The Qur'an: A New Translation

Tarif Khalidi's translation of the Qur'an is a landmark achievement that unfortunately hasn't gotten much attention in the world of Arabic and Islamic studies. But despite that, there is much to praise about this translation of the Qur'an. In Arabic, it has often been said that there is prose and poetry, and then there is the Qur'an. Neither strictly one or the other, it is a compilation of successive revelations that often shift in style from divine narratives to humbling invocations to moving poetry. In an attempt to remain authentic to the vigorous nature of the Arabic text, most Qur'anic translations come off as cumbersome in their wording and grammatical structure, alienating the reader. Khalidi's translation is significant in that his style adapts as the tone and tenor of the Arabic text evolves. In a literary sense, this translation marks an evolutionary point in comparison to other available translations. Recently, many publishers have tried to move beyond the antiquated, dark and patriarchal translations offered by orientalists such as Pickthall and N.J.Dawood (the previous Penguin translation entitled "The Koran" rather than "The Qur'an") and others like Yusuf Ali. Notable examples that we have seen include Abdel Haleem's (Oxford), Muhammad Asad, and the far superior "The Qur'an: With a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation" by Ali Quli Qarai. But Khalidi's translation easily emerges ahead of the rest. It is accurate without being cumbersome, and most importantly, succeeds in inhabiting the literary culture of Arabic into English. With this translation, we have an English meaning of the Qur'an that better reflects how the Arabic reader perceives this text. No longer dark and patriarchal, Khalidi's translation of the Qur'an is poetic, moving and illuminated.

Having been a student and teacher of classical Arabic and the Quran for some time, I have read many the Quran many times in Arabic and English translations. This is one of the easiest modern English translations of the Quran I have found. It also has high accuracy. Any translation has short-comings so if you would like deeper research, look the exact words up in a dictionary like Lane's Lexicon. There is another Quran translation published back in 1980 from a collaboration between the Shia and Sunni councils of Lebanon that is also extremely good. I don't have any more information on it, and since I cannot find it in anywhere, I always recommend this translation.

The book is a fine edition, arrived promptly, and will be very helpful in study. Thank you!

Below I compare three modern translations: each an excellent alternative in comparison to other translations out there, such as old style Pickthall/Asad/Ali or Saudi influenced Hilali-Khan. ~Basmalah~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: In the name of God, the All-Merciful, the Mercy-Giving. MAS Abdel Haleem:: In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy! Tarif Khalidi:: In the name of God, Merciful to all, Compassionate to each! ~31:18~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: Moreover, do not turn your cheek to people [in contempt]. And do not ever walk upon the earth proudly exultant. Indeed, God loves no one who is swaggering [or] boastful. MAS Abdel Haleem:: Do not turn your nose up at people, nor walk about the place arrogantly, for God does not love arrogant or boastful people. Tarif Khalidi:: Do not turn your cheek away from people in contempt, and do not walk merrily upon the earth: God loves not every swaggering snob. My Opinion:: In regard to walking, Khalidi missed the sense of proudness and only mentions merrily, while Haleem missed the sense of being exultant and only mentions arrogance. Haleem, in addition, does not provide a literal translation, i.e. cheek, rather gives a more well-known idiom in English “turn up nose”. Hammad seems to be more accurate. ~49:13~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: O humankind! Indeed, We have created [all of] you from a [single] male and female. Moreover, We have made you peoples and tribes, so that you may [come to] know one another. And, indeed, the noblest of you, in the sight of God, is the most God-fearing of you. Indeed God is all-knowing, all-aware. MAS Abdel Haleem:: People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another. In God’s eyes, the most honoured of you are the ones most mindful of Him: God is all knowing, all aware. Tarif Khalidi:: O mankind, We created you male and female, and made you into nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. The nobles among you in God’s sight are the most pious. God is All-Knowing, All-Experienced. My Opinion:: Not sure if Khalidi intentionally omitted the preposition “from”, but by saying “created you male and female”, withdrawing the preposition (originally in Arabic “min”) changes the scope of the verse. Also by saying God is “All-experienced”, Khalidi missed the point of God being continuously all-aware. Another important word here is atQaakum, which is related at-Taqwa and Muttaqun, which is usually translated to mean God-fearing or God-conscious. I feel Hammad again captures it better. But “mindful of God” as Haleem presents and “pious” as Khalidi translates are not wrong either. ~67:5~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: For very truly, We have adorned the nearest heaven with lights. And we have made [of] them, [as well] projectiles to [pelt] the satans. Moreover, We have prepared for [the satans in the Hereafter] the torment of the Flaming Fire [of Hell]. MAS Abdel Haleem:: We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them [missiles] for stoning devils for whom We have also prepared the torment of a blazing fire. Tarif Khalidi:: We adorned the lower sky with Lanterns, and made them to be volleys against the demons, for whom We have readied the torment of the Blaze. My Opinion:: Each of Hammad, Haleem and Khalidi translates “Shayateen” as satans, devils and demons respectively. All conveys the meaning. Hammad uses too many brackets to convey contextual meaning, which sometimes can get mouthful. Heleem seems have done the best here. ~78/1-3~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: About what are they asking one another? About the Great Tiding [of the Afterlife]— it is about this that they dispute. MAS Abdel Haleem:: What do they question about the momentous announcement over which they differ? Tarif Khalidi:: What is it that they question each other about? Is it the Great Proclamation, concerning which they differ? My Opinion:: Here Haleem does not add “each other” or “one another”, which changes the scope of the verse. Are they question directed to God, to the Prophet or to each other? ~79/1~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: By the [angelic] pullers, pulling forth violently [the souls of the disbelievers at death]! MAS Abdel Haleem:: By the forceful chargers Tarif Khalidi:: By those that dispatch, to the very limit! My Opinion:: Many translate first five verses of this chapter to include interpretations such as "angels", "winds", "stars", “herd of horses” etc. But these interpretations should not be in the body of the actual translation. All of three translators fall short here. Hammad adds angels in the bracket. Haleem, too, falls short here. He, in his footnote, remarks that in his opinion military horses are the most likely interpretation. As such his translation seems to be forced to match the description of a herd of military horses going out. Khalidi follows the logic similar to that of Haleem. Ignoring the brackets, Hammad provides the best translation, IMO. ~103:1-3~ Ahmad Zaki Hammad:: By [the decline of] Time! Indeed, humankind is in [a condition of utter] loss— except for those who believe and do righteous deeds— and exhort one another to [uphold] the truth, and exhort one another to [persevere in faith with] patience. MAS Abdel Haleem:: By the fading day, man is [deep] in loss, except for those who believe, do good deeds, urge one another to the truth, and urge one another to steadfastness. Tarif Khalidi:: By the afternoon! Man is surely amiss! All save those who believe, Who do righteous deeds, Who enjoin truth upon one another Who enjoin patience upon one another. ~~~ My Conclusion:: Quran can't be properly translated into any other language to convey 100% of the meaning. In my opinion, Hammad provides the most accurate translation. The brackets can get mouthful, but are very useful in providing context. Haleem’s translation flows the best. He does not always provide literal translation but uses excellent uses of footnotes. In some places, his penchant for shorter and friendlier translation, he omits a word or two. Khalidi also falls to some error due to his desire for more poetic presentation. Hammad 5/5. Haleem 5/5. Khalidi 4/5. God knows best.

