: Arabic --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1759 pages
• Publisher: Amana Pubns; 11th edition (May 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590080254
• ISBN-13: 978-1590080252
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Bible & Other Sacred Texts > Quran

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

121 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

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

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Kerry Walters (Lewisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Meaning of the Holy Quran (Hardcover)

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.

67 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

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

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Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
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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.

45 of 48 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
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This review is from: The Meaning of the Holy Quran (Hardcover)

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.