To all Muslims: You persistently closed your mind to this promise of the Resurrection!

[Guest guest]

>

> i am also stunned that the Quran prophesied that those who have

> knowledge and faith of the Resurrection will remind Muslims

> (Christians and Jews) about this Great Event, and that despite its

> declaration they persistently closed their mind to this promise,

> determined not to know about the General Resurrection and eternal

> afterlife as the spirit! That is the true translation of:

>

> Waqala allatheena ootoo alAAilma waal-eemana laqad labithtum fee

> kitabi Allahi ila yawmi albaAAthi fahatha yawmu albaAAthi

> walakinnakum kuntum la taAAlamoona (Al-Rum 30:56)

>

> Asad:

> But those who [in their lifetime] were endowed with knowledge [see

> the last note on 16:27.] and faith will say: " Indeed, you have been

> tardy in [accepting as true] what God has revealed, [Lit., " with

> regard to (fi) God's revelation (kitab) " , i.e., that the dead shall

> be resurrected and judged by Him. It is to be noted that the verb

> labitha signifies " he waited [for something] or he was tardy [with

> regard to something] " as well as " he stayed [in a place] " or " he

> remained " . Evidently, in verse 55 ma labithu has the meaning of

> " they had not stayed " or " remained " , while in verse 56 labithtum

> denotes " you have been tardy " or " you have waited " .] [and you have

> waited] until the Day of Resurrection: this, then, is the Day of

> Resurrection: but you - you were determined not to know it!

> [Lit., " you were wont not to know " - i.e., " you persistently closed

> your mind to this promise " .] (Al-Rum 30:56)

> [Please note that Asad is referring to the unbelievers/transgressors

> /guilty in verse 55 and the believers of Resurrection in verse 56.]

>

> 030.055-56

> YUSUF ALI: On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning) will be

> established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but

> an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!

> But those endued with knowledge and faith will say:

> " Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the Day of

> Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye - ye were

> not aware! "

>

 

This is the first time i have come across the true translation of Al-

Rum 30:56. Only now is it possible to warn Muslims directly that " you

were wont not to know " - i.e., " you persistently closed your mind to

this promise " of the Resurrection. Earlier, all one could say is that

" this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye - ye were not aware! "

 

The difference between both translations are telling. Muhammad Asad's

is much more clear and truthful as it warns of a wilful and deliberate

rejection by Muslims (Christians and Jews) of the Great News and

promise of the Resurrection.

 

i have Yusuf Ali's translation but now it is apparent that his work

is not on par. Asad's translation of Al-Rum 30:56 is indeed a

breathtaking revelation, but only to " those who [in their lifetime]

were endowed with knowledge and faith " of the present Resurrection

taking place. Since he has extensive footnotes in his book " The

Message of The Qur'an " i ordered it right away. i hope to use his

notes for www.al-qiyamah.org as Allah (SWT) exhorts the believers of

the Resurrection to use the Qur'an to admonish and warn:

 

By the Glorious Quran

But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among

themselves. So the Unbelievers say: " This is a wonderful thing!

" What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a

(sort of) return far (from our understanding) " ...

We know best what they say;

And thou are not one to overawe them by force.

So admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning!

 

surah 50:1-3,45 (Qaf)

(Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an, Amana Corporation, 1989.)

 

Other than Muslims who else can you admonish with the Qur'an such as

fear His Warning that the Resurrection has begun? Who else but to the

disbelieving ulema can you say: " You persistently closed your mind to

this promise " (of the Resurrection)?

 

That is exactly what is being done on the forum and sites. Muhammad

Asad's scholarly work will only make it easier. From the Amazon.com

Customer Reviews i know i will not be disappointed as the 1200-page

" The Message of The Qur'an " is highly praised:

 

Absolutely the best!, October 22, 2005

By Architect

 

Wow!! I just finished reading The Message of The Qur'an and am blown

away by the amazing quality of this translation. It took Muhammad

Asad 17 years to produce this work, and it shows in the depth of the

translation, notes and appendices. He has an incredible talent for

taking any obscure passage and explaining its meaning and

significance in a plausible, logical, and moderate way. This edition

contains extensive footnotes, with liberal alternative explanations

of key passages from other leading Islamic scholars. Every surah also

has a brief introduction into the historical context and/or the

significance of the revelation. This is BY FAR the best translation

I've read, and has given me a greater depth and understanding of the

Qur'an than I've ever had. If you want to learn more about the

Qur'an, I'd highly recommend this edition to anyone.

 

 

The spirit of the Quran..., January 15, 2002

By A. Ort " aorto " (Youngstown, Ohio)

 

This review is from: The Message of the Quran (Hardcover)

....from a western point of view. I was astounded upon reading this

translation. I continue to revisit. Rather than doing a literal

translation as many author translators do (Pickthall, Ali, etc.),

Asad seeks the true 'spirit' of the Quran. This is not to say he

strays from the letter (at least not that I am aware of) but to say

that he wants the deeper and truer meaning of the words to come

through.

 

It is said that there are seven layers of meaning to every verse of

the Quran. Asad is seeking this depth in his translation.

 

The extensive commentaries are remarkable and the insight he provides

as a scholar on some of the verses do differ quite a bit from the

more 'common' understandings but I firmly believe they are more in

the 'spirit' of Islam and less influenced from the outside than many

translations and subsequent commentaries such as Ali's.

 

While Pickthall and Ali are quite literal in their interpretation, by

remaining so close to the text, something is often missed. And unless

one knows Arabic and is familiar with how the various verses, as a

whole, are understood in the light of the Sunnah of the Prophet, the

Quran, in English, can be a challenging text, especially from a

