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The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) Paperback – June 15, 2008

by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem (Translator)
4.3 out of 5 stars 603 customer reviews
#1 Best Sellerin Quran
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Product Details

  • Series: Oxford World's Classics
  • Paperback: 502 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press; Reissue edition (June 15, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0199535957
  • ISBN-13: 978-0199535958
  • Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 1 x 5.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (603 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a great translation...
By A. Ort on July 23, 2005
Format: Hardcover
I have approximately six different translations at home, including translations from Dawood (biased), Pickthall (a bit antiquated), Asad (great translation, a bit too rationalist) and one from Riyadh (not bad but definitely Wahhabi influenced).

So why another one? I picked it up from my local library and was moved. It is the easiest reading Qur'an I've seen yet but it does not take away from the impact of what it says. It really flows nicely and I find it reads so much more quickly than some others. I found no struggles to understand old English terms (Pickthall's) and no fighting with bracketed words (Asad and the Riyadh version) whose purpose is to help explain the deeper elements of the original Arabic. While in a few places, I longed for some of the more grand terms found in some of the other translations, on the whole this is a refreshing new translation in plain English.

A few footnotes in some pivotal places keep certain verses in context and help explain certain terms whose force may otherwise be missed. The introduction is brief but informative as the author goes into some detail about the difficulties in translating. My guess is that this is accurate and top notch as it is issued by Oxford and in his acknowledgments it is clear he has had many people ensure his accuracy. This is one to keep and should be one against which others should be measured.
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5.0 out of 5 starseasy to read
By informednow VINE VOICE on April 20, 2006
Format: Hardcover
I am a non Arab speaking, non-Muslim who decided to read the Koran for myself to try to gain an understanding of what Islam is about. The first Koran translation I bought was the one I heard was the most popular by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. I liked the commentary in this one, but the translation itself put me off because it was done in old "King James style" English. I wanted a translation that was in modern English yet considered to be an accurate translation by actual Muslims. I heard about this translation by Haleem, bought it, and found it to be much, much easier to read and comprehend. I have heard it is accurate and faithful to the original Arabic, but I don't speak Arabic myself, so I hope that this is the case. The commentary in this translation is much less than Ali's and more to the point. If you are curious and don't like olde English, and desire minimal but pertinent commentary, this modern translation is the one to get.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA breakthrough translation of the Qur'an
By Kamran Pasha on September 10, 2004
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
This is one of the best translations of the Qur'an on the market today. Prof. Abdel Haleem has done a remarkable job of presenting the Qur'an in modern English. His translation is easy to read and has just enough footnotes and commentary to explain context without overwhelming the reader with detail. Abdel Haleem has also avoided the mistake of most translators -- "creative interpretation" of the Qur'an in order to conform its meaning to their own religious beliefs or biases.

The translation also has very useful introductory sections that help non-Muslims understand how the Qur'an is structured. It's not a linear narrative like the Bible, but intentionally jumps around in time and space, like flashes from the facets of a diamond held up to the light.

I believe that this translation will be held as the new standard in Qur'an studies for the 21st century.
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3.0 out of 5 starsCheap, "easy to read," but I have some questions about accuracy
By groggy in Seattle on October 1, 2009
Format: Paperback
Other reviewers have emphasized the ease of reading Abdel Haleem's translation. I have to agree. But at times the ease of reading seems to come from clarifying passages that are somewhat obscure in the original Arabic. And then there is this: There are four passages in the Qur'an on alcohol (the translation is Arberry's, considered by many to be the best, though the verse numbering follows the Fluegel edition and not the subsequent and now standard Cairo edition and can therefore be frustrating to use as a reference):

16:67 And of the fruits of the palms and the vines, you take therefrom an intoxicant and a provision fair. Surely in that is a sign for a people who understand.

4:43 O believers, draw not near to prayer when you are drunken until you know what you are saying

2:219 They will question thee concerning wine, and arrow-shuffling. Say: `In both is a heinous sin, and uses for men, but the sin in them is more heinous than the usefulness.'

5:90-91 O believers, wine and arrow shuffling, idols and divining arrows are an abomination, some of Satan's work; so avoid it; haply so you will prosper. Satan only desires to precipitate enmity and hatred between you in regard to wine and arrow-shuffling, and to bar you from the remembrance of God, and from your prayer. Will you then desist?

As we all know, Islamic law forbids drinking alcohol. Verse 5:90-91 is taken to be the final word on the subject and is understood to have abrogated (annulled) previous verses that are more permissive. Clearly the most permissive is 16:67, which unambiguously calls intoxicants derived from grapes and dates one of God's signs. This unambiguously calls alcohol a blessing.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsGood all around
By kelsie on August 16, 2006
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
I own multiple translations of the Qur'an, including those by N.J. Dawood, J.M. Rodwell, A. Yusuf Ali, Muhammad Asad, and Thomas Cleary. Each has its strong and weak points (for example: Dawood's is clear and readable, but heavily edited and incomplete). This translation strikes a fine balance in terms of both the translated text and the features accompanying it.

Abdel Haleem's translation is, even more than N.J. Dawood's, a preservation of the thunder and power of the original. His work is full of startling immediacy. A large reason for this effect is the language Haleem employs in his translation. Unlike other translations that seek to place the Qur'an in a King James idiom (Rodwell, Ali, Pickthall), Haleem opts for more contemporary usage and sentence structure. This means that, in some part, the poetic feel of the original Arabic is lost. However, as a useful work for study of the text, Haleem's translation is easily accessible.

He provides short introductions for each surah containing information on where that surah was revealed along with key background information on its content. Discreet notes throughout guide the reader through difficult historical allusions and religious concepts.

Haleem also provides a comprehensive introduction that covers the basics: what Islam is and what the Qur'an is, but also finds time to discuss Islamic-Christian relations in the Qur'an and the line of English translations leading up to Haleem's. The introduction also tackles contemporary issues of interpretation, such as the infamous 'Verse of the Sword,' demonstrating how these issues can be resolved in translations.

Haleem's work is a fine all-around volume, suitable for anyone approaching the Qur'an for the first time or continuing a deeper study of the book.
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