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The Koran (Penguin Classics) Revised Edition

by
N. J. Dawood (Editor, Translator, Introduction)
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N. J. Dawood (Editor, Translator, Introduction)
3.6 out of 5 stars 147 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0140449204
ISBN-10: 0140449205
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Product Details

  • Series: Penguin Classics
  • Paperback: 456 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics; Revised edition (September 28, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140449205
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140449204
  • Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (147 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,752 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsAn Important Read
By benjamin on July 14, 2003
Format: Mass Market Paperback
I had no real interest in Islam until 9/11, after which I picked up and read Islam: The Straigh Path by John Esposito. I then did an independent study of Sufism, which is what sparked my interest in Islam enough to read The Koran, its central text.
Although I cannot comment on the other reviewers' differing views on the accuracy of this translation, I can write that this translation does convey something of the thunderous power that Muhammad's earliest listeners must have heard and experienced when these suras (speeches - the Koran is a collection of 114 speeches given by Muhammad, which Muslims believe were revelations given to him by God) were first delivered.
There are a number of things that one could mention content-wise, as each sura deals with something slightly different. God, women, human relationships, one's relationship to the non-believing world, Judaism, Christianity, and Arabic paganism are all touched upon in the Koran (along with other topics). It reads much like the Bible at points, and many of the more familiar Biblical stories are here, along with extra-Biblical legends. The Koran really isn't a bizarre religious text, but very much belongs to the genealogy of monotheistic, prophetic writings.
One of the things that I really liked about this particular translation was the way that Dawood cross-referenced relevant Biblical texts from both the Tanak/Old Testament and the New Testament. The footnotes detailing Arabic pagan practice were also helpful, as were the footnotes giving basic historical information. One certainly gets a feel for where the Koran was coming from and who it was going to when it was first delivered.
In reading this, it is worth reflecting on how a passage can lend itself to multiple interpretations.Read more ›
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3.0 out of 5 starsA summary, not complete
By kelsie on August 18, 2006
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
N.J. Dawood's translation has been held in high regard throughout the English speaking world (though not by English speaking MUSLIMS). It certainly achieves the translator's stated goal: to render the Koran in contemporary English. In comparison to Abdullah Y. Ali and especially Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, Dawood's translation flows easily and naturally, while retaining in some part the forcefulness of the original Arabic.

However, a key point missed by some who run across this book in the store is this: Dawood has heavily edited and OMITTED portions of the Koran that he felt were repetitious or unnecessarily lengthy. While that's fine for a general audience, completists and orthodox Muslims will be irked by the omission of parts of the text. In short, this is NOT a complete Koran.

That being said, the language and diction of this translation is certainly to be admired. Dawood's offering is clear and eminently readable. Although this book is inappropriate for any serious study of the Koran, it is more than adequate as a first Koran for the non-Muslim taking an interest in Islam.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThe Most Lucid and Accurate Available
By A Customer on June 12, 2003
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Reviewers complaining of inaccuracies here are off base. For example, Dawood never translated 7:31 ("children of Adam") as "children of Allah." This is impossible, as one of Dawood's nice touches is that he has always translated Allah (correctly) as "God." (By the way, Yusuf Ali made this same wise choice in his translation, but the holier-than-thou revisers of his work who continue to publish it under his name have mucked up this & a whole lot else.)
Dawood's knowledge of Qur'anic Arabic is deep and subtle. As another reviewer has noted, a remarkable feature of his translation is how much it has improved over time (over the successive reeditions put out by Penguin). For this reason, definitely buy this book new. Usually, when translators go back and fiddle with their work, they make it worse. But Dawood's labor of love is evident in the gradual progress he has made towards the clearest and most accurate phrases and rhythms to capture the original.
Dawood does not put on a show by dressing his text with long, technical, or argumentative footnotes (as do many editions of the Qur'an). But his knowledge of traditional comment on the sacred text (and of philology) is the equal of any other translator's. Add to this, the fact that Dawood's English is graceful and limpid (moreso than the work of Arberry, Pickthall, et al.).
Why only four stars? I await the day that a philologically astute translation appears with proper annotations. Look at the study edition of the New Jerusalem Bible, or at the New Oxford Annotated Bible, and you will see what readers of the Qur'an (in English) are sorely lacking.
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5.0 out of 5 starsReadable, Reliable Rendition of Islam's Sacred Scriptures
By George R Dekle on March 14, 2006
Format: Paperback
When I decided to read the Koran, I studied the various translations available, trying to find the most readable, reliable version available. I downloaded all available public domain translations from gutenberg.org and carefully compared them against the translations currently available in print. I bought several, but not all, the translations, and settled upon this translation to read. I chose this translation because it was one of the most readable and because of my long experience of the reliability of Penguin translations.

As one who knows next to nothing about Islam, I was struck by three things: The moral teachings; the martial teachings; and the figure of Jesus.

First the moral teachings: They are quite similar to the moral teachings of the Christian Bible. Indeed, the Koran explicitly recognizes the scriptural nature of the "Torah" and the "Gospel." The moral teachings don't seem to be as plentiful in the Koran as in the New Testament, but I think there's a very good explanation. Mohammed was at war most of his prophetic career, therefore quite a lot of the Koran deals with warfare.

Second, the martial teachings: They are quite prevalent, and one could easily read the martial teachings to the exclusion of all else in the Koran. Something that struck me about the martial teachings was that they stressed non-aggression. The good believer is to fight only in self defense, and only enough to accomplish the defense. After defeating the enemy, then the good believer must be forgiving and merciful.

Martial teachings prevail in number over moral teachings in the Koran because Mohammed was persecuted in his lifetime, driven out of Mecca, attacked in Medina, and forced to defend himself in a bloody war.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 starsHillary and Obama defend this!

Lacking coherence, effervescing with hate for unbelievers, and almost laughable when reading some of the convoluted Biblical plagiarism and mis-statements. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Ed lucky8
5.0 out of 5 starsI enjoyed it

Very interesting to read. Just be aware of the proper etiquette and ritual you are "supposed" to follow before handling the Koran so you don't offend anyone by casually... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Harvey
5.0 out of 5 starsThe Koran is mind numbing, so if you buy ...

The Koran is mind numbing, so if you buy it don't think it is a novel. Get it as a reference book and also get "The Hadith" by Bill Warner and also get "The Story of... Read more

Published 4 months ago by David P. Smelser
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

well done, simple...and if God opens ur mind u are rich indeed

Published 4 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Absolutely the most accurate rendition of the Koran available in English.

Published 7 months ago by Ramon
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

works great

Published 9 months ago by Cory
4.0 out of 5 starsThe Verse of the Sword

The purpose of this review is mainly to compare translations. I've copied out the same section, the beginning of Surah 9, from several different English translations and you can... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Steven Woodward
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

interesting.....?

Published 10 months ago by lnazelrod
5.0 out of 5 starsThis translation is particularly good for the English reader

I am not a Muslim, I am a Christian. And when a lot of stuff started happening, I decided I needed to read the Koran. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Daboniel
4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

An excellent translation. Recommended to me by a University professor who teaches about Islam.

Published 10 months ago by bbfan

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