Home :: Books :: Religion & Spirituality  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality

Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel
Women's Fiction
The Koran Interpreted : A Translation

The Koran Interpreted : A Translation

List Price: $20.00
Your Price: $13.60
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best translation by far
Review: Arberry's interpretation is both elegant in its expression and quite literal with respect to the original Arabic. The only other translation I would recommend is that of Pickthall, also excellent, but much less readable; in fact, most people I know who started Pickthall gave up on it because the language was so dry and tedious. Arberry's is a work of art by comparison.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best translation by far
Review: Arberry's interpretation is both elegant in its expression and quite literal with respect to the original Arabic. The only other translation I would recommend is that of Pickthall, also excellent, but much less readable; in fact, most people I know who started Pickthall gave up on it because the language was so dry and tedious. Arberry's is a work of art by comparison.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Essential reading, accesible
Review: I am interested in Islam. And for those that say we in the west cant critisize Islam without reading its holy scriptures I give you this fine volume. Easily readable with a good index one will find themselves able to skip back and forth regarding such touching topics as 'Women', 'Jihad', 'Jews' and 'Jesus'.

There can be no mistaking the meaning of the Koran once one has read this book. You will come away shocked and awed by the sheer intolerance of this book, its hate for much that we hold dear. Lets cite some fine examples:
On women(page 106) "and those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches and beat them".
on Jews/Christians(pg 136) "take not Jews and Christians as friends...Whoso of you makes them his friends is one of them".

This book will enlighten you. When you are done and you have found out what you may of Islam do compare its scriptures to that of Christ and those of the Torah and you will then no longer be closed minded to the worlds three great one god religions.

An important resource in today world. One should not be ignorant of Islam...

Highly recommended...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Essential reading, accesible
Review: I am interested in Islam. And for those that say we in the west cant critisize Islam without reading its holy scriptures I give you this fine volume. Easily readable with a good index one will find themselves able to skip back and forth regarding such touching topics as 'Women', 'Jihad', 'Jews' and 'Jesus'.

There can be no mistaking the meaning of the Koran once one has read this book. You will come away shocked and awed by the sheer intolerance of this book, its hate for much that we hold dear. Lets cite some fine examples:
On women(page 106) "and those you fear may be rebellious admonish; banish them to their couches and beat them".
on Jews/Christians(pg 136) "take not Jews and Christians as friends...Whoso of you makes them his friends is one of them".

This book will enlighten you. When you are done and you have found out what you may of Islam do compare its scriptures to that of Christ and those of the Torah and you will then no longer be closed minded to the worlds three great one god religions.

An important resource in today world. One should not be ignorant of Islam...

Highly recommended...

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: review
Review: Is this guy ignorant or extremely ignorant (below).
Allah is the exact same thing as God. Translated from arabic to english.
pride prevents true learning.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Poetic, but not Explanatory
Review: This translation is quite literal when it is compared to the original Arabic codex of the Quran, the definition of words, syntax and rhetoric do not stray much from the original tongue and it's a fair translation by a non-Muslim.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: beautiful language, but crucial mistakes
Review: Three things are necessary to make a good translation of the Quran into English: mastery of English, mastery of Arabic and knowledge of islamic history/faith. Arberry's has great command of the English language but unfortunately he comes short in his knowledge of the Arabic language and Islam. This makes his translation a beautiful read, but extremely inaccurate and even plainly wrong in crucial parts. For a much better translation I would recommended Muhammad Asad or Nooruddin. Pickthall's translation also is good, but difficult to read.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This book clearly illustrates the deficiency of English
Review: Translating the Holy Quran into english has its fallacies, for their exists deficiency in the language to accurately translate words. The author here has clearly incorrectly translated verses of the Quran. This is illustrated in the two verses given by Seth Frantzman. He brings up the verses without understanding the context, or the original revelation in Arabic. I am educated in the Arabic language, so let me accurately correct the author of the this book, and Mr. Frantzman.

First, he speaks of Surah Al-Nisa Ch. 4 Verse 34. Here is the translation of the verse in proper context, which Seth Frantzman has failed to do:

"Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property (for the sake of women); the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and scourge them; then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great."

This verse is speaking of the disobedient, unfaithful wife to her husband. Notice that the other part of the verse was not mentioned by Mr. Frantzman, where it says "then if they obey you, do not seek a way against them; surely Allah is High, Great."

As for the other verse, this is an innacurate translation, again. He is speaking of Surah Al-Maeda Ch. 5 Verse 5:

"O you who believe, do not take [certain] Jews and Christians as allies and protectors; for they are allies of one another. They are but allies and protectors of each other. And he amongst you that turns to them [for protection] is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust."

If you study the history of the Quran, and the time on which these verses were revealed to Prophey Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), surely you would understand the context of this verse.
The key word here, is the arabic word " Awlia' ", which is translated by Mr. Arberry as "friends". This is clearly incorrect to any educated arabic speaking person. " Awlia' " in english means allies or protectors.

Please be educated before you speak. Mr. Arberry clearly is not interested in promoting Islam or the Quran, in translating verses and such in the correct context or word choice.

God Bless


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates