English Translation Of The Koran

[AberdeenAl]

Can anyone recommend a good translation of the Koran? I am interested in all forms of religion and would like to read it (or at least parts of it). I have downloaded 2 different versions onto my Kindle but don't like either of them. The first seems to have been written by someone who is anti-Islam (v strange) so I can't think I'm going to get a balanced view and the second is proving to be unreadable. It is so dominated by footnotes that the text just disappears. I would prefer to read the text only if that is possible.

Any advice appreciated thanks.

[jomifl]

It seems that the English language cannot do justice to the beautiful poetic language that is Arabic. So you will have to learn Arabic first as any translation will be inadequate.

[naomi24]

I have two copies of the Koran, one by M A S Abdel Haleem, and the other by N J Dawood.

I find it odd that you think one of your copies was translated by someone who is anti-Islam. Why do you think that – and who is the translator?

[maggiebee]

During "Open Doors Day" a couple of years ago my friend and I visited our local mosque. We were both given a copy of the Koran translated into English. Perhaps your local mosque would have a spare copy

[keyplus90]

Being a Muslim myself, I am not surprised a bit about a Quran translated by someone who is Anti- Islam. Unfortunately this is nothing new about Islam as few other religions believe that this is the best way to oppose Islam. Having said that, now towards your actual question.

I would suggest a copy of Quran translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. There are so many but his translation is considered the most acceptable. It would be better if you can find one with summary as sometimes only translation is not good enough.

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As Jomifl said that best way to read any religious book is to learn that language but that is not very practical. But I do know that in what sense Jomifl is saying that as I know him very well. But in reality, yes it is true that translating any religious book is extremely difficult as you need to have in depth knowledge of both of the languages and then the knowledge of all of those topics the book speaks about. In case of Quran, you have to have knowledge of every aspect of human life and that is somewhat impossible to achieve.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, //Unfortunately this is nothing new about Islam as few other religions believe that this is the best way to oppose Islam.//

You mean like the time someone posted a YouTube video of a respected Islamic spokesman, speaking in Arabic, saying that people were leaving Islam in droves – and you insisted that, despite the sub-titles, that wasn’t what he was saying. More conspiracy theories. :o)

[vulcan42]

keyplus. \\In case of Quran, you have to have knowledge of every aspect of human life and that is somewhat impossible to achieve. \\.
does this mean the Quran has been incorrectly translated?

[tamborine]

Here

http://holybooks.lichtenbergpress.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/English-Quran-plain-text.pdf

[heathfield]

Some Moslems will insist that there can only be one true Koran, and that is the original, written in Arabic. Because of this, all translations are invariably inferior versions.

[naomi24]

There are several versions of the Koran written in Arabic. No ‘original’ exists.

Incidentally, I now have three translations. Even though there is some doubt about the accuracy of the one Keyplus recommends, it is now on my kindle.

[mikey4444]

Heathfield...those Moslems are probably the same ones who, despite living in cold and rainy Northern Europe, still dress in clothes more suitable to the ancient Middle East, make their wives walk around covered in black cloth, and insist that all men grow beards. It would seem to me that Islam could do with a little modernisation. Think where Christianity would be now if all copies of the Bible were only available in Ancient Greek.

[boxtops]

I've got this one https://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/books/religion-and-spirituality/the-holy-qurn-koran-text-translation-and-commentary-hd_100129009?pscid=ps_ggl_PLAs

[keyplus90]

////Think where Christianity would be now if all copies of the Bible were only available in Ancient Greek.////

Did Jesus (pbuh) speak Greek?

[jeffa]

No, he spoke Aramaic, but the New Testament was written in Ancient Greek. Chi-ro, and all that...

[mikey4444]

keyplus90...what does (pbuh) mean ?

What is so difficult to understand about what I posted regards to the expansion of Christianity all over the world ? My point was perfectly clear. Christianity is a world-wide religion mainly because the Bible is now available in 100's of languages. If Islam wishes to be as successful, then they need to examine their position on the language that people can read the Koran in. Simples !

[naomi24]

//what does (pbuh) mean ?//

Peace be upon him - something that's said after mentioning any prophet by name.

Copies of the Koran are available in practically every language.

[AberdeenAl]

Hmm - very interesting to see the responses that this query has instigated. I will not enter into the debate but just want to thank everyone for their input.

[redvanman]

For get about religion just look around the world and see what damage it is doing

[jomifl]

AA, you may have noticed the vastly differing interpretations of the koran and associated literature when it exists in one language. Its contradictions and ambiguities would only be exacerbated in translations to other languages.

[naomi24]

AberdeenAl, before you go, any chance of you answering my earlier question? I'd really like to know.

[modeller]

It depends what you consider a 'good translation '. If you mean accurate , 'It can't be done.! ' Just one word may have several meanings and it depends on where it appears in a sentence and what adjectives are used. On top of that the meaning of a word may change over a period of time and that can be in just a few years. A modern example of that is the word ' gay ' which changed entirely within a decade.
A biblical example is the Hebrew word 'almah' which has been translated as virgin and applied to the Virgin Mary but in actual fact it had several meanings , mainly meaning a young married woman, or a pregnant woman or even any woman between the ages of 12 and 20.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120410221500AAj6cSa

You could say the Christian use the word Virgin in our sense of the word has changed history.