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The Holy Qur'an Text, Translation and Commentary
The Holy Qur' Text, Translation and Commentary is an English translation of the Qur'an by the anglophile British Indian Ismaili Bohri Shi'ite Muslim civil servant Abdullah Yusuf Ali during the British Raj. It has become among the most widely known English translations of the Qur'an, due in part to its prodigious use of footnotes._x000D_ _x000D_ _x000D_
1754 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
269 books56 followersAbdullah Yusuf Ali, CBE, FRSL was an Indian Islamic scholar who translated the Qur'an into English. Ali was born in Bombay, British India to a wealthy merchant family.
As a child, Ali received a religious education and, eventually, could recite the entire Qur'an from memory. He studied English literature and studied at several European universities, including the University of Leeds.
As a child, Ali received a religious education and, eventually, could recite the entire Qur'an from memory. He studied English literature and studied at several European universities, including the University of Leeds.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 3, 2025
This is undoubtedly the greatest blessing on earth!
I am very sad and regretful that I have spent a large portion of my life neglecting this divine and beautiful book.
So grateful God gave me the opportunity to finally read it cover to cover Alhamdullilah. I’m excited to spend the rest of my life doing this insha Allah and growing closer to it.
Overshadows everything I’ve ever read (without question) and completely rewired my heart and mind in a profound way Alhamdullilah.
Prophet Musa AS story being covered in about 24 out of 30 juz is very iconic - the trials and lessons he (AS) goes through in life are so relatable for each of us to learn from in our day to day.
Im in awe that we have a Creator who spoke to us directly with His words and has clearly outlined for us how we got here, what life is all about (so we dont wander aimlessly through it with no sense of purpose or meaning), and what will happen to us after we die. Allah swt also tells us exactly what our souls need, a step by step guide on how to grow closer to Him, and what the outcome of that will be. I cant wait to meet Him and I hope its a beautiful meeting insha Allah. This book is a mercy, a guide and a light. Subhan Allah
I am very sad and regretful that I have spent a large portion of my life neglecting this divine and beautiful book.
So grateful God gave me the opportunity to finally read it cover to cover Alhamdullilah. I’m excited to spend the rest of my life doing this insha Allah and growing closer to it.
Overshadows everything I’ve ever read (without question) and completely rewired my heart and mind in a profound way Alhamdullilah.
Prophet Musa AS story being covered in about 24 out of 30 juz is very iconic - the trials and lessons he (AS) goes through in life are so relatable for each of us to learn from in our day to day.
Im in awe that we have a Creator who spoke to us directly with His words and has clearly outlined for us how we got here, what life is all about (so we dont wander aimlessly through it with no sense of purpose or meaning), and what will happen to us after we die. Allah swt also tells us exactly what our souls need, a step by step guide on how to grow closer to Him, and what the outcome of that will be. I cant wait to meet Him and I hope its a beautiful meeting insha Allah. This book is a mercy, a guide and a light. Subhan Allah
October 8, 2015
I love the Holy Quran and I like Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation. He was the best.
I will review the Holy Quran differently like I always do on other books because this one is special. The pages in this Quran are divided in two. On the left, the English translation and on the right the Arabic. Below the two, there is one column for commentary.
The only issue is the text size for the commentary and details is very small, which can affect your eyes.
I read the commentary only when needed, all I care is the English part.
I will review the Holy Quran differently like I always do on other books because this one is special. The pages in this Quran are divided in two. On the left, the English translation and on the right the Arabic. Below the two, there is one column for commentary.
The only issue is the text size for the commentary and details is very small, which can affect your eyes.
I read the commentary only when needed, all I care is the English part.
Read
May 12, 2026Alright, look, I'm a Christian pastor who loves the Bible. What do you think I think about the Quran? You're probably right, but let me explain. I didn't rate it because that's like a Muslim rating the Bible. I didn't like it okay, but for me to rate it one star is meaningless to a Muslim. For me to rate it 5 stars would be lying; it's clearly inferior to the Bible, and to my Muslim friends, I mean no disrespect here, but this is something you have to reckon with. I am saying this because I love and care about you, but I strongly believe you have it wrong here. Here are just 3 of my observations and questions:
1. It gets Bible stories wrong. In Surah 2 it talks about Saul and David, but seems to be clearly referencing the story of Gideon, which is about 300 plus years before David. In a later surah it seems to have Zechariah as Mary's husband. I understand that common Muslim teaching is that the Bible has been changed, but these changes don't make sense for the Bible. Why would it mix up David and Gideon, or Zechariah and Joseph?
