The Holy Qur'Aan/English/Arabic

Rating:
Summary: there are better...
Review: Although the translation is done in a smooth and lucid style, there are certain disadvantages. Firstly the translation is done in an old English style (i.e. "thees and thous"). Secondly, the author forces his own opinions and the opinions of his unrecognized sect into the translation of certain verses. A much better translation would be "Towards Understanding the Qur'an" by Abul A'la Maududi (published by the Islamic Foundation of UK). The language is much more modern, and the commentary is fresh and informative.

Rating:
Summary: Most wholesome translation of the Holy Qur'aan (Koran)
Review: Another wonderful work from the Ahmadiyya Ishaat Islam. The original Koran is in the form of Arabic poetry and any translation into another language is as good as the the knowledge and the intentions of the translator. Many of Koran's translations have been twisted to meet different agendas and this is one major reason the world of Islam is in such a sorry state today. Maulana Muhammad Ali's translation is by far the most wholesome and realistic. Other highly recommended writings of the Maulana are : Mohammad The Prophet, and History of The Prophets.

Also recommended: The Muslim Prayer Book by Maulana Muhammad Ali, and Jesus in Heaven on Earth by Khawaja Nazir Ahmed

Rating:
Summary: FYI. Ahmadiyya has nothing to do with Islam
Review: For readers wanting to read about Islam, this Ahmadiyya (publisher or the movement) has nothing to do with Islam, infact they have been declared as non-muslims by the Pakistan Government for a long time now, yet they keep decieving the innocent and unaware non-muslims who are interested in Islam, by calling themselves Muslim and their relegion Islam which could not be further from truth. This is not a biased view, the readers can do their own research, and find the truth for themselves. The over one billion muslims around the globe are Sunni muslims (Ahle sunnah wal Jamaa)which is the only true Islam. The rest are all enemies of Islam calling themselves muslims and deceiving non-muslims, some of these enemies of islam call themselves Shiites or Shias, Qadianis, Ahmadis, Ismailies, Nation of Islam, Ahmadiya Islamic Movements... and the list goes on and on. So the reader has to be extremely careful in order to avoid all these deceptions.

Rating:
Summary: An Opinion From a Non-Muslim
Review: I am not a Muslim and I do not read Arabic, but I was interested in the Qur'an. I did not want to hear what others thought of Islam, but what Muslims, themselves, wrote. Therefore I began to research various English translations of the Qur'an. I finally decided upon this translation because of the exhaustive study helps.

I realize that any English translation is not perfect and a more complete study could be done by comparing one translation against another, but I found this one to be easy to understand.

From all of the research I've done, it probably is as accurate as any, probably more so.

The study notes are longer than the Qur'an itself and make up a combination of commentary and apologetic. Sometimes I thought it gave too much information (opinion). Other times I was glad for the insights offered.

The small introduction to each chapter helped to keep me from getting lost and I appreciated knowing the time period in which each portion was probably written. This was my favorite part of this translation.

The index was excellent.

I am a free thinker and like to examine things for myself. I understand that some of the reviewers disagree with the translator's views. However, that is to be expected with a translation. I've learned with most religious texts that the answer to understanding is more comlicated than simply learning the original language. Even the languages I have messed around with forced me to make personal translations that were inferior to the worst ones on the market. A better path is to purchase a variety of English translations, compare them, and read what scholars have to say about them.

This version was a good choice for me. It probably will be for others also.



Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the best translation to date...
Review: I have been studying Islam for some now and I have many translations of the Holy Quran. I must say, without prejudice, that this one is the most clear and understandable of them all. But more impressive is the commmentary that runs along with the translation -- this adds considerable context. If you had one Holy Quran, this is the one to get.

Rating:
Summary: Why this translation should be chosen over ALL others
Review: I would like to offer some reasons why I recommend this translation over ALL others commonly available, especially for Muslims who would like to give a Qur'an to any academic type person who is well educated or even just well read. I am not a member of the Lahore movement they even refuse to sell me their books so this is not a biased opinion. Also a caution for Muslims: this IS NOT a Qaidani book as often believed (they strongly condemn Qaidani's) and you will find this translation given a positive review with slight reservations in the first edition of Yusuf Ali's translation. So, onto those reasons.

Most other translations are actually embarrasing to nascent Islam's reputation for high scholarship and professionlism. They fail embarrasingly in one or more (often all) of the following: either no index at all (Asad, etc) or a very poor index (Yusuf Ali, Muhammad Khan etc); professional quality of the printing and publication itself (Yusuf Ali etc); also the readability of the Arabic script (most); and most importantly either no commentary (Arberry, Pickthall, actually most) or very bad commentary (Khan's dishonest use of brackets or Yusuf Ali's inaccurate, dogmatic, awkward style).

This Qur'an has: 1. a very thorough index, 2. excellent publication and printing quality, 3. the very best I've seen in Arabic script readability, 4. the most scholarly and thorough commentary I've seen with only Asad coming close, 5. a commentary that offers the multiple possiblities where this occurs without telling you which choice "is the only right choice", 6. linguistic commentary with separate Arabic linguisitic index, 7. finally most important is the date this translation and commentary were done: early 1900's revision around 40's-50's; that M.M. Ali's types of comments were made, especially about women at these early dates is a proud fact for Islam. A new paraphrased for English as a second lanquage version or a simple English paraphrase is the only way I can see to improve this work.

I would not reccomend ordering this or his other books from the publisher as they don't seem to respond well to individual orders, but ordering through dealers works just fine.

Rating:
Summary: Most wholesome translation of the Holy Qur'aan (Koran)
Review: In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful...

As-Salaam-Alaikum! (Peace unto you)

This is the best translation of the Holy Qur'an in English. Marmuduke Pickthall, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, and others all acknowledge the wonderful work done by Mr. Ali. Mr. Ali's translation is both lucid and intelligent. He is not biased against women, trying to make them subservient and docile. His translation contributed to Islam becoming more respected at the time of the first printing back in early 1900's.

I'm not in the Ahmaddiyya movement. But let me say that it never cease to amaze me how many people restate the same old lies, either because they are being vicious, or more probably-because they are just ignorant. I'm not being vicious in saying "ignorant", just noting that I'm using that word in the context of saying they don't know what they are talking about. The Ahmaddiyya's never said that Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (PBUH) was not the seal of the Prophets. They said that they believed the Madhi had come. That's the difference-that's it. If you don't believe that the Madhi came as they say (and I don't believe it, in all due respect)-then fine. If not, then you are just still looking for him to come.

Critics use that one thing to attack Mr. Ali's work, or to slander him and the Ahmaddiyya Movement. But then, the Ahmaddiyya's at least let women drive,don't force them to be as chattel, etc. See, when one looks to dwelve into the word for foolishness, then that is what one finds. And one you go seeking
a translation, filled with notes about why the translator gave the translation he did (and note that Qur'anic Arabic is different than Colloquial Arabic-just as the Queen's Engish is way different than American English) and seeking to revive and renew the interests of the world in Islam-that's the book to read!

Mr. Ali also gives painstaking history on issues of controversy in his notes to the text-including one of the finest defenses I've read against the critics of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) (the Holy Qur'an gives the best!) This is the book to read, for all the reasons noted by the other supporters of this translations. I rather doubt if a single critic has ever read it. Instead, they are just repeating the same old tired lies.

This is the translation that shakes up the hypocrisy, lies, misapplications, and purposeful misinterpretations of some.

Sincerely,

P.Muhammad, Esq.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing Hatefull book
Review: This is the most disturbing sequence of close minded threats and has a hatefull composition.
I have tried to underline all the times this holy book talked about killing and slaying the disbelivers, and found over 20 in the first half of the book.
I also tried to highlight where is says that the disbilievers should burn in fire-- that is way over 100 times, explained and detailed throughout the book.
I wanted also to know what was the friendship potential between a muslim and a non muslimm, well IT IS A MORTAL SIN!
Over and over this book talks of how the believers SHOULD NOT be friends of the disbelievers, or even the doubters of Islam, even if these are your own father or brother!!
It goes on explaining how afterdeath we muslim souls will be judged on how distant they kept themselves in life from the disbelievers (also known as friends of the Devil).
I think this book should be R-Rated, only readbale for stable and mature people for the huge amount of violence and torture and threat of burning in hell, which will happen to all that don't COMPLETELY SUBMIT to Allah and his orders.
I guess I recommend this book to people who, like me, like to read the facts and, like me, are wondering why about 97% of the terrorist attack in the world come from Muslims.

Rating:
Summary: A fine translation, but a caution about the study notes...
Review: While I am not Muslim but Reformed Christian, my interest in other cultures--their history, their faith, their music and their literature--has compelled me to read the Koran.

My fear about reading the Koran in translation and with study notes by the translator is the same as my fear about people from other faiths approaching the Bible with little or no background: we are dependent on the accuracy of the translation and the faithfulness of the study notes (to an extent, and assuming we regard the notes). However, a good friend--a Muslim from Pakistan who reads the Koran in its original language and who is very orthodox in his faith--has assured me of the accuracy of this translation of the Koran. He has also strongly cautioned me about the study notes--the translator is apparently quite liberal in his understanding of the Koran. As with the Bible, so with the Koran--read it for yourself first, then go back and compare your understanding with the study notes. Perhaps you missed a concept or misunderstood a passage, and perhaps the study note itself is incorrect. Also, study the background of the text--history of doctrine, the great interpreters and theologians, etc.--the better to inform your understanding.

In conclusion then, this is a fine edition of the Koran. A beautiful translation, thorough introduction to the whole Koran, brief introduction to each chapter, side-by-side English/Arabic text, exhaustive study notes, good index, and other features make this a worthy purchase. Five stars, minus one for the study notes!