- Paperback: 576 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press; Bilingual edition (July 2 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0691074992
- ISBN-13: 978-0691074993
- Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 15.6 x 3.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 721 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#222,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #57 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Islam > Quran
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
In one of the most popular English versions of the Qur'an, Ahmed Ali has succeeded in bringing all of the subtlety, depth, and spiritual power of Islam into his translation of this peerless scripture. Without distorting the English, Ali, a highly regarded author in his own right, renders the poetry of the original Arabic into lines of elegance and rhythm. . . . For the curious, the convert, or the devout, Ahmed Ali's Al-Qur'an will bring all readers closer to the glory of God. -- Brian Bruya, Amazon.com
Book Description
This bilingual edition of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, was first published in the United States in 1988. Ahmed Ali, the distinguished Pakistani novelist, poet, critic, and diplomat, presents this elegant and poetic translation in a contemporary and living voice. On each page, the original Arabic and the translated English sit side by side, encouraging the reader to draw from both texts. Professor Ali also includes notes where necessary, providing the full meaning of each word and phrase. This accessible volume is truly essential for both scholars and followers of Islam.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
You Won't Do Better,
By
This review is from: Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation (Paperback)
This translation of the Koran by Ahmed Ali is about as good as it gets for the English-speaking reader. Out of all the translations available locally, (and I compared many, side by side, passage to passage), this is IT. True, Ali does hang on to a generally archaic tone, but no more so than 'Lord of the Rings' does. 'Haply' and 'verily' are peppered throughout the text very much like the 'hark's and 'lo's of the JPS Tanakh. 'Compeer' is a regularly occuring word (has any contemporary English speaker used THAT in a sentence lately?). My favorite is 'obliquities'. Nonetheless, these things do not interfere with the basic clarity and readability of the translation. And unlike a couple of readable versions done by non-Muslims, Ali communicates a great deal of cultural and literary information sensitively and with style. Other reviews give me the idea many Christians are reading this for indications of the barbarity of Islam. I guess the savagery of the Hebrew Bible is insufficient for them. Christians might be better served by reading the Koran for its statements about Jesus, Mary and the Trinity. Mohammed's views do not represent his personal, idiosyncratic views. They represent sectarian Christian traditions that were alive and well in his time: that Jesus did not rise from the dead, nor was he the son of God. Read your books carefully!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful and respectful translation, but needs commentary,
By
This review is from: Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation (Paperback)
Ahmed Ali has done a wonderful job attempting to present the initimable beauty of the Qur'an in English. His command of modern English idiom makes this translation easier to read for contemporary audiences. The only area where there is a notable weakness is the lack of extensive commentary which can place the verses in historical context and expalin issues such as jihad, women's rights etc. as they have been analyzed over 1400 years.I have found that non-Muslims who read a translation which lacks such historical analysis can end up being misled as to true Islamic teachings. The reader below, who is "appalled" by the Qur'an seems to be ignorant of the historical context of verses on war etc. Any reading of the Bible, and yes of the Buddhist or Hindu scriptures, without such historical analysis will also portray these texts in a negative, brutal and primitive light. Reading about the terrible wars and massacres that God commands in the biblical stories of Moses, Joshua, David, etc. without historical context will convince you that Judaism and Christianity are barbaric religions. If you have no historical context in which to place these Bible stories, or understand how these religions evolved from such violent births, you have really no understanding of either faith. And uncritical study of some early Buddhist texts which held that women do not have souls would unfairly protray Buddhism as a primitive religion without historical understanding of how these ideas have evolved and changed over hundreds of years. I suggest to the reader below, and to all who wish to learn about the loving tradition of Islam, to actually read books on Sufism, the heart of Islam which is indeed based on the Qu'ran and the example of Prophet Muhammad. Approaching a text like Ahmed Ali's translation without this basic knowledge and with an attitude of preconceived hostility will only reinforce your ignorance.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Beautiful English Translation of the Qur'an,
By Shakira Stephens (Cranston, Rhode Island, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation (Paperback)
This is the first translation of the Qur'an in English that I have not found labourous to read. I finished reading it in a short time - often stopping to re-read verses - enjoying the eloquence of the language and the amazing retention of the rythms of the original Arabic. The text is poetic and the meanings come across gracefully - reading this translation leaves a spiritual impact . The translation is a pleasure and a joy to read. I strongly recommend it to all who wish to know the Qur'an and its true meaning. I find it to be the best of all the available translations.
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