2. Why is it so scatter-brained? It's like if the Bible were only Leviticus and Proverbs mashed up together. How is this better?
3. Satan becomes Satan by refusing to bow down to humanity at God's command... which kind of seems like the more Muslim thing to do- NOT bow down to a human being. What's the deal there? Also, Muhammad's life is problematic on many levels.
Again, I mean no disrespect, but these are serious problems, and a far inferior book. Also, from what I understand, Islamic teaching believes Jesus is coming back- not Muhammad. Islam teaches this... How exactly do you see that playing out?
1. It gets Bible stories wrong. In Surah 2 it talks about Saul and David, but seems to be clearly referencing the story of Gideon, which is about 300 plus years before David. In a later surah it seems to have Zechariah as Mary's husband. I understand that common Muslim teaching is that the Bible has been changed, but these changes don't make sense for the Bible. Why would it mix up David and Gideon, or Zechariah and Joseph?
2. Why is it so scatter-brained? It's like if the Bible were only Leviticus and Proverbs mashed up together. How is this better?
3. Satan becomes Satan by refusing to bow down to humanity at God's command... which kind of seems like the more Muslim thing to do- NOT bow down to a human being. What's the deal there? Also, Muhammad's life is problematic on many levels.
Again, I mean no disrespect, but these are serious problems, and a far inferior book. Also, from what I understand, Islamic teaching believes Jesus is coming back- not Muhammad. Islam teaches this... How exactly do you see that playing out?
May 18, 2022
The Quran is from the divine, whose Holy scriptures are from the Omnipotent and the Omnipresent Creator “ALLAH”. This book was revealed over a period of some 23 years and approximately 1400 years ago.
The title of this book AL-QURAN itself is a truth we might ponder how, the literal meaning of this word Quran is recitation or the book being read repeatedly and no book is being repeatedly read like Quran in the world. This book, Quran is the quintessence example guiding the chaotic human society in the areas of Morals, ethics, laws, science, foreign affairs, and so on. This book is revealed to disentangle the albatross around the neck of humanity. The very first word (according to the hierarchy of revelation) of this book is very interesting “Iqra” which means to Read! To seek knowledge! We can feel the essence of Rationale, the intellect, and the wisdom of this Holy book is that from the very beginning it tells us to read, and gain knowledge and the knowledge is the use of intellect, the senses, and the use of the brain.
(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Qur’an: Chapter 38, Verse 29].
The most fascinating thing about this book is that it is not telling us to blindly follow a religion in fact in Quran several verses are there where it is mentioned “to Observe”,
In terms of ethics, Quran teaches us ethics and morals some of them are; Truthfulness, Moderation, Honesty, Tolerance, Humbleness, refraining from backbiting, and so on. Have we ever pondered Who can deliver such an impeccable standard of morals and ethics 1400 years ago? When the human civilization was not even reached that level of standard. One of the examples is "O you who believe! enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission ‘’ (chapter 24 verse 27-28 Quran)
This book has a fascinating feature that the more you observe the verses the more you will find yourself drenched inside the ocean of wisdom and knowledge, this article would not cover the entire Quran but let’s look into it in a nutshell that how it connects with the scientific facts and indeed this book is not just to prove science, This book gives us a complete topnotch system to follow and science shouldn’t be separated from religion (Islam) as this question halts the ideology that science and religion are two different things I would say science is a part of religion(system) as Quran mentions in chapter 41 verse number 53
“We will show them Our signs in the universe and their own selves until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth”
The Big bang theory and creation of living things from water: Quran 1400 years ago Allah had mentioned a hint about this theory. The approximate percentage of water in protoplasm is about 85% to 90%, earth contains 71 percent of water.
The Qur'an says that “Do the disbelievers not realize that the heavens and earth were ˹once˺ one mass then We split them apart?1 And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe”? (21:30).
The moon does not have its light it is a dormant body that reflects light (not it's own light) and the sun is a heavenly body as it is in a state of combustion (has its own light), this concept was mentioned in Quran 1400 years ago Allah says in Quran
“Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?” Qur’an, 78:12-13 and so on.
Such a remarkable book that is recommended to All, and my suggestion for my Muslim fellows is that we should not just read the Arabic version of the Quran, we need to learn its translation as well so we can think what is our purpose and we would think out of the box and compare our morals, ethics, our self-fabricated perceptions with the clear Quranic concepts.
