The Meaning of the Holy Quran

Issues in Education 24: 29-52, 2001

The intention of this paper is to assess, evaluate and appraise Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation of the Holy Quran, may Allah bless his soul. Ali's translation enjoys great respect and has a wide circulation among English-speaking Muslims, especially in the Indian sub-continent; it also has received considerable approval from Muslim scholarly circles around the globe, which is evidenced by the revisions it had at the hands of Islamic institutions and academies in various parts of the world. Despite all of these revisions, however, the translation, notwithstanding the excellent service it did to the Book of Allah and propagation of Islam to millions of people, still suffers from serious shortcomings at the level of concept representation, language, style, coherence, and typography. A selection of these drawbacks will be described in this paper. Our work must not be seen in any way as to disparage the translation; rather, it must be looked at as a way of improving on this superb work; it must be seen as a means towards an end: to render the maximal, optimal and best service to the book of Allah: which brings people from the depths of darkness to light, guidance and mercy. To achieve this end, translations of the Quran must be presented in the best, easiest and most readily comprehensible manner possible to make it accessible not only to the lucky few but to the majority of people. Suggestions and proposals will be finally offered as to how to best put these improvements into practice.

Al-Idrak Research Journal, 2021

'Abdullah Yūsuf 'Alī has been a noteworthy translator and commentator of the Holy Qur'ān. His endeavor has survived the test of time with more than 200 editions. The first edition did not come as a whole but in piecemeal fashion in thirty episodes. The very first edition had some problems with transliteration, names and number of verses of some Surahs. There are some un-resorted claims in the preface too. His educational background and personal literary taste let his effort lag behind the notch he set for himself. The authors will try to highlight all the above-mentioned aspects of his rendition. Though it has refined over the course of time due to the efforts of many researchers but the authors here intend to record some of the original facts related to the earlier editions. This establishes the viability of the topic for he is the most published translator till date. Methodical style of investigation is opted, coupled with a bit of analysis and comparison aiming a compact, far-reaching and all-encompassing article on his rendition. The question which drives this study is whether 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali's translation and commentary in vogue is same as it was in the first three editions. We expect it to be a very useful and comprehensive input in the academic circles. Some salient features of A. Yūsuf 'Alī's Translation of the Holy Qur'ān, to support the argument, will also be discussed in this research paper. It is recommended that the art of transliteration is to be taught in all the research institutions of social sciences.

Iranian Studies, 2017

Muslim World, 2016

he burgeoning field of Quranic studies has at last found the criterion by which to gauge all future endeavors at translating and commenting on the lodestone of Muslim belief and devotion, the Quran. Rather than a single scholarly translator, The Study Quran is a collaborative effort involving five scholars and requiring their coordinated labor for nearly a decade. In its Chief Editor's words, it is a collective endeavor "to produce the best translation possible" (p. xliii) of the Quran into English, along with extensive commentary, annotation, maps, and supplementary essays. (The essays, fifteen in all numbering over 250 pages, warrant a further review but they will be excluded from what follows in order to stress major features of the translation with commentary, the core element of The Study Quran.) There have been several efforts in the past to collaborate on Quran translations into English. Some have come from two individuals working in tandem.

International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature

This blessed symposium, which is being held by King Fahad Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran, in the city of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), is a great opportunity to shed light on some great efforts exerted in this great field, namely the translation of the meanings of the Holy Quran into foreign languages. In this great scientific forum, researchers and specialists in this field, will need to meet to study and analyze translations of all kinds, to learn about their pros and cons, and know how to exploit these translations for the interest of Islam and Muslims. These scholars will need to work on what would serve the Book of God and defend Islamic beliefs against the enemies of this nation. And due to the high status and due to the great popularity of this English language in these modern times, in this 21st century; the English translations of the meanings of the Qur'an have taken the lead among all translations in other foreign languages.

