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The Koran Interpreted
The Koran is a book apart, not only as Holy Scripture for Muslims, but as the supreme classic of Arabic literature. In its 114 Suras, or chapters, it comprises the total of revelations believed to have been communicated to the prophet Muhammad as a final expression of God's will and purpose for man.
The revelations were received over a number of years, the first dating from AD 610, the last shortly before Muhammad's death in AD 632, and the definitive canon was established some twenty years later. The Koran is neither prose nor poetry but a unique fusion of both.
In his attempt to convey the sublime rhetoric of the original, Professor Arberry has carefully studied the intricate and richly varied rhythms which - apart from the message itself - serve to explain the Koran's undeniable claim to rank among the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind.
The revelations were received over a number of years, the first dating from AD 610, the last shortly before Muhammad's death in AD 632, and the definitive canon was established some twenty years later. The Koran is neither prose nor poetry but a unique fusion of both.
In his attempt to convey the sublime rhetoric of the original, Professor Arberry has carefully studied the intricate and richly varied rhythms which - apart from the message itself - serve to explain the Koran's undeniable claim to rank among the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind.
688 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2008
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About the author
A.J. Arberry
182 books37 followersArthur John Arberry (Portsmouth, May 12, 1905 – Cambridge, October 2, 1969) FBA was a respected British orientalist. A prolific scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Islamic studies, he was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and Pembroke College, Cambridge. His translation of the Qur'an into English, The Koran Interpreted, is one of the most prominent written by a non-Muslim scholar, and widely respected amongst academics.
Formerly Head of the Department of Classics at Cairo University in Egypt, Arberry returned home to become the Assistant Librarian at the Library of the India Office. During the war he was a Postal Censor in Liverpool[citation needed] and was then seconded to the Ministry of Information, London which was housed in the newly constructed Senate House of the University of London. Arberry was appointed to the Chair of Persian at the School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS, University of London 1944–47. He subsequently became the Sir Thomas Adams's Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University and a Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, his alma mater, from 1947 until his death in 1969. He is buried in Ascension Parish, Cambridge, together with his (by provenance Romanian) wife Sarina Simons/Arberry (1900-1973) whom he had first met in Cairo and then married at Cambridge in 1932.
Arberry is also notable for introducing Rumi's works to the west through his selective translations and for translating the important anthology of medieval Andalucian Arabic poetry The Pennants of the Champions and the Standards of the Distinguished. His interpretation of Muhammad Iqbal's writings, edited by Badiozzaman Forouzanfar, is similarly distinguished.
Formerly Head of the Department of Classics at Cairo University in Egypt, Arberry returned home to become the Assistant Librarian at the Library of the India Office. During the war he was a Postal Censor in Liverpool[citation needed] and was then seconded to the Ministry of Information, London which was housed in the newly constructed Senate House of the University of London. Arberry was appointed to the Chair of Persian at the School of Oriental and African Studies SOAS, University of London 1944–47. He subsequently became the Sir Thomas Adams's Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University and a Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, his alma mater, from 1947 until his death in 1969. He is buried in Ascension Parish, Cambridge, together with his (by provenance Romanian) wife Sarina Simons/Arberry (1900-1973) whom he had first met in Cairo and then married at Cambridge in 1932.
Arberry is also notable for introducing Rumi's works to the west through his selective translations and for translating the important anthology of medieval Andalucian Arabic poetry The Pennants of the Champions and the Standards of the Distinguished. His interpretation of Muhammad Iqbal's writings, edited by Badiozzaman Forouzanfar, is similarly distinguished.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 19, 2022
Although the translation had a more literary touch but I felt it somehow compromised the contents. So many times I had to open another translation to see what the passage meant.
May 8, 2023
I have read and studied two pages of this per day. I have also read background information. Mohammed was a warrior against idolatry and unbelief. He was familiar with the Old Testament. Like the Old Testament prophets, he revered a mighty God.
His main message is that unbelievers and those who cry lies are doomed to the fires of Gehenna. Believers, the faithful, will do good deeds, pray, and inherit edenic paradise. His followers called him "THE PROPHET," indicating a standing greater than all those prophets who preceded him. When Jews and Christians did NOT accept him as a prophet, he turned against them.
The powerful and frightening side of God was well known to Mohammed. Unfortunately, the loving side of God, as seen in Jesus, was not familiar to him. He recognized Jesus as a prophet, but not as the only begotten son of God. As a result, Islam is a religion similar to Judaism in preaching good works and godly routines as the way of salvation. Neither salvation by faith that Jesus died on the cross for our sins nor acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is a tenet of Islam.
As a Christian, I honor Mohammed as a great warrior against the godless and the ungodly. The Koran repeated this message over and over again. Unfortunately, it seriously lacks the depth and variety of the Old Testament. It does not begin to express the depth and breadth of the love of God as expressed in the New Testament. I am grieved that Mohammed did not see the incredible beauty of Christ. I am grieved that Mohammed did not see that Jesus was more than a prophet. I am grieved that Mohammed failed to appreciate the awesome, life-changing message of the New Testament.
His main message is that unbelievers and those who cry lies are doomed to the fires of Gehenna. Believers, the faithful, will do good deeds, pray, and inherit edenic paradise. His followers called him "THE PROPHET," indicating a standing greater than all those prophets who preceded him. When Jews and Christians did NOT accept him as a prophet, he turned against them.
The powerful and frightening side of God was well known to Mohammed. Unfortunately, the loving side of God, as seen in Jesus, was not familiar to him. He recognized Jesus as a prophet, but not as the only begotten son of God. As a result, Islam is a religion similar to Judaism in preaching good works and godly routines as the way of salvation. Neither salvation by faith that Jesus died on the cross for our sins nor acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is a tenet of Islam.
As a Christian, I honor Mohammed as a great warrior against the godless and the ungodly. The Koran repeated this message over and over again. Unfortunately, it seriously lacks the depth and variety of the Old Testament. It does not begin to express the depth and breadth of the love of God as expressed in the New Testament. I am grieved that Mohammed did not see the incredible beauty of Christ. I am grieved that Mohammed did not see that Jesus was more than a prophet. I am grieved that Mohammed failed to appreciate the awesome, life-changing message of the New Testament.
March 9, 2015
The experience reading the Koran was worthwhile, albeit slightly boring and tedious. This translation seemed to have more flowery language that occasionally was confusing, so I might not recommend it much to others.
Good to read if you have the time, but the first two thirds don't have as much in them compared to the last third (that's in chronological order, not the collected order).
Good to read if you have the time, but the first two thirds don't have as much in them compared to the last third (that's in chronological order, not the collected order).
November 10, 2025
Arberry's Transaltion in particular is probably my favorite. The Quran should not be read as the bible: its similar but also different. If you take it as it is, and appreciate it for what it is, I think it's a good read.
November 5, 2014
Read the Muslim evaluation of this western work on the link I provided along with the book description on goodreads.
This translation is different than other ones for that the author approaches the Arabic text at least with less subjectivity and bias; even though that his work is also not scholarly based and contains many mistakes, he still gets better rating, for this purpose one more star, from me than the other morons.
One more additional star rating I gave for this work for the right translation of the word, 'Allah', which means, 'God'. In contrary to many American monkey idiot evangelists who try to deceive their ignorant masses by assigning other meanings, from their own imagination and wishes, to this word than the real meaning it has in Arabic. Even Maronite and Arab "Christ"ians shout loudly the word, 'Allah', in their prayers; something monkey American preachers did not come across yet!
Arthur Arberry himself is not different than any other infidel when it comes to belief, he explicitly notes in the book: "I have striven to devise rhythmic patterns and sequence-groupings in correspondence with what the Arabic presents, paragraphing the grouped sequences as they seem to form original units of revelation". For him evidently his own work and 'contribution' lies only in the literature he can provide his readers with, not the scholar work per se.
This translation is different than other ones for that the author approaches the Arabic text at least with less subjectivity and bias; even though that his work is also not scholarly based and contains many mistakes, he still gets better rating, for this purpose one more star, from me than the other morons.
One more additional star rating I gave for this work for the right translation of the word, 'Allah', which means, 'God'. In contrary to many American monkey idiot evangelists who try to deceive their ignorant masses by assigning other meanings, from their own imagination and wishes, to this word than the real meaning it has in Arabic. Even Maronite and Arab "Christ"ians shout loudly the word, 'Allah', in their prayers; something monkey American preachers did not come across yet!
Arthur Arberry himself is not different than any other infidel when it comes to belief, he explicitly notes in the book: "I have striven to devise rhythmic patterns and sequence-groupings in correspondence with what the Arabic presents, paragraphing the grouped sequences as they seem to form original units of revelation". For him evidently his own work and 'contribution' lies only in the literature he can provide his readers with, not the scholar work per se.
February 9, 2017
Four stars for the translation, two stars for the Koran itself. It's nice to have read one of the most important books in history, but the 20% I was able to finish felt like a more repetitive version of the Bible with fewer stories (though the very detailed social rules gave an interesting impression of Muhammad's talent as a community organizer).
April 6, 2015
Absolutely beautiful prose hampered by having no footnotes whatsoever – not recommended for someone who has never read the Qur'an - but if you have enjoy!
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December 29, 2016My review of The Koran is based upon the book as literature, not scripture. As always, a longer review may be found at www.cloquetriverpress.com.
Peace.
Mark
Peace.
Mark
August 25, 2019
It is worth reading directly. The Arabic and Islamic world is vast, with an established history, and still influential.
April 10, 2017
Fairly easy to understand....seems like a solid translation......
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews