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The Noble Qur’an
Interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Qur'an with Arabic text in the modern English language.
- GenresIslam
1311 pages, Hardcover
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 20, 2020
Sorry, this is a bit long and I will admit quite opinionated on my soapbox.
What I don't care for:
One of the more prevalent English Qur'an interpretations, it's nonetheless the more frustrating to read and too many first time readers quit half way through the second Surah (chapter). I've never seen a text with so many parenthetical explanations! There's an explanation within an explanation in almost every Ayat (verse). It is rightfully criticized for its footnotes (yes, footnotes in addition to parenthetical clarifications, just as I'm doing here). There are addenda comparing Christianity to Islam but it works it just a bit too much. Many say it's very anti-Jewish (not Judaism but the Jewish people). Unfortunately, it's the interpretation most often given to converts or returning Muslims by Imams. I think many especially English speaking Muslims will have a copy of this. As I recall it's an official publication of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This might be helpful in reading the Qur'an:
It helps to think of the Qur'an as a clarification. It's God explaining how the religion of Abraham has gone astray, what's wrong and how it was meant to be. Think of Makkah (Mecca) as being that city in the first episode of Star Wars. It's become a major trade crossroads, run and controlled by powerful, wealthy polytheistic merchants from all over with dozens if not hundreds of gods being worshiped. Islam is God's efforts to bring people back to believing just in Him. Yes, there is violence, as in the Old Testament and with Christians. At times people were killing Muslims and they were at times given permission to kill. It's very helpful to have some knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. No names are new except Muhammad. Some names might be in their Arabic form. If you see, "Allah,¨ simply substitute God or Lord. That's how it translates and how you will hear God or Lord in Arabic speaking churches and synagogues. Starting with the second chapter you can essentially put quotation marks (" ") at the beginning and end of the Qur'an. It's God speaking, not a recollection of events. The 114 chapters are not in chronological order, they are from longest to shortest. Maybe start with chapter 19, "Mary." By verse 10 you'll hear about Zachariah, his son John the Baptist, Jacob, the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Instead of this interpretation I recommend:
Saheeh International (sometimes Sahih International) is a great version for anyone, especially first time readers. It's in general very well respected. Read it online, it's always available as an English interpretation option with online Qur'ans (they're plentiful). To some it might be important that it's the work of female converts.
The absolute best for first time readers, or anyone for that matter (it's the version I read in general), is published by Oxford World Classics, by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. It's very readable. It doesn't look like a religious text with each verse number at the beginning of each line. Paperback, it's about $10-12.00 online or in bookstores.
What I don't care for:
One of the more prevalent English Qur'an interpretations, it's nonetheless the more frustrating to read and too many first time readers quit half way through the second Surah (chapter). I've never seen a text with so many parenthetical explanations! There's an explanation within an explanation in almost every Ayat (verse). It is rightfully criticized for its footnotes (yes, footnotes in addition to parenthetical clarifications, just as I'm doing here). There are addenda comparing Christianity to Islam but it works it just a bit too much. Many say it's very anti-Jewish (not Judaism but the Jewish people). Unfortunately, it's the interpretation most often given to converts or returning Muslims by Imams. I think many especially English speaking Muslims will have a copy of this. As I recall it's an official publication of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This might be helpful in reading the Qur'an:
It helps to think of the Qur'an as a clarification. It's God explaining how the religion of Abraham has gone astray, what's wrong and how it was meant to be. Think of Makkah (Mecca) as being that city in the first episode of Star Wars. It's become a major trade crossroads, run and controlled by powerful, wealthy polytheistic merchants from all over with dozens if not hundreds of gods being worshiped. Islam is God's efforts to bring people back to believing just in Him. Yes, there is violence, as in the Old Testament and with Christians. At times people were killing Muslims and they were at times given permission to kill. It's very helpful to have some knowledge of the Old and New Testaments. No names are new except Muhammad. Some names might be in their Arabic form. If you see, "Allah,¨ simply substitute God or Lord. That's how it translates and how you will hear God or Lord in Arabic speaking churches and synagogues. Starting with the second chapter you can essentially put quotation marks (" ") at the beginning and end of the Qur'an. It's God speaking, not a recollection of events. The 114 chapters are not in chronological order, they are from longest to shortest. Maybe start with chapter 19, "Mary." By verse 10 you'll hear about Zachariah, his son John the Baptist, Jacob, the Virgin Mary and Jesus.
Instead of this interpretation I recommend:
Saheeh International (sometimes Sahih International) is a great version for anyone, especially first time readers. It's in general very well respected. Read it online, it's always available as an English interpretation option with online Qur'ans (they're plentiful). To some it might be important that it's the work of female converts.
The absolute best for first time readers, or anyone for that matter (it's the version I read in general), is published by Oxford World Classics, by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. It's very readable. It doesn't look like a religious text with each verse number at the beginning of each line. Paperback, it's about $10-12.00 online or in bookstores.
Displaying 1 of 1 review