In this 21 century in the aura of scepticism and chaos in which the Muslim generation is struggling in the rut, in the rut of hopelessness, and in the rut of bad previewed picture of Islam that is viewed from the western lens it is because of our lack of interest towards this Holy book, and I feel like this Book took me out of this puzzle when I was stranded in such a cacophony of chaos.
The title of this book AL-QURAN itself is a truth we might ponder how, the literal meaning of this word Quran is recitation or the book being read repeatedly and no book is being repeatedly read like Quran in the world. This book, Quran is the quintessence example guiding the chaotic human society in the areas of Morals, ethics, laws, science, foreign affairs, and so on. This book is revealed to disentangle the albatross around the neck of humanity. The very first word (according to the hierarchy of revelation) of this book is very interesting “Iqra” which means to Read! To seek knowledge! We can feel the essence of Rationale, the intellect, and the wisdom of this Holy book is that from the very beginning it tells us to read, and gain knowledge and the knowledge is the use of intellect, the senses, and the use of the brain.
(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember.” [Qur’an: Chapter 38, Verse 29].
The most fascinating thing about this book is that it is not telling us to blindly follow a religion in fact in Quran several verses are there where it is mentioned “to Observe”,
In terms of ethics, Quran teaches us ethics and morals some of them are; Truthfulness, Moderation, Honesty, Tolerance, Humbleness, refraining from backbiting, and so on. Have we ever pondered Who can deliver such an impeccable standard of morals and ethics 1400 years ago? When the human civilization was not even reached that level of standard. One of the examples is "O you who believe! enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission ‘’ (chapter 24 verse 27-28 Quran)
This book has a fascinating feature that the more you observe the verses the more you will find yourself drenched inside the ocean of wisdom and knowledge, this article would not cover the entire Quran but let’s look into it in a nutshell that how it connects with the scientific facts and indeed this book is not just to prove science, This book gives us a complete topnotch system to follow and science shouldn’t be separated from religion (Islam) as this question halts the ideology that science and religion are two different things I would say science is a part of religion(system) as Quran mentions in chapter 41 verse number 53
“We will show them Our signs in the universe and their own selves until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth”
The Big bang theory and creation of living things from water: Quran 1400 years ago Allah had mentioned a hint about this theory. The approximate percentage of water in protoplasm is about 85% to 90%, earth contains 71 percent of water.
The Qur'an says that “Do the disbelievers not realize that the heavens and earth were ˹once˺ one mass then We split them apart?1 And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe”? (21:30).
The moon does not have its light it is a dormant body that reflects light (not it's own light) and the sun is a heavenly body as it is in a state of combustion (has its own light), this concept was mentioned in Quran 1400 years ago Allah says in Quran
“Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?” Qur’an, 78:12-13 and so on.
Such a remarkable book that is recommended to All, and my suggestion for my Muslim fellows is that we should not just read the Arabic version of the Quran, we need to learn its translation as well so we can think what is our purpose and we would think out of the box and compare our morals, ethics, our self-fabricated perceptions with the clear Quranic concepts.
In this 21 century in the aura of scepticism and chaos in which the Muslim generation is struggling in the rut, in the rut of hopelessness, and in the rut of bad previewed picture of Islam that is viewed from the western lens it is because of our lack of interest towards this Holy book, and I feel like this Book took me out of this puzzle when I was stranded in such a cacophony of chaos.
February 21, 2026
Alhamdulillah for everything 🤲🏼
Really enjoyed reading Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translated version, i love how simple the translation is. I always favoured Dr Mustafa Khattab’s version but i think this one is a close second, a lot more thoughtful choices than exact choices of words.
i can’t wait to read a bigger version of this one day InshaAllah my hand was cramping most of the time because of the awkward small size haha
Really enjoyed reading Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translated version, i love how simple the translation is. I always favoured Dr Mustafa Khattab’s version but i think this one is a close second, a lot more thoughtful choices than exact choices of words.
i can’t wait to read a bigger version of this one day InshaAllah my hand was cramping most of the time because of the awkward small size haha
October 26, 2017
A wonderful translation and commentary of The Holy Quran.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali does The Holy Quran justice.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali does The Holy Quran justice.
Read
April 21, 2024My favorite book ❤️
August 30, 2020
I love AlQuran all the times ❤️❤️❤️
May Allah The Most Exalted blessed all people read it with open heart and guide them to the true path. Ameeen.
May Allah The Most Exalted blessed all people read it with open heart and guide them to the true path. Ameeen.
November 19, 2021
May Allah bless and reward Him abundantly.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews