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The Clear Quran
For a translation to do justice to the Quran and capture its elegance and vigor, it has to be accurate, smooth, eloquent, and accessible. Unlike most popular translations, The Clear Quran masterfully passes on all counts. To achieve accuracy, the translator has made use of the greatest and most celebrated works of old and modern tafsir (Quran commentaries), and shared the work with several Imams in North America for feedback and insight. For clarity, every effort has been made to select easy to understand words and phrases that reflect the beauty, flow, and power of the original text. Along with informative footnotes and Sura (chapter) introductions, verses have been grouped and titled based on their themes for a better understanding of the chapters, their main concepts, and internal coherence. Thanks to our dedicated team of scholars, editors, and proofreaders, we believe that what you are holding in your hands now is the finest translation of the Final Revelation.
- GenresIslamReligionNonfiction
Hardcover
Published December 31, 2020
100 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 10, 2023
I decided to read the Quran out of curiosity. A group of what I'd call 'Muslim missionaries' gave me a free copy at the mall and I said I'd read it. Now I finally got around to doing so.
When comparing the Quran to the Bible, there are definitely a lot of similar stories and ideas, but they convey them in very different ways. The Bible is written as though it's telling stories and histories first and foremost, with theology built into the stories. However, the Quran is written with theology in mind first, and there are stories sprinkled throughout the text to corroborate the theology. To a Christian, the stories in the Quran will sound quite paraphrased. They often begin with "remember when we..." and then give a quick overview of what happened, almost as if the reader is supposed to be familiar with the stories beforehand. There are usually a lot of details missing, or sometimes new ones added. I think this video (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-SGzYrG...) does a really good job explaining the Quran from a purely literary POV.
Overall, I gave the Quran 4 stars because it was a decent read, but not something I'd necessarily recommend -- bearing in mind the fact that I'm not reviewing it as a Muslim. However, the translation itself was pretty dang good as far as I can tell as someone who doesn't speak Arabic. Nothing sounded awkward and if did there were always footnotes to elaborate. The translation work would definitely be 5/5
When comparing the Quran to the Bible, there are definitely a lot of similar stories and ideas, but they convey them in very different ways. The Bible is written as though it's telling stories and histories first and foremost, with theology built into the stories. However, the Quran is written with theology in mind first, and there are stories sprinkled throughout the text to corroborate the theology. To a Christian, the stories in the Quran will sound quite paraphrased. They often begin with "remember when we..." and then give a quick overview of what happened, almost as if the reader is supposed to be familiar with the stories beforehand. There are usually a lot of details missing, or sometimes new ones added. I think this video (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-SGzYrG...) does a really good job explaining the Quran from a purely literary POV.
Overall, I gave the Quran 4 stars because it was a decent read, but not something I'd necessarily recommend -- bearing in mind the fact that I'm not reviewing it as a Muslim. However, the translation itself was pretty dang good as far as I can tell as someone who doesn't speak Arabic. Nothing sounded awkward and if did there were always footnotes to elaborate. The translation work would definitely be 5/5
August 30, 2022
A really good and clear to read translation. I think it was a good amount of explanation given. I feel like it was good for my second read through.
November 19, 2024
DNF. Allah is not all knowing and all wise. A few nice passages do not make up for this vapid backwards logic of hate, violence, and misogyny. This is a review of the actual writing and not a review of the people that choose (or do not choose...) to follow the religion that is based off of this text.
September 23, 2025
What Greater Love Than This
SubhanAllah.
Mankind is prone to erring.
What greater love than this,
that Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful, Most Kind, Most Forgiving, and to whom is Our Final Return.
It is revealed in the Quran that Iblis (Shaitan) has sworn to guide all of mankind to its ruins until the Day we return to Allah, and Iblis will say, “I only had to whisper to you for you to act upon your evils.” Among the signs of Allah is the creation of the heavens and the earth, the variation of our languages and colors. Our enemy is not Allah’s Creations, for we are all His humble servants. The primordial enemy has always been Iblis.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
I have memorized the first ayah of Surah As-Saffat, “Was-Saffati Saffan.” It took me an hour, but I carry it with me wherever I go.
“By the angels that drive the clouds…”
Brothers and sisters in Islam, let us invite our foes to a better way, the Straight Path of Islam, a mercy to all of the al-ʿālamīn, to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
And it has been shown to me, with piercing clarity, that war is a ruin more monstrous than Hell itself, for in its wake the innocent are torn from life, and I swear by my Creator, or Wallahi, mankind has indeed been in a state of loss.
Before my Creator, to whom I surrender my life in every minute detail, I stand: as my book of deeds reveals itself, verbatim in its every nook and cranny of its weight and dimensions, before my Rabb, my Lord, before Allah,
For the corruption that festers in the hearts of men and spills outward into the world, like restless birds across the earth, I can ask for nothing more than what my faith allows me: to speak with modesty, with humility, yet with clarity, before the leaders of this world in plain sight,
To the common man whose eyes may bear witness to these words.
To the thoughtful man, to the woman of dignity, to all who carry sobriety and truth in their speech.
To those who know the line between right and wrong.
To the ones who read and write and to the ones who cannot.
To the peasant who bends his back from dawn until the sun bows down again.
And to the leaders of this earth, who will shoulder the weight of their power, and find their reward measured against their deeds.
All of us are returning.
For every soul shall taste death.
And on that day, crowns and rags are the same. We are made equal.
To all of Allah’s al-ʿālamīn — all the worlds and all who dwell within them — I can only speak with the modesty my religion teaches me, without grandeur, without ornament, only with the truth that remains:
Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings.
For our foes do not know the consequences in the Hereafter of their deeds,
let us invite them to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. For Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Powerful, Most Merciful, Most Kind.
It matters not how many times you have erred, for ours is not a caravan of despair. Peace and blessings be upon you, for in their stumbling they knew not the evil they wrought upon themselves. And to Allah, our final return.
“Allah will grasp the earth on the Day of Resurrection and He will roll up the heavens in His Right Hand and will say: I am the King! Where are the kings of the earth?”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (4812), Sahih Muslim (2787)
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285:
The Messenger firmly believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They all believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. They proclaim, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You alone is the final return.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286:
Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. The believers pray, “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
I can only modestly speak for myself.
May Allah forgive them and expand for them their rizq (provisions) and grant from Himself His special Mercy and grant them just as good mercies for them as He has for me, SubhanAllah.
If a person is a guest to my soul, perhaps someone I remember only in passing, then let me strive to honor the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him — the finest of companions, the most gracious of hosts. He gave from the little he had, welcomed strangers to sit at his table, and never turned hospitality into a spectator sport or performance. His welcome was simple yet profound: water to wash, bread or fresh dates to eat, a place to rest — all offered with warmth, never with pretense.
When a guest arrived without warning, the Prophet rose to greet them, rearranging his plans for their sake, never treating them as a burden. He valued presence above perfection, knowing sincerity mattered more than abundance. Two things marked his way of hosting. First, dignity — every guest was treated with honor, never as a burden. Second, generosity without tally — he gave freely, expecting nothing in return, seeking his reward from Allah alone. His hospitality was sublime: to protect a guest, preserve their privacy, and ensure they departed in a state better than when they arrived.
So if a person is ever a guest to my spirit, let me mirror the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, by embodying his sunnah. As he said: “Nine things my Lord has commanded me: fear of Allah in private and in public; justice, whether in anger or in calmness; moderation in poverty and in wealth; that I should join hands with those who cut me off; give to those who withhold from me; forgive those who wrong me; that my silence should be reflection; my words remembrance of Allah; and my vision keen observation.”
I translate this into my own life in simple language: if a person should wish to debase me, then I fear Allah alone — sufficient is He as my witness, my protector, my Lord. And I pray that Allah grants me the strength to forgive that person for His sake. If a person should meet me with enmity, then let me meet them instead with mercy and compassion, just as my Lord has shown me. Let my response be sincere duas, asking Allah to show them the same mercy He has shown me. For in honoring the Prophet’s sunnah, I recognize that I am no more important, not even by an inch, than those who wish me harm. My only refuge is in my Lord, who has given me a religion of dignity, whose door of mercy is open to all of mankind until the Day of Recompense — the Hour, the Day of Qayimah. From Allah alone is my reward, and my Lord has always been so kind to me.
Out of His infinite mercy, Allah veils our faults from the eyes of people, and instead of leaving us to the weight of our mistakes, He allows others to see not our sins, but the goodness we are capable of, the light we can still grow into. He is Al-Ghaffār, the One who covers, and Al-Raḥīm, the One who nurtures us toward who we are meant to become.
I once learned from an interview with Sheikh Hussain Yee that he reverted to Islam after finishing the biography of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. Umar, who had once been among the strongest enemies of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was guided by Allah to Islam and became one of its greatest leaders. As Khalifa, his leadership saw the Romans and Persians — the mightiest of empires — entering into the fold of Islam. But what stayed with me most from that interview was not the grandeur of history, but something far more modest. Sheikh Hussain Yee said he spent four years in mosques — different mosques — learning, reflecting, and praying. This detail left an indelible mark on me for no fancy reason at all, but because of its modesty. It is a reminder that the most beautiful journeys with Allah for the sake of Allah alone are not always made of fireworks, but of humble beginnings or humble nature.
What struck me even more was when Sheikh Hussain explained what Islam meant to him in English. He said: “Islam, to me, is an acronym: I Love All of Mankind.” SubhanAllah. Repentance fits right into that, because when we repent, we’re not only turning back to Allah, we’re also softening our heart toward His creation. A person who loves Allah learns to love people, even with their flaws, because he knows his own.
SubhanAllah. We are all returning to Allah, to the Hereafter, and to eternal life. And let us remember that it is not the grandeur of history but the modesty of our religion that cleaves asunder and touches even the toughest of hearts.
Come, come, whoever you are, ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times.
Come yet, come again. Ours is a caravan of hope, of justness and fairness for the sake of Allah alone, and our reward is from Allah alone, to whom is our return.
Wallahi, do not despair nor grieve, for this life is known to us only in passing.
We are mere travelers in a world quick to disappear like grains of sand at the shores of the ocean.
SubhanAllah.
SubhanAllah.
Mankind is prone to erring.
What greater love than this,
that Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Merciful, Most Kind, Most Forgiving, and to whom is Our Final Return.
It is revealed in the Quran that Iblis (Shaitan) has sworn to guide all of mankind to its ruins until the Day we return to Allah, and Iblis will say, “I only had to whisper to you for you to act upon your evils.” Among the signs of Allah is the creation of the heavens and the earth, the variation of our languages and colors. Our enemy is not Allah’s Creations, for we are all His humble servants. The primordial enemy has always been Iblis.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
I have memorized the first ayah of Surah As-Saffat, “Was-Saffati Saffan.” It took me an hour, but I carry it with me wherever I go.
“By the angels that drive the clouds…”
Brothers and sisters in Islam, let us invite our foes to a better way, the Straight Path of Islam, a mercy to all of the al-ʿālamīn, to revive the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.
And it has been shown to me, with piercing clarity, that war is a ruin more monstrous than Hell itself, for in its wake the innocent are torn from life, and I swear by my Creator, or Wallahi, mankind has indeed been in a state of loss.
Before my Creator, to whom I surrender my life in every minute detail, I stand: as my book of deeds reveals itself, verbatim in its every nook and cranny of its weight and dimensions, before my Rabb, my Lord, before Allah,
For the corruption that festers in the hearts of men and spills outward into the world, like restless birds across the earth, I can ask for nothing more than what my faith allows me: to speak with modesty, with humility, yet with clarity, before the leaders of this world in plain sight,
To the common man whose eyes may bear witness to these words.
To the thoughtful man, to the woman of dignity, to all who carry sobriety and truth in their speech.
To those who know the line between right and wrong.
To the ones who read and write and to the ones who cannot.
To the peasant who bends his back from dawn until the sun bows down again.
And to the leaders of this earth, who will shoulder the weight of their power, and find their reward measured against their deeds.
All of us are returning.
For every soul shall taste death.
And on that day, crowns and rags are the same. We are made equal.
To all of Allah’s al-ʿālamīn — all the worlds and all who dwell within them — I can only speak with the modesty my religion teaches me, without grandeur, without ornament, only with the truth that remains:
Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
Upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah, and His blessings.
For our foes do not know the consequences in the Hereafter of their deeds,
let us invite them to the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. For Allah is oft-forgiving, Most Powerful, Most Merciful, Most Kind.
It matters not how many times you have erred, for ours is not a caravan of despair. Peace and blessings be upon you, for in their stumbling they knew not the evil they wrought upon themselves. And to Allah, our final return.
“Allah will grasp the earth on the Day of Resurrection and He will roll up the heavens in His Right Hand and will say: I am the King! Where are the kings of the earth?”
— Sahih al-Bukhari (4812), Sahih Muslim (2787)
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:285:
The Messenger firmly believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They all believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. They proclaim, “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. We seek Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You alone is the final return.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286:
Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. The believers pray, “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one You placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.”
I can only modestly speak for myself.
May Allah forgive them and expand for them their rizq (provisions) and grant from Himself His special Mercy and grant them just as good mercies for them as He has for me, SubhanAllah.
If a person is a guest to my soul, perhaps someone I remember only in passing, then let me strive to honor the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him — the finest of companions, the most gracious of hosts. He gave from the little he had, welcomed strangers to sit at his table, and never turned hospitality into a spectator sport or performance. His welcome was simple yet profound: water to wash, bread or fresh dates to eat, a place to rest — all offered with warmth, never with pretense.
When a guest arrived without warning, the Prophet rose to greet them, rearranging his plans for their sake, never treating them as a burden. He valued presence above perfection, knowing sincerity mattered more than abundance. Two things marked his way of hosting. First, dignity — every guest was treated with honor, never as a burden. Second, generosity without tally — he gave freely, expecting nothing in return, seeking his reward from Allah alone. His hospitality was sublime: to protect a guest, preserve their privacy, and ensure they departed in a state better than when they arrived.
So if a person is ever a guest to my spirit, let me mirror the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, by embodying his sunnah. As he said: “Nine things my Lord has commanded me: fear of Allah in private and in public; justice, whether in anger or in calmness; moderation in poverty and in wealth; that I should join hands with those who cut me off; give to those who withhold from me; forgive those who wrong me; that my silence should be reflection; my words remembrance of Allah; and my vision keen observation.”
I translate this into my own life in simple language: if a person should wish to debase me, then I fear Allah alone — sufficient is He as my witness, my protector, my Lord. And I pray that Allah grants me the strength to forgive that person for His sake. If a person should meet me with enmity, then let me meet them instead with mercy and compassion, just as my Lord has shown me. Let my response be sincere duas, asking Allah to show them the same mercy He has shown me. For in honoring the Prophet’s sunnah, I recognize that I am no more important, not even by an inch, than those who wish me harm. My only refuge is in my Lord, who has given me a religion of dignity, whose door of mercy is open to all of mankind until the Day of Recompense — the Hour, the Day of Qayimah. From Allah alone is my reward, and my Lord has always been so kind to me.
Out of His infinite mercy, Allah veils our faults from the eyes of people, and instead of leaving us to the weight of our mistakes, He allows others to see not our sins, but the goodness we are capable of, the light we can still grow into. He is Al-Ghaffār, the One who covers, and Al-Raḥīm, the One who nurtures us toward who we are meant to become.
I once learned from an interview with Sheikh Hussain Yee that he reverted to Islam after finishing the biography of Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him. Umar, who had once been among the strongest enemies of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was guided by Allah to Islam and became one of its greatest leaders. As Khalifa, his leadership saw the Romans and Persians — the mightiest of empires — entering into the fold of Islam. But what stayed with me most from that interview was not the grandeur of history, but something far more modest. Sheikh Hussain Yee said he spent four years in mosques — different mosques — learning, reflecting, and praying. This detail left an indelible mark on me for no fancy reason at all, but because of its modesty. It is a reminder that the most beautiful journeys with Allah for the sake of Allah alone are not always made of fireworks, but of humble beginnings or humble nature.
What struck me even more was when Sheikh Hussain explained what Islam meant to him in English. He said: “Islam, to me, is an acronym: I Love All of Mankind.” SubhanAllah. Repentance fits right into that, because when we repent, we’re not only turning back to Allah, we’re also softening our heart toward His creation. A person who loves Allah learns to love people, even with their flaws, because he knows his own.
SubhanAllah. We are all returning to Allah, to the Hereafter, and to eternal life. And let us remember that it is not the grandeur of history but the modesty of our religion that cleaves asunder and touches even the toughest of hearts.
Come, come, whoever you are, ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times.
Come yet, come again. Ours is a caravan of hope, of justness and fairness for the sake of Allah alone, and our reward is from Allah alone, to whom is our return.
Wallahi, do not despair nor grieve, for this life is known to us only in passing.
We are mere travelers in a world quick to disappear like grains of sand at the shores of the ocean.
SubhanAllah.
May 28, 2024
A low rating, not for the theology, but for the translation. I'm my humble opinion, this translation absolutely reduces the Arabic to the point where the message is altered from its original meaning. In light of this, it's an extremely frustrating read. It's an easy read, however, but I'm not looking for easy. I'm looking for accuracy. I'm not sure why it is so highly rated.
If someone has a better recommendation for a more accurate translation, please comment. Thanks.
If someone has a better recommendation for a more accurate translation, please comment. Thanks.
April 21, 2024
I understand that beauty is subjective, so is the Quran a beautiful book? In my humble opinion, it is not. That doesn’t mean I hate the book, just that I don’t share the same opinion as someone who does find it beautiful.
However, this book is incredibly repetitive. Reward for the believers, punishment for the disbelievers, listing of the people and places destroyed because of disbelievers/pagans/deniers etc The Quran would be about 1/3 of it size if it were to cut all the repeated verses.
Also, a very serious obsession towards the Pharaoh who’s mentioned so many times, and randomly in various surahs (mentioned more times than Abraham & Noah combined).
Obviously if you’re a follower of Islam, this book is the word of your god and obviously has an important place in your religion. I’m agnostic, and I bear no grudge against peoples beliefs. The reason I read the Quran was to gain a better understanding of Islam.
I encourage anyone interested in reading it to do so. Just know that you’ll be reading some of same things multiple times.
However, this book is incredibly repetitive. Reward for the believers, punishment for the disbelievers, listing of the people and places destroyed because of disbelievers/pagans/deniers etc The Quran would be about 1/3 of it size if it were to cut all the repeated verses.
Also, a very serious obsession towards the Pharaoh who’s mentioned so many times, and randomly in various surahs (mentioned more times than Abraham & Noah combined).
Obviously if you’re a follower of Islam, this book is the word of your god and obviously has an important place in your religion. I’m agnostic, and I bear no grudge against peoples beliefs. The reason I read the Quran was to gain a better understanding of Islam.
I encourage anyone interested in reading it to do so. Just know that you’ll be reading some of same things multiple times.
July 13, 2025
Truly a clear translation with strong context in the footnotes. Easy and accessible point of entry as compared to The Study Quran, which is also a strong resource although the thorough nature of it can make it feel complex. I recommend the Clear Quran for anyone seeking to understand Islamic scripture and the stories it describes, many of which are building upon or validating common ones across Abrahamic faith traditions.
April 24, 2024
This translation is so clear and easy to understand. This particular print is large and also is English only which also helps with reading without squinting. All praises to the Creator of the worlds!!!
October 26, 2025
Alhamdulillah I loved reading this version of the clear Quran where Allah swt’s name is mentioned versus the English only where it just says “God” which isn’t bad but it feels more connecting to read as “Allah” 🤲🏼🫶🏼
April 7, 2024
This is the clearest translation of the Koran I have ever read. Enlightened by so many aspects of the religion, which were previously confusing.
Read
April 15, 2025Cenas halals👳🏽♂️🕌
May 22, 2025
Sep 2-May 12 I read the whole thing in March for Ramadan but BEFORE Ramadan I didn’t finish so I picked up where I left off before and now I’m done and you find new gems every time.
-just trying to keep track of how many times for myself 🙃
-(english + arabic).
-just trying to keep track of how many times for myself 🙃
-(english + arabic).
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews