Which Translation of Qur'an do you prefer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Serene
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 96
  • Views Views 20K
S

Serene

Senior Member
Messages
97
Reaction score
8
Asslamu Alikum,


I am not sure iif this is the right place to be writing in, but I want to tell you about my MA thesis in the translation of the Holy Qur'an and see if you could help me with that.

I am trying to prepare an MA thesis on the translation of the meanings og Qur'an. I just want to make sure that my research effort won't be wasted. In other words, I want to receive your feedback, your thoughts, your ideas about what issues that needd to be handled.

I know it is a bit hard, but I want to tell you that whatever you may say here can be very useful. Try to share your opnions about the best version of translations. What is it that you find difficult to grasp in different translations. What do you prefer most in different styles of translation: modern ones, literal or communicative...? Anything that you could think of will be of great help inshaa Allah. MAy Allah help us all to know better and help those who do not know
 
:sl:

well first of all to say the least the incredible rythm of the Quran is totally lost and with it its accuracy. Take the example of the plural form "Hum" which is often translated into "they" but arabic also has "Huma" which indicatees two persons, but english doesnt have this distinction you are recruied to say "the two of them". This is minor point, there are others which include words such as Daalika Tilka and Kilta which sometimes can be translated unfairly. On a whole the Quran is losing out its richness by any translation, however sometimes translations are needed, and one of the good ones i refer to is Dr. Muhsin Khan's.
 
Jazakum Allhau Khayran for replying to my inquiry. Still I need to hear from as many of you on your opinions about different translations, certain verses that defy understanding in certain ways of trnslation, or some obscurity added by the trnslator. Your participations are most welcome and truly appreciated. Who knows, maybe this very thread could help lead to something useful to muslims all over the world
 
Khaldun said:
:sl:

well first of all to say the least the incredible rythm of the Quran is totally lost and with it its accuracy. Take the example of the plural form "Hum" which is often translated into "they" but arabic also has "Huma" which indicatees two persons, but english doesnt have this distinction you are recruied to say "the two of them". This is minor point, there are others which include words such as Daalika Tilka and Kilta which sometimes can be translated unfairly. On a whole the Quran is losing out its richness by any translation, however sometimes translations are needed, and one of the good ones i refer to is Dr. Muhsin Khan's.
Click to expand...

:w:

very very true about the Quran losing its richness in any translation, especially english.
 
:sl:
I strongly recommend that you read Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi's review of the various translations found in his book An Introdcution to the Sciences of the Qur'aan.

From an Aqeedah (creed/beliefs) perspective, the Khan/Hilali translation is the most accurate. It can be read here:
http://www.al-sunnah.com/call_to_islam/quran/index.html

Yusuf Ali is very smooth from an english perspective, however there are errors in the commentary and minor inaccuracies in the translation. Muhammad F. Malik is another smooth translation.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi's trnalstion has some interesting commentary which provides a comparative religion perspective. It is also a fairly good translation.

The best translation is probably The Qur'aan: Arabic text with corresponding english meanings. Released by Saheeh International.
5291.jpg

http://www.al-basheer.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=5291
http://kitaabun.com/shopping3/product_info.php?products_id=170
http://www.bysiness.co.uk/quran/saheeh_international.htm
An ad is found in this:
http://www.faruq.co.uk/portfolio/webstarwebsites1/alhidaayaah/pdf/quran.pdf

:w:
 
The one i have is this one: http://store.yahoo.com/islamicbookstore-com/b4999.html
i didnt buy it from here, my brotehr give to me as a gift, he bought it from an online islamic bookstore, i dont know the website, but this is the one.
Its very good alhumdulilah, i find the translation to be very understandable and effective at the same time, also, its a summarized versoin of at-tabari, al-qurtubi and ibn kathir, with comments from Sahih Al-Bukhari, so it has like hadtihs corresponding with the ayats under the pages, its very nice. Its by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Muhammad Taqi-Ud-Din Al Hilali, Ph. D. (Berlin)
 
:s: i prefer ibn kathir for in deeper understanding however I more than often use Dr Hilali and Dr Khan for its conveniance
 
I have an Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips book that gives understanding on surahs.
 
Mashaa Allah... Jazakum Allah all khayran. I am really blessed to have your help, dear vrothers and sisters. I feel guided by Allah Almighty that I am here amongst you to receive yout most appreciated feedback.

I would like to thank you once more and to ask if you may like to take part in questionaires or to answer certain questions regarding my MA thesis. For the time being I have nothing in particular, but I will be meeting my supervisor tomorrow inshaa Allah, plz pray for me.

One more thing, what do you think of passivization in Qur'an. Do you think it is problematic? or is it easy for you to grasp? How do different trnaslators handle it as you see it? DO you think this might be a good field for study?

I will be waiting for your replies.
Salam Alikum wa Rahamtu Allah wa Barkatu
 
Asslamu Alikum,
Hope this finds you all well. As for passivization, it is the use of passive voice in Qur'an. Generally passive can be used for a variety of reasons, such as emphasis on the action itself, not knowing the doer of the action or if the doer is too obvious to be mentioned. How do yoiu preceive the use of passives in that sense?
I would like to ask about this book: An Introdcution to the Sciences of the Qur'aan, you have recomended it before. I want to know how I can get this book and whether it is in English or in Arabic. Jazakum Allahu khayran for your cooperation.
 
salam Alykum all

well their is a new and a very good tafsir of the Qur'an in English, it is entitled "Tafsir Ishraq Al-Ma'ani" by Syed Iqbal Zaheer, (the Editor of Young Muslim Digest, bangalore" an indian from Bangalore, published from Iqra Welfare Trsut, bangalore, India. The tafsir is still under progress, till now almost 10 volums out, untill Surah Al-Nur. Well, i advise each and every one of u to have it. The author tried to present how the Qur'an was understood by the prophet and his Sahabah, also how the scholars of Islam have understood it in every age. It also presents useful notes, variant openions, anecdotes and legal points from commentries of the old and the new.

I referred to this tafsire a lot for my master thesis, it is a uniqe and useful english tafsir, especially for research workers. Sis, Serena, tell me if u r intrested in attaingin this Tafsir . Wassalam.
 
Asslamu Alikum,

Sure sister Noora, I would love very much to attain this tafsir, I was going to ask you abt how to. You have mentioned something abt ur MA thesis, I would love to hear abt it and to see in what branch of knwledge you are doing it. I will be waiting for your reply.

Once again, I asked abt a book recomended by Ansar Alhaq, I suppose. The book was titled: An Introduction to the Sciemces of Qur'an. I would like to receive more information abt the book and see if it is in English or in Arabic.

Thank you all for your cooperationa nd will be waiting for your replies.

Salam
 
Serene said:
Asslamu Alikum,
Hope this finds you all well. As for passivization, it is the use of passive voice in Qur'an. Generally passive can be used for a variety of reasons, such as emphasis on the action itself, not knowing the doer of the action or if the doer is too obvious to be mentioned. How do yoiu preceive the use of passives in that sense?
Click to expand...
I understood what you meant by passive sentences, eg. "I was hit", as oppose to, "he hit me". But I wasn't sure if you were referring to any specifc examples from the Qur'an. If you want me to comment in general, then I would say that passive sentences are used because the Qur'an is not concerned with a record of "who did what", but mored importantly, what happened and its moral significance to the Qur'an's readers. Every story is precisely worded so that the best amount of detail is given, no extra details, nothing missing that was important.

I would like to ask about this book: An Introdcution to the Sciences of the Qur'aan, you have recomended it before. I want to know how I can get this book and whether it is in English or in Arabic. Jazakum Allahu khayran for your cooperation.
Click to expand...
Clcik the following link, and you can order it online:
http://islamicbookstore.com/b4260.html
It is in english, but it quotes extensively from arabic sources. Trust me, its the best book on the subject, and very well explained and detailed.

:w:
 

Similar Threads

Back
Top