International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 2012

There is too much literature about the untranslatability of the Quran from its Arabic text into another language. Most Muslims: Arab and Non-Arab, and almost everyone with Arabic language background, will not find any difficulty to prove the untranslatability of the Holy Quran into another language. The Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty to his messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in Arabic. It was intentionally revealed in Arabic to serve specific purpose: To defy the Arabs in their own trade and craftsmanship of producing highly rhetorical and poetic composition in their literature. Although all the scientific, geographical and historical facts mentioned in the Quran have been found true, nevertheless, the Quran remains a book of miracles, but its miraculous ability is in its inimitability (as no one has made similar sura the like of it since its revelation) and untranslatability into another form of reproduction in other languages (as hundreds of translations were made and are still made, but would not come to the absolute final perfect form of translation. These translations are incomplete, as they are mere human efforts). This paper aims to shed some light on the opinions of some Islamic scholars on this issue, as well as to suggest some strategies to help in coming out with some sound translations to help Non-Arab Muslims and other Non-Arabic speakers to understand the truth about the Quran as a true WORD from Allah to all human beings on Earth.

The Grand Qur'an: The First Half: A faithful translation and annotated interpretation of the first fifteen juz's of God, the Most Merciful's Message , 2023

This fresh translation mainly stands out for the following: It represents a safe, mainstream yet non-restrictive understanding of the Message of the Grand Qur’an. The great wealth of Qur’anic commentary that we have inherited through millennia of scholarship, hard study, and contemplation is considered with empathy and careful attention. This weighty inheritance is a boon to be consulted with great respect, not a bane bearing the trappings of times of old, which some would consider as unbefitting of modern-day thought patterns. As you read through the translation, you will surely come to realize this and, hopefully, appreciate the work of these great scholars of Islam. This translation is marked by its ‘faithfulness’: neither too literal nor too free. I have done my utmost to make my translation as reflective of the Original as humanly possible. In the process, neither were extraneous readings juxtaposed with the Original words nor were any personal or ideational aberrations superimposed in the rendition at hand. My thoughts, if any, are kept to the annotations. This obviously made my task all the more difficult, yet all the more satisfying. Each sura is preceded by a brief introduction. This scene-setter is indispensable for anyone who wants to unlock some of the meaning potential of the sura. The rationale behind the name of the sura, its major themes and keys to understanding it are provided.

(International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature)

There is too much literature about the untranslatability of the Quran from its Arabic text into another language. Most Muslims: Arab and Non-Arab, and almost everyone with Arabic language background, will not find any difficulty to prove the untranslatability of the Holy Quran into another language. The Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty to his messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in Arabic . It was intentionally revealed in Arabic to serve specific purpose: To defy the Arabs in their own trade and craftsmanship of producing highly rhetorical and poetic composition in their literature. Although all the scientific, geographical and historical facts mentioned in the Quran have been found true, nevertheless, the Quran remains a book of miracles, but its miraculous ability is in its inimitability (as no one has made similar sura the like of it since its revelation) and untranslatability into another form of reproduction in other languages (as hundreds of translations were made and are still made, but would not come to the absolute final perfect form of translation. These translation are incomplete, as they are mere human efforts). This paper aims to shed some light on the opinions of some Islamic scholars on this issue, as well as to suggest some strategies to help in coming out with some sound translations to help Non-Arab Muslims and other Non-Arabic speakers to understand the truth about the Quran as a true WORD from Allah to all human beings on Earth.

The INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC THOUGHT (IJIT), 2021

The traditional prohibition on translating the Quran into other languages is considered to be one of the discussable issues within Islamic theology and jurisprudence. From the eleventh century, when the Islamic state extended politically and geographically, a need arose to understand the Quran, which is the essence of the Islamic religion. Most non-Arab converts were unable to understand the original Quran text. As a result, they could not understand the true message of their new faith and perform the prescribed worship and practices. This article deals with the topic translating the Quran from a historical and theological point of view. Firstly, some historical factors that lead to the realization of the Quran translation are examined, including the need to understand the Quran both by the new Muslim generations and the People of the Book to defend their own faith against the Islam. Secondly, attention is paid to the theological consensus on prohibiting translation of the Quran into other languages because of its inimitable nature and style. Finally, the problem of the Quran translation is discussed with a focus on the current need for understanding the universal message of the Quran that can only be achieved through translation.