Yusuf Ali Translation

[PouringRain]

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

Thanks, Colonel Hardstone. I bet it was amazing to go see the old manuscript of the original translation. I just love old books! (Actually, I love books in general. Haha.)

I will look at the two translations you suggested.

The translation I am currently reading through is: The Gracious Qur’an: A Modern Phrased Interpretation in English” by Dr. Ahmad Zaki Hammad. It is easy and pleasant to read, but the biggest problem I have is that there are a couple of places I have come across that are really, really, really poorly worded. (If the person who gave me this translation reads this post, forgive me for what I am about to say....) They are so poorly worded that it sounds as though the author is saying something that is almost blasphemous. I know that is not at all his intention, and I am wise enough to know that it is also not what it is supposed to be saying. Each time I have come across one of those places, I have read through it several times and I think to myself, "I know this is not saying what it sounds like it is saying...." And then I go read several other translations to see what it really should be saying at that point.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

Thanks, Colonel Hardstone. I bet it was amazing to go see the old manuscript of the original translation. I just love old books! (Actually, I love books in general. Haha.)

I will look at the two translations you suggested.

The translation I am currently reading through is: The Gracious Qur’an: A Modern Phrased Interpretation in English” by Dr. Ahmad Zaki Hammad. It is easy and pleasant to read, but the biggest problem I have is that there are a couple of places I have come across that are really, really, really poorly worded. (If the person who gave me this translation reads this post, forgive me for what I am about to say....) They are so poorly worded that it sounds as though the author is saying something that is almost blasphemous. I know that is not at all his intention, and I am wise enough to know that it is also not what it is supposed to be saying. Each time I have come across one of those places, I have read through it several times and I think to myself, "I know this is not saying what it sounds like it is saying...." And then I go read several other translations to see what it really should be saying at that point.

Sister PouringRain,

Dr. Ahmad Zaki Hammad is very precise and measured in his words in my opinion but then he is not perfect so I can see that you may be getting confused. In addition, your confusion may also be coming from his interpolations and implied references to Islamic theology.

Please give us a report on what you think, later.

Thanks

[Scorpion]

I have the Yusuf Ali translation with commentaries, revised by amana publications.
I also have the M.M. Pickthall translation, and the penguin copy by N. J. Darwood.
I also have the Mariful quran in pdf format. I find the Mariful quran a bit of a struggle as it is so huge, and filled with commentaries. I can never find anything I read a second time.

But I have been told several times by Muslims that I cannot know what is in the quran unless I read it in the original Arabic. I did take a brief look at Arabic language studies but decided my brain is to old to absorb such a complicated new language just to read the quran. Besides you would still not be reading the original quranic texts, as they were in old Arabic which had no vowels.

[amr123]

Besides you would still not be reading the original quranic texts, as they were in old Arabic which had no vowels.

There is no change in the words or pronunciation. The vowels are an 'aid' for reading for non arabs.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

I have the Yusuf Ali translation with commentaries, revised by amana publications.
I also have the M.M. Pickthall translation, and the penguin copy by N. J. Darwood.
I also have the Mariful quran in pdf format. I find the Mariful quran a bit of a struggle as it is so huge, and filled with commentaries. I can never find anything I read a second time.

But I have been told several times by Muslims that I cannot know what is in the quran unless I read it in the original Arabic. I did take a brief look at Arabic language studies but decided my brain is to old to absorb such a complicated new language just to read the quran. Besides you would still not be reading the original quranic texts, as they were in old Arabic which had no vowels.

Hi Brother,

I agree that Mariful quran is not very well organised so you can read whichever one you find suitable. Please feel free to share your ideas with us as its alwas refreshing.

Thanks

[Maripat]

Hi Brother,

I agree that Mariful quran is not very well organised so you can read whichever one you find suitable. Please feel free to share your ideas with us as its alwas refreshing.

Thanks

May be we can make suggestion to Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahab (DB) for preparation of a comprehensive index for M'arif-ul-Qur'an. I suspect that in case of Ali Miyan (RA) his nephew Ghayasuddin Nadawi (RA) devoted enormous amount of energy just to prepare indices of his (Ali Miyan (RA)'s ) books.

I also find it a bit inconvenient that people quickly refer Ma'rif-ul-Qur'an to new comers and the converts.

[Colonel_Hardstone]

May be we can make suggestion to Mufti Taqi Usmani Sahab (DB) for preparation of a comprehensive index for M'arif-ul-Qur'an. I suspect that in case of Ali Miyan (RA) his nephew Ghayasuddin Nadawi (RA) devoted enormous amount of energy just to prepare indices of his (Ali Miyan (RA)'s ) books.

I also find it a bit inconvenient that people quickly refer Ma'rif-ul-Qur'an to new comers and the converts.

Tafaseer need to be updated with time and Shaykh (Mufti) Taqi Usmani (HA) has written his own mini-Tafseer.

http://www.azharacademy.com/scripts/...idproduct=2367

[TheEqualizer]

We'll buy you a copy

Im sure out of the hundreds of users reading this we can collect the 10 dollars for a book

If not ill cover the difference

we could send it to a public mailbox, so no user details need be advertised

[PouringRain]

We'll buy you a copy

Im sure out of the hundreds of users reading this we can collect the 10 dollars for a book

If not ill cover the difference

we could send it to a public mailbox, so no user details need be advertised

Thank you for the offer, and may you be blessed for yoru thoughtfulness and efforts, but it is already a done deal! Thank God, an individual has already given me not one, but two new Qur'an.... The Yusuf Ali translation, and a Pickthall translation. They arrived in the mail two days ago. I also downloaded the maarifulquran tafsir. When I finish my current read through of the Qur'an with the translation that I am currently reading, then I plan to read through again with the Yusuf Ali translation and the maarifulquran. (That will take me quite some time!)

[a.s.]

Thank you for the offer, and may you be blessed for yoru thoughtfulness and efforts, but it is already a done deal! Thank God, an individual has already given me not one, but two new Qur'an.... The Yusuf Ali translation, and a Pickthall translation. They arrived in the mail two days ago. I also downloaded the maarifulquran tafsir. When I finish my current read through of the Qur'an with the translation that I am currently reading, then I plan to read through again with the Yusuf Ali translation and the maarifulquran. (That will take me quite some time!)

Sister PouringRain, you have a lot on your plate! Happy reading!