Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: English Qur'an: Which translations are best?

  1. #1
    Council Member 120mm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Wonderland
    Posts
    1,284

    Default English Qur'an: Which translations are best?

    I have been beaten about the head and shoulders by Muslim associates that one cannot actually "read" the Qur'an in English, but as I do not have the skills in Arabic necessary to read it in the tongue, does anyone on the council have a suggestion for which English version is even close to faithful to the original?

    Thanks in advance.

  2. #2
    Council Member Stan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Estonia
    Posts
    3,817

    Default

    Hey 120 !
    We just had our 6th rotation come back from EOD missions with the very same question.

    The page they used the most was USC's Compendium of Muslim Texts.
    www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/

    However, much like you already pointed out so well, USC begins with:

    On this Web site, there are three translations of the Qur'an. Note that any translation of the Qur'an immediately ceases to be the literal word of Allah, and hence cannot be equated with the Qur'an in its original Arabic form. In fact, each of the translations on this site is actually an interpretation which has been translated. The first-time reader is strongly advised to read the introduction to the translations we have made available. Corrections and suggestions are appreciated.
    At least there's three versions

  3. #3
    Banned
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Posts
    278

    Default

    Can this help you 120mm? I find those links on Google.


    Top 4 English Translations of the Qur'an
    The Qur'an was revealed in the Arabic language, and any translation, at best, is an interpretation of the meaning. Some translators are more faithful to the original, while others are more loose with the rendering into English. Many readers prefer to look at more than one translation to get an idea of the true intended meaning of the words.

    http://islam.about.com/cs/quran/tp/english_quran.htm

    ==================================

    Assessing English Translations of the Qur'an
    by Khaleel Mohammed

    http://www.meforum.org/article/717

  4. #4
    Council Member tequila's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    1,665

    Default

    You can get a free version of the Asad translation from CAIR for shipping.

  5. #5
    Council Member 120mm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Wonderland
    Posts
    1,284

    Default

    Thanks, guys! It is my understanding that the Qur'an is both art and meaning, and translations that attempt to capture the artistic elements lose meaning, while literal, meaning translations lose the artistic elements.

    Which is fascinating to me. The duality of it can represent lots of themes and images.

  6. #6
    Small Wars Journal SWJED's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Largo, Florida
    Posts
    3,989

    Default Asad Translation

    Quote Originally Posted by tequila View Post
    You can get a free version of the Asad translation from CAIR for shipping.
    Is this version the same one CAIR was distributing in 2005? If so, there is some controversy surrounding this translated version of the Quran.

  7. #7
    Council Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    The Land of The Morning Calm
    Posts
    177

    Default

    I learned in Iraq, you need to be careful with this. A non-believer possesing the Koran is a touchy subject with many Muslims (and not just the AQ crew). There is version I have printed out of Pkaistan that is pretty good, it is kind of like a gideons Bible publishing crew.

  8. #8
    Council Member tequila's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    1,665

    Default

    SWJED - Different translation. The one CAIR is putting out is the Asad one, not the Yusuf Ali one with the Saudi commentary.

  9. #9
    Council Member Tom Odom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    DeRidder LA
    Posts
    3,949

    Default "The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'an"

    The Saudis have handed out a translation for decades that is quite good, especially because it offers English juxtaposed with the Arabic. the proper title is "The meaning of the Glorious Qur'an" by Abdullah Yusuf Ali in 2 Volumes.

    But again note it is not billed as "The Qur'an." CGSC at Leavenworth when I was on faculty had a Muslim prayer room just around the corner from the history office. an Egyptian Captain who amassed an amazing track record of run ins with MPs, female soldiers, and generalized mayhem, set the prayer room on fire when he found one of these in there for use as "The Quran". he was sent home soon afterward.

    Tom

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •