Yusuf Ali Translation

[PouringRain]

Forgive me if I am posting something that has been posted before. I did conduct a forum search and came across a small bit on the topic, but there are probably things that haven't shown up in the search.

In this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...l=1#post772426

Post #11, a.s. comments that the Yusuf Ali translation is the least reliable English translation there is.


I also have seen objection to Yusuf Ali's commentary, as is also mentioned in this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...571#post264571

And also in this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...ight=yusuf+ali



All of the "errors in translation" that I have seen pointed out are not actually errors, but misreadings/misunderstandings. For example, In the link posted directly above, the user named muslimjustmuslim comments on an error in the very first Surah, but in reality if you compare the verse he points out with other translations, Yusuf Ali is not saying anything different. The main difference is simply his sentence structure.

Having been raised on a King James version Bible, I am very comfortable in reading and understanding Yusuf Ali's translation. (Some would argue that the King James Bible has errors as well. I actually prefer the New King James version now. But that is a side topic.)

I like Yusuf Ali's version of the Qur'an best. It is my main "go to." I like the language of it.

I can also understand why many people can't understand it-- in the same way that people can't understand KJV or Shakespeare or ..... poetry!

Personal preference aside, commentary aside, what makes the Yusuf Ali translation the "least reliable" English translation? Or if not the least reliable, what are the objections to the actual translation?

I have read Yusuf Ali alongside other translations. I know that I am unable to compare with the Arabic, since I do not read Arabic. I also understand all of the issues and problems surrounding translating texts.

[PouringRain]

Oh, I just wanted to comment that I may be away for a couple of days, so feel free to provide me with information, but I may not be around to respond for a few days. I just wanted to let you all know so that no one is concerned that I disappeared again!

[Maripat]

(1) His Shia oriented background made some incursions into the translation and commentary. Thankfully these were removed by scholars.
(2) Some (over ?) indulgence in Mysticism too was removed.

So what you have with you is after that and hence should be useful.

[PouringRain]

Maripat, thanks for the answer. So basically, current Yusuf Ali translations are probably just fine, right?

I actually do not own a Yusuf Ali translation, but I have always wanted one since it is my fav. I own three other translations that are not at all even close to favs. Two of them I don't like at all, and the third is okay except it has a few really poorly worded places.

[Sulaiman84]

Peace PouringRain,


Do you like contemporary English translations?

If you do, you should try out Ma'ariful Qur'an or Qur'an made easy.

Here's a link:

http://islamicstudies.info/maarif/

[Maripat]

Maripat, thanks for the answer. So basically, current Yusuf Ali translations are probably just fine, right?

I actually do not own a Yusuf Ali translation, but I have always wanted one since it is my fav. I own three other translations that are not at all even close to favs. Two of them I don't like at all, and the third is okay except it has a few really poorly worded places.

I do find that the best - perhaps because of the pain he took in order to move closest to the original meaning.

I do love the prose used by Pickthall, an Englishman is an Englishman.

I just can not concentrate on other translations.

And if you were in our country I would have been glad to present an Abdullah Yusuf Ali to you but ....

[PouringRain]

Peace PouringRain,


Do you like contemporary English translations?

If you do, you should try out Ma'ariful Qur'an or Qur'an made easy.

Here's a link:

http://islamicstudies.info/maarif/

Thanks for the link. I noticed there is a download on there. I may download it and take a look at it. I glanced at it, and I still don't like the language as much as the Yusuf Ali, but the commentary might be nice to read through.

To be honest, I am not a big fan of contemporary versions of anything-- not the Qur'an nor the Bible. I feel as though something is lost in many contemporary versions, and sometimes they are almost irreverent sounding.

[PouringRain]

I do find that the best - perhaps because of the pain he took in order to move closest to the original meaning.

I do love the prose used by Pickthall, an Englishman is an Englishman.

I just can not concentrate on other translations.

