How many different translations are there of Quran?

Question

I intend to read it. I'd like to find out how many translations there were in English.

Are there different version of Quran? Don't Shia and Sunni have different versions of Quran?

I meant how many English translation versions are there.

And how many pages are there in Quran approximately?

I'd like a recomendation from a mainstream western muslims. I'm sencere in my inquiry.

Thank you Kimo

Answer 1

This site contains 13 translations .. you can view them all side by side:

http://www.answering-christianity.com/quran_search.htm

However, the best and most recent translations are
Sahih International translation:
http://www.islambasics.com/view.php?bkID=120&chapter=0
Muhammad Asad translation:
http://www.geocities.com/masad02/

And for interpretation:
http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3138&Itemid=573

In this site you can listen to recitation while reading the translation:
http://www.islamicity.com/MOSQUE/ARABICSCRIPT/AYAT/98/98_1.htm

Answer 2

If one is genuinely interested in translated Quran, the following advise may help. Stay clear of the following English translations for various reasons and degrees of bias. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Muhammad Muhsin Khan, commissioned by the Saudi Rulers and both the gentlemen were handsomely rewarded for towing the ruler's line, the following three gentlemen are guilty of religious bias to put it mildly, Dawood, George Sale and John M Rodwell. Be cautious with both Maulana Ali and Rashad Khalifa because of the later-day Messenger claims. Cautious with Shakir' translation because almost nothing is known about him. A new translation by Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar, a first by a women is still under scrutiny but promising or at least it give a woman's perspective and so is Abdel Haleem's recent effort, even though it is limiting in its interpretation because of the heavy reliance on Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, thus giving it a dated feel. I just want to add one more promising effort that of Tarif Khalidi, professor of Islamic studies at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. In fact except for a handful of key words (less than 50) that have been twisted by the enemies of Islam, most translation are Ok and it is very easy to research them through the well compiled Arabic dictionaries. Be very careful with all the traditional tafsirs like Ibn Kathir, they are full of glaring blunders of interpretations. Just concentrate on the Quran to start with, tackle the issue of Ahadith (sayings of the messenger) in light of the Quran and not the other way around.

Answer 3

Sincerely, there is only one version of the Quran, and it is in Arabic. Translations exists as a study aid, but hold no religious value, as prayers in anything but Arab are not acceptable. Its binding force for the Umma is partially linguistic - all muslims must know Arabic. If you want to become a muslim, you will need to study Arabic.

It makes some sense if you realize just how many mistranslations (or at least dubious translations) there are in the bible. Of course, the NT was already written in several languages, so it was never an option to keep it in the "original".

Answer 4

The simple fact is that translations of the Qur'an don't exist, never have, and never will!!

What I'm saying is that all existing "translations" of the Qur'an should be referred to as "Interpretations", because once you change the language of the Arabic text of the Holy Qur'an, you have automatically begun the process of interpretation, whether you know it or not.

However, many people use the word "translation" to refer to this language-dependent interpretation of the Qur'an.

I would encourage you to get a Qur'an in English that includes "tafsir" or explanations. That way, you don't have to add your own assumptions of what a particular verse means, but begin with how scholars have interpreted the verse.

I have at least 6 English translations, and I don't like any of them. I particularly don't like the ones that have old English text "thou, thy, thine...etc". The ones with the modern translations are a little better, but even they have interpretational errors every now and then...

So, I guess you'll have to find one that you are most comfortable with. Amazon has a good selection. Just type the word "Qur'an" and search.

Answer 5

There are translations of the Quran in almost every language out there. If you find a place where they sell the regular Quran in Arabic, you will most likely find English versions as well
(there are more than one).

Answer 6

Don't worry about Suni and Shia having different translations (I don't think they do) because quran 6:159 says do not divide into sects, have no part in them.
the Yusuf Ali translation is the most widely read in english, but there are also tarike tarsile, george Gale's translation, Maulvi Muhammad Ali, Jim rodwell, E.H. Palter, and more.

423 pages in my Yusuf Ali translation., 459 in my tarique tarsile, I am a western revert, 5 years.

the person below me recommends getting commentary and explanations from a scholar.... I don't, because Allah has given us brains to use and he says His book is complete and easy to understand (let God guide your understanding, not a man)
6: 114-116
"Shall I seek OTHER THAN THE GOD as a source of law, when He has revealed THIS BOOK FULLY DETAILED? ....The word of your Lord is COMPLETE, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His words; He is the hearer, the omniscient. Yet, if you obey the majority of people, they will take you away from the path of The God. That is because they follow CONJECTURE, and they FAIL TO THINK." (Quran, 6:114-116)

Answer 7

Apparently it is very problematic to translate due to the various interpretations of Arabic into other languages.

Here is a website where you can choose several English translations:
http://www.guidedways.com/list.php

Here is a site that gives several English translations side-by-side http://majalla.org/books/quran/

Answer 8

There are several translations but the Arabic is the same in all translations. I recommend Yusuf Ali and I pray that you do read the Quran

Answer 9

the literal answer is "none"

if it's translated from the original Arabic, it's no longer a Quran


(but i've always heard that Burton's English translation was beautifully poetic)

Answer 10

Muslims consider translations as commentaries.