I find it useful to refer to several translations when looking for a deeper understanding of a particular verse, and many translations are availaible on the internet for such a purpose. But this is the version I like to read for pleasure and inspiration. It's prose and style avoid the archaic language of "thee, thy and thou" , and there is no inserted texts [usually in parenthesis like this] as is commonly found in other translations which seem intent on adding more meaning where in fact none may have been intended.

As an Arabic reader, I find this translation to be the one closest to Arabic. The essence is translated as well as the words.

What a different translation. As someone whose read many English translations this one is very "literary" and somewhat difficult to read as its not very clear. This translation is NOT for anyone actually attempting to understand Islam but rather someone already educated just wanting a different reading experience. This translation may leave you confused at times.

I love this translation. I really wish Khalidi would expand upon it though and offer a version with contextual and historical notes. Most Muslims never read this one, but it's really a joy to read. I read it along with more literal and classical translations, like the one by Yusuf Ali or Sahih International, both of which are somewhat boring to read.

Good price

Tarif Khalidi wrote a book called The Muslim Jesus, which collects sayings ascribed to and actions by Jesus as perceived in Islamic history down the ages. His introduction to that repaid careful reading and approached the subject in a very objective and secular, yet respectful, way. Accordingly, when I first happed upon his translation of the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an, I was fascinated and ordered it straight away. Up until then my favourite English translations of the Qur'an came from Muhammad Abdel Haleem, which remained eminently readable, filled with detailed notes and discussions on the meaning of words, as well as a few corrections of misinterpreted words. This version, however, is sheer magnificence. It actually translates some of the words absolutely technically correctly, instead of with the usual baggage that muslims through the ages have attached to them. For example, the words for 'you caused me to die' uttered by Jesus to allah have always been mistranslated as 'lifted me up', to shore up the muslim claim that Jesus was never crucified. This is corrected here. Furthermore, Khalidi structures his layout beautifully, with prose sections written in blank verse, and poetic sections formatted in poetic verse. It makes things so much easier to follow. Poetical and generous in translation, Khalidi's interpretation tends to convey the deeper meaning of the verses in the Qur'an, and I thoroughly recommend this work!

Alhamdulillah, Highly recommended to anyone To any faith to any secterian , non secterian , just wanna say 'read'🤩, Its Capture the beauty and tone as well as it's meaning

I have purchased this acclaimed English translation of the primary text of Islam in order to read it and try to understand my nei9ghbours and acquaintance of that religion. I gather this represents well the genuine article in Arabic.As I have begun reading, I do not find it as enlightening experience as I anticipated. I will probably need to acquire some introductory work to orient myself to it. I hope any Muslim neighbour reading this review will take the opportunity of purchasing an Evangelical Protestant translation of the Bible in English (King James Version, or New King James Version, or English Standard Version) and reading it for themselves. My rating does not refer to the content, but the quality of the translation and format of the book.

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