Muslims: Which of these three English translations of the Koran is the best?

Question

I'm considering doing an audio version of the Koran in English for LibriVox.org. I want it to be as widely available as possible, so I do not want to do the Shakir or Ali translation, because it's not public domain in many countries outside the U.S.. The three other ones I know about are the Pickthall, Rodwell, and Sale translations. Which of these are the best?

Answer 1

Shakir or Ali are not bad, Picktall is the best but the language is old, I am not sure about the other two. There is also AJ Arberrys and Thomas cleary that might be worth a look.

So either Arberry, Cleary or Picktall

Answer 2

"retained the message while translated", Jesus Son of Mary, spoke Aramaic, the present English bible come comes the Greek version. collectively as, i'm particular there have been many religious people who tried there best, to deliver the unique message, how are you able to try this if the unique no longer exists? as quickly as you translate something right into a various language, particularly in the experience that your going from thoroughly diverse scripts, and grammar structures, it is extremely puzzling to get one hundred% meaning. it is from an academic, and scholarly attitude. however the reliable information is there are Intepretations of the Qu'ran in English. I even have study 2 thoroughly. the 1st via Marmaduke Pickthall, it wad previous English and gave me a astounding understand-how. the best one I even have study on suggestion is thru Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. He writes little 'warning' till now his translation/interpretation Please endure in techniques ANY translation (interpretation) of the Qur.aan will maximum incredibly comprise blunders. In its organic language (Arabic), the Qur.aan is the direct be conscious of Allaah (God) to mankind interior the direction of the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Any translation of the Qur.aan no longer keeps that 'professional' and suitable status, inspite of the incontrovertible fact that it is extraordinarily powerful to beginning up scholars desirous to learn greater approximately Islaam. we would strongly motivate those want to learn approximately Islaam to purchase a hardcopy of the Qur.aan yet with here situations: l get one with fact (tafseer) l make certain the tafseer is scholarly (e.g. references to motives in the back of a verse, references to hadith and sunnah, and so on.) And please, its the Qu'ran and have been Muslims. no longer Koran and Moslems, thank you ;) Any questions you have do no longer hesitate to touch me.

Answer 3

Have only heard about Pikthals and Ali's traslation, Since Pikthals is most commonly known you should better go for that option. About understanding Quran i would tell the one who read it in dark and didnt got anything out of it. how much time do you require for understanding Engineering? What do you mean by 16 years of education? why dont you sit in your home and pick up medical books to become a doctor? so in order to understand Quran you better go and sit infront of teachers to let you know what it means. To explain properly only the first verse, Bismillah Arahman Araheem, scholars have written books of 7 and 8 volumes consisting of thousands of pages and you thinks its a joke to understand Divine revelation.

Answer 4

I am not familiar with most of the translations you note, except that Pickthall is well known. Personally, I use Ali, which I consider to be well done -- if any work of fiction can be considered to be well done.

Answer 5

I prefer the Ali translation, personally.

Answer 6

My favorite way to read the Quran is to turn off all the lights so that I cannot see even my hand in front of my face, and then open the book and sit with it in the dark.
Seriously the Quran is the most confusing and era-concentric so-called "holy" book there is. It makes the Bible look like light reading.
I have read the Quran many times and still I can make no particular logic of sense out of it beyond the fact that it records Muhammad's struggles against the various tribes in Arabia, and describes his revelations from Archangel Gabriel much in the same way that Mormon founder Joseph Smith claimed visits from the Angel Moroni. Example: if someone offends Muhammad (or Joseph Smith) lo and behold, that night or soon affterwards God will instruct "His prophet" to punish or otherwise penalize this offender.
Other than that it is a mishmash of stuff borrowed from all the world's other holy books such as the Christian New Testament and the Talmud as well as others. If you study Quran looking for hidden meanings you will find many but most of these supposed mysteries are imaginary. I think the best use of this outdated and virtually useless book is to burn it and sit down and contemplate the warmth of the fire while praying to Allah for the wisdom to think for yourself.
if you would like more unorthodox Sufi viewpoints look for the book, "Imaginary Muslims : the Uwaysi Sufis of Central Asia"
by Julian Baldick. I think you'll find it much better reading than the Quran

Answer 7

i don't know alot about the Quran good translated books , but wish that helps another Quran translation :
http://www.islam-guide.com/cgi-bin/goto.cgi?http://store.yahoo.com/islamicbookstore-com/b5269.html

Note that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic only. So, any Quranic translation, either in English or any other language, is neither a Quran, nor a version of the Quran, but rather it is only a translation of the meaning of the Quran. The Quran exists only in the Arabic in which it was revealed.

Answer 8

I prefer Yusuf Ali
but I think you should learn Arabic to Understand Quran more and More
you will understand what I mean when you read it in Arabic The miracle in our hands

Answer 9

The Holy Qurran itself can't be translated but its meaning. You should say interpretation of the Meaning of Qurran.
The best I think is Ali.
This site will help you a lot...it contains an audio interpretation of the meaning of Qurran and much more...:
http://www.quranexplorer.com/quran/

Good Luck

Answer 10

I like Muhammad Asad translation and commentary. But I also read Pickthall, and also Ali.

Thanks for asking.