Reddit reviews The Koran Interpreted: A Translation

I speak Arabic and own about 7 translations.

My favorite without a doubt is the translation of Leopold Weiss (Muhammad Asad), you can find it here

After that the best translation is the one by Marmaduke Pickthall, that is here

Then Arberry's translation, I believe he was a non-Muslim and I like that fact, that is here

I would rate Yusuf Ali's translation after these, but not too much worse than Arberry or Pickthall.

Still Muhammad Asad's translation stands head and shoulders above the rest for me.


Other great books that I would possibly even read first are:

Mustansir Mir's Coherence in the Quran

Rosalind Gwynne's Logic, Rhetoric, & Legal Reasoning in the Quran

I too am an English speaker, and read translations primarily. I hope to learn Arabic, Insha Allah, that I may read Qur'an in the original language. Not only do I believe it has more benefits (per se), but I understand that the miracle of Qur'an is only ascertained when read in Arabic. This is because it is the most illustrious and multifaceted example of Arabic poetry (which in itself is complex, I'm sure).

So, I would suggest definitely trying to learn Arabic. Continue reading translations as well though, as Allah (swt) surely speaks to us through His Word according to the knowledge we have, and what we have available.

An english translation that best exhibits the poetic nature of the Qur'an is the classic translation by Arthur J. Arberry. This version has received a lot of good commentary on both sides.

Try Prof Arberry's if you have a sense of the poetic power and beauty of the qur'an. Here is a sample from the surah waqia (he chose to translate as "the Terror " !) .. otherwise, I would maintain that all translations are just a drop in the ocean.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Koran-Interpreted-A-Translation/dp/0684825074

When the Terror descends,

(and none denies its descending),

abasing, exalting.

When the earth shall be rocked,

and the mountains crumbled,

and becomes dust, scattered.

And you shall be three bands,

Companions of the Right (O Companions of the Right!)

Companions of the Left (O Companions of the Left!)

and the Outstrippers; the Outstrippers.

Those are they brought nigh the Throne,

in the Gardens of Delight,

(a throng of the ancients,

and how few of the later folk)..