And if you were in our country I would have been glad to present an Abdullah Yusuf Ali to you but ....

I don't know what country you are in.

In some ways, Pickthall shares some similarities with Yusuf Ali, such as some of the sentence arrangement. (I just used the word "some" three times in one sentence.) Did I mention that they share some similarities?

Maripat, given that I prefer the Yusuf Ali translation, is there a specific tafsir that you would recommend for me?

[Maripat]

I don't know what country you are in.

In some ways, Pickthall shares some similarities with Yusuf Ali, such as some of the sentence arrangement. (I just used the word "some" three times in one sentence.) Did I mention that they share some similarities?

Maripat, given that I prefer the Yusuf Ali translation, is there a specific tafsir that you would recommend for me?

AY Ali's translation comes with his commentary also. Saudis had published that on Bible paper and hence it was very light in weight in spite of around 2000 pages (Original Arabic, translation, ample notes). For western mind his approach is the best. He lived in the west as a diplomat and hence had first hand experience with western thought process and he kept his roots in Islam so his commentary remains grounded in the original Islamic experience.

Islamic Propagation Council International of South Africa (Ahmed Deedat's established) does make it available at very low price. Try contacting them.

After Salafi onslaught we do not get the Saudia published edition of AY Ali.
May Allah (SWT) guide them and us on the right path.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Forgive me if I am posting something that has been posted before. I did conduct a forum search and came across a small bit on the topic, but there are probably things that haven't shown up in the search.

In this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...l=1#post772426

Post #11, a.s. comments that the Yusuf Ali translation is the least reliable English translation there is.


I also have seen objection to Yusuf Ali's commentary, as is also mentioned in this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...571#post264571

And also in this thread: http://www.sunniforum.com/forum/show...ight=yusuf+ali



All of the "errors in translation" that I have seen pointed out are not actually errors, but misreadings/misunderstandings. For example, In the link posted directly above, the user named muslimjustmuslim comments on an error in the very first Surah, but in reality if you compare the verse he points out with other translations, Yusuf Ali is not saying anything different. The main difference is simply his sentence structure.

Having been raised on a King James version Bible, I am very comfortable in reading and understanding Yusuf Ali's translation. (Some would argue that the King James Bible has errors as well. I actually prefer the New King James version now. But that is a side topic.)

I like Yusuf Ali's version of the Qur'an best. It is my main "go to." I like the language of it.

I can also understand why many people can't understand it-- in the same way that people can't understand KJV or Shakespeare or ..... poetry!

Personal preference aside, commentary aside, what makes the Yusuf Ali translation the "least reliable" English translation? Or if not the least reliable, what are the objections to the actual translation?

I have read Yusuf Ali alongside other translations. I know that I am unable to compare with the Arabic, since I do not read Arabic. I also understand all of the issues and problems surrounding translating texts.

Sister PouringRain,

I have visited the grave of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, read his life story and may Allah (SWT) forgive his sins and give him entrance into paradise (Ameen).

This is a general prayer which Muslims make for everyone who has passed away so nothing specific for him.

He studied English literature so it’s a fact that his translation (short commentary) is lucid, eloquent and similar to those who are used to reading the King James Bible. However, in Islam we are supposed to translate (and interpret) the Qur’aan under the shadow of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and understanding of his companions and earlier generations while Christianity has no verifiable historic record of these and hence we believe (as you know) that not only the word (of the bible) but also the interpretation has been corrupted.

Roughly 60 years have passed since Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s death and a few developments have since taken place:

His original work is no longer available as it has been edited twice:

1. Saudi Scholars
2. US Scholars (in Virginia)

So the errors/shortcomings are no longer found in fact I have only seen a very old manuscript of his original translation in New Mexico in an old Mosque.

There are now some very good translations available which are true to their purpose and also equally (if not better) lucid and eloquent e.g:

1. Qur’aan Made Easy
2. The Noble Qur’aan

Thanks