format_quote Originally Posted by
greeneyedcat
I've been using a free copy of the Koran that I received to study. It has some really helpful commentary in it to help explain what the passages mean, but some the commentary seems very negative to me. Are there any recommended English language translations that are good for someone who is reading the Koran for the first time? Are there any good online study resources? Thank you.
Which one was it that you were reading?
One that seems to be recommended by many (not especially if reading for the first time, but just geneerally) is the translation by Saheeh International. The translation is done by three women, interestingly all reverts to Islam. The online version is here, but has no commentary I think:
http://home.exetel.com.au/rakib/down...a_Alislami.pdf
One that I like with a brief commentary and modern, flowing English, is Towards Understanding the Qur'an, by S. A Mawdudi (originally in Urdu), abridged, translated into English and edited by Zafar Ishaq Ansari, published by The Islamic Foundation. I can't find an abridged online version, but the full version is available online (though its very long..in paper its six volumes!)
The link to the full version is here:
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php
The introduction itself is very good. The link to the introduction is here:
http://www.iiu.edu.my/deed/quran/understand.html
There are also very good explanatory introductions for each chapter, if you navigate your way around the site.
Hope that's of some help.
Peace.