The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics) Reissue Edition

This review will approach the work from three different perspectives. A scholarly review based on the translation. My own general reactions to the content of the Qur'an. And my analysis of the document as a Bible Believing Christian.SCHOLARLY REVIEWI very much appreciated the introduction. As a professor of biblical studies, I appreciated Haleem's discussion of issues relating to translation, interpretation in context, and exegesis. All of these things have parallels in my own field and were very helpful in understanding how different interpretations shape different Islamic perspectives. Haleel himself seems to embrace a more progressive form of Islam and uses context to challenge some more fundamentalist Muslim interpretations. I am sensitive to these kinds of concerns in my own faith, and I felt he made a good case for his views.While I cannot translate Arabic, I am very familiar with the challenges of translation due to my studies in Biblical Greek and Hebrew. I cannot speak to the accuracy of his translation, but I found the translation very readable. With his scholarly background, I suspect this is a very good translation from and linguistic perspective as well.GENERAL REACTIONSReading the Qur'an was a fascinating experience. Many non-Muslim westerners have the impression that it is all killing infidels and wife beating. This actually accounts for a very small portion of the text which many, like Haleem, would say need to be carefully contextualized. The document is primarily about devotion and submission to God. While I was not drawn into believing the Qur'an is of a divine inspiration, I can appreciate the zeal it represents.ANALYSIS AS A BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANMuch could be said here, but I will limit my discussion to two issues. First, what was missing most. The Qur'an says much about obedience and devotion. And it briefly mentions the need for the believer to love God. But it says nothing about God loving the believer. Reading the Qur'an, I did not find a God who loves His creation. He has expectations, but no love. Not stated anyway. I find this tragic, and my prayer is that Muslims may find a God who loves them by reading the Bible - the True Scriptures.From an apologetic perspective, one point stands out that, to me, proves the Qur'an could not have come by divine inspiration. Any scholar knows how wrong it is to misrepresent an opposing argument by creating a straw man. When the Qur'an attempts to refute the Trinity, it never comes close to describing the real doctrine of the Trinity. It suggests that Mary is part of the Trinity, which no Christian teacher I know of has ever held. Considering that this was written centuries after the Council of Nicaea, not to mention the New Testament, such a misrepresentation is difficult to fathom. In addition, the Qur'an consistently describes Trinitarian belief as involving "partner gods." The Trinity teaches One God who eternally exists in three persons, it does not teach multiple gods of partner gods. To disagree is one thing, but If God truly wanted to correct the Trinity, He would certainly describe the real doctrine rather than refuting a fabrication.I am very grateful for this fine English Translation, and very glad to have read the Qur'an. Having read it, I am more convinced than ever that the true God is the Trinitarian God of love found in the Christian Scriptures.

Wonderful modern-pros translation. I use this for an easy modern-read; YusufAli for spiritual insights; Muhammad Asad for transliteration and rational and classical opinions; and the Study Quran for a compilation of thoughts and commentary.Regarding the 2018 audio, mp3 CD version:Great clear translation and reader; audio has introductory material, but no footnotes.Having read the text-based book, I purchased the audio MP3 CD version. This is one of a few translations I recommend: the other is the 2015 Study Quran for its commentary; I myself am also partial to the older language of Pickthall.Favoring this translation, I wanted to see how an audio version is rendered. I am mostly not disappointed:It is read by an experienced reader with a British accent who also knows Arabic.The cd is divided into 117 files, one for the introduction (same as the one that appears in the text, but without the map), a separate file for each of the surahs/chapters, a brilliance audio blurb, and a xml file listing the contents. ON the cd, the chapters are marked by number and not named; the audio calls them by their number and English name only. In total, the book is on 2 CDs with 117 files, totaling about 794 megabytes. It comes in a good cd case, like one for DVDs; both CDs are side-by-side, with the second/rightmost somewhat underneath the first.Though I am happy with the text, the audio version sadly does not contain the footnotes found in the print edition; it would have been good to put them at the end of each file. But the footnotes are few in the original text. So, for the casual reader, perhaps little is lost. (I still wish they were included!) Each file does contain the introduction to the surah/chapter found in the print edition.I quite like the narrator’s voice (Ayman): male, clear, skilled, well-inflected, with a British accent, and interested in reading the contents.I recommend this audio version for anyone who wants to listen to this translation; and I recommend this translation for its clear, modern, elegantly eloquent pros.The introduction, and its audio file, address the topics of:The Life of Muhammad and the Historical Background,The Revelation of the QuranThe Compilation of the Quran,The Structure of the Quran: Suras and Ayas,Stylistic Features,Issues of InterpretationA Short History of English Translations, andThis Translation.The portions not in the audio are:A Chronology of the Quran,Select Bibliography, andthe Map of Arabia at the Time of the Revelation.The Fatiha (Opening chapter) reads in the translation as follows.1. THE OPENINGThis sura is seen to be a precise table of contents of the Quranic message. It is very important in Islamic worship, being an obligatory part of the daily prayer, repeated several times during the day.1 In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, a the Giverb of Mercy! c 2 Praise belongs to God, Lordd of the Worlds, e 3 the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy, 4 Master of the Day of Judgement. 5 It is You we worship; it is You we ask for help. 6 Guide us to the straight path: 7 the path of those You have blessed, those who incur no angerf and who have not gone astray.The footnotes (not in the audio) are:a Most occurrences of this term rahman in the Quran are in the context of Him being mighty and majestic as well as merciful. The addition of the word ‘Lord’ here is intended to convey this aspect of the term.b This term rahim is an intensive form suggesting that the quality of giving mercy is inherent in God’s nature.c This is the only instance where this formula, present at the start of every sura but one, is counted as the first numbered verse.d The Arabic root r-b-b has connotations of caring and nurturing in addition to lordship, and this should be borne in mind wherever the term occurs and is rendered ‘lord’.e Al- alamin in Arabic means all the worlds, of mankind, angels, animals, plants, this world, the next, and so forth.f Note that the verb here is not attributed to God.Salam/peace.

I’m giving 5 starts because it’s the Quran and seems to be translated well from a quick scan. I just don’t understand why it came banged up. The packaging and delivery was fine.

This translation is the best for English that I’ve ever read.No other translation have I been able to effortlessly complete Surah Baqarah in one sitting.The flow and linguistics are immaculate and as described in the introduction.The often archaic wording of translations that feel confusing and convoluted is all but gone.This translation is a favor from Allah for the English reader. Alhamdulillah