Which Translation of Qur'an do you prefer?

Abdullah Yusuf Ali's second blunder being a sufi is that he has perverted Qur'an 28:25-27 with distortion and drama.


Quote:
Abdullah Yusuf Ali has offered his commentary on Glorious Qur’aan Ayaah 28:25-27 [See # 3354-3357] with his perverted mind, by giving a wrong and romantic commentary Abdullah Yusuf Ali said:

3354 (7th line till end of 3354) Perhaps the whole household, including the daughters, listened breathlessly to his tale. Perhaps their wonder and admiration were mingled with a certain amount of pity – perhaps with some more tender feeling in the case of the girl who had been to fetch him. Perhaps the enchantment, which Desdemona felt in Othello’s story, was working on her. In any case the stranger had won his place in their hearts. The old man, the head of the household, assured him of hospitality and safety under his roof. As one with a long experience of life he congratulated him on his escape. ‘Who would live among unjust people? It is as well you are free of them!’

It is quite unacceptable to draw smiltiude between a messenger of Allah and a mere dramatic persona. In one recent modernized version of Yusuf Ali's translation, this very unbecoming similarity is eleminated. However, I do beleive that, the late Yusuf Ali did that only to bring the western reader to something that they can relate to as Shakepearen drama


3355 A little time passes. A guest after all cannot stay forever. They all felt that it would be good to have him with them permanently. The girl who had given her heart to him had spoken their unspoken thoughts. Why not employ him to tend the flocks? The father was old, and a young man was wanted to look after the flocks. And – there may be other possibilities.

3356 Strong and trusty: Moses had proved himself to be both, and these were the very qualities, which a woman most admires in the man she loves.

3357 A little time passed, and at length the father broached the subject of marriage. It was not for the fugitive to suggest a permanent tie, especially when, in the wealth of this world, the girl's family was superior, and they had an established position, while he was a mere wanderer. The father asked if he would marry one of the daughters and stay with them for at least eight years, or if he liked, ten years, but the longer term was at his option. If he brought no dower, his service for that period was more than sufficient in lieu of dower. The particular girl intended was no doubt tacitly settled long before, by the mutual attraction of the young hearts themselves. Moses was glad of the proposal, and accepted it. They ratified it in the most solemn manner, by appealing to Allah. The old man, knowing the worth of his son-in-law, solemnly assured him that in any event he would not take advantage of his position to be a hard taskmaster or to insist on anything inconsistent with Moses’ interests, should a new future open out to him. And a new and glorious future was awaiting him after his apprenticeship.


As for the offer of a temeporary marriage, allow me to object, for there is nothing to suggest that. The reference is to the fugitive, that is prophet Musa, who would refrain from asking for an everlasting tie as he is being foreign to that land and knows not wht may become of him.

The eight year he was to spend, tending the flocks, was in return for the dower to be given to the father of the bride and that was commonly used.

Regarding the assumption of the girls' family being superior, this is only because prophet Musa was away from his homeland. So he was dfeprived of all that could give position and superiority. However, prophet Musa was praised for his strength and honesty.


This commentary by Abdullah Yusuf Ali is full of very mean ideas about Shu’aib شعيب عليه السلام [Abdullah Yusuf Ali has referred him as “old man”] and his daughter who was to become the wife of Musa موسى عليه السلام. The reference to Desdemona in Othello further degrades the pure character and sensations of the honorable daughter of Shu’aib شعيب عليه السلام. Whose wisdom is praised by the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم at the most genius words that she used concerning the employment of Musa موسى عليه السلام. The romance that Abdullah Yusuf Ali has invented is derogatory to the innocent character of Musa موسى عليه السلام and the propriety of the daughter of Shu’aib شعيب عليه السلام. This dramatic presentation of the holy characters of the two great personalities undermines the very spirit of the Glorious Qur’aan. Abdullah Yusuf Ali has used the appellative of “old man” for Shu’aib شعيب عليه السلام, a prophet of Allaah; while unwisely saying that Musa موسى عليه السلام was inferior to the girl’s family. Another absurdity we find that according to Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Shu’aib شعيب عليه السلام did not propose a permanent tie. That is why Abdullah Yusuf Ali says, “the father broached the subject of marriage.” (and not the marriage in the defined sense). Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s remarks legalize the Muta (a timely marriage), which is prohibited in Islaam.


Once again there was no such thing as sugggesting a timely marriage, it was merely in return for the dower as was the case at that time.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali was very much impressed by the white man (English society). He has at very many places distorted the meaning of the Glorious Qur’aan by dragging the Qur’aanic standard to the English norms as he did in the above commentary.


One can now measure the depth of ignorance of many Muslims and non-Muslims who, with their lull minds think that Qur'an is/was in English and take the word of man as the word of God without realizing it. The irony of their ignorance is that they set the premise of their argument entirely based on fallacious English translation.

Asslamu Alikum,

Sorry for the muddled appearance for my last posts. Both are one. I edited the second one only. What is written in black is quotes used from a previous post by preacher. These quotes are meant to be Yusuf ALi's own words. The parts written in dark red are mine. That was written in a n attempt to show a different viewpoint regarding what has been said.

Asalama alaikum sister
I use a version of the quran that's a summarized version of At-Tabari',Al-Qurtubi,and Ibn Kathir with comments from Sahih Al-Bukhari it's summarized by Dr. Muhammed Muhsin Khan

Is Abdul Majid Daryabadi's translation one of the best and most accurate?

I found a translation in nearby bookstore by Mahfuzur Rahman an Arabic professor in Dhaka University.I am not sure whether its reliable or not.

Asslamu Alikum,

Where can we check the article bro Osman? will u kindly provide us with the URL of that article.

As for the Mahfouz Rahamn translation, how abt if you brother Abdul Aziz go through it and tell us what you think?

Hi and peace to everyone. I would like some advice please. Would anyone recommend a good English language version/translation of the Qur'an please? I know it isn't a "real" Qur'an unless it is in Arabic because the true Qur'an was given in Arabic. However, I don't know Arabic and "version" was the best term I could come up with to avoid confusion. I DO have several in my library but I'm alwways looking to find the best translation possible. Thank you for your help.:thankyou:

Hello Osman and peace to you. Thank you for posting the links. I just finished reading the discussion that were on this board, when that particular topic was opened by Serene. I'm going to look at the other links you posted Tahnk you again.

Hello back Osman I took a link at the other links you posted and was surprised at how many different "translations/versions" there are. I THINK I might have one of the ones that was mentioned called the Gloroius Qur'an:With English Translation and Commentary It's NOT the Pickthal one. This was was done by a group of Turkish scholars a few years ago. A couple of friends I have on the Why Islam forum board in the USA mailed it to me. For the record I have translations by Dawood, Ahmed Ali, Rodwell, Fakhry, and The King Fahd Complex For The Printing Of The Holy Qur'an. I haven't read Ahmed Ali or Rodwell yet. Anyway Thank you agin for your help. Peace to you.

That should be "I took a look at the the other links you posted" My brain just went off-line.

Assalamualykum,
The Quran I have , is in 3 parts per page, it has an arabic section, a translation sectiona and a transliteration column, it is called 'The Noble Quran by Dr Muhammad Taqi-Ud-Din Al-Hilali - Darussalam
Hope this hellps you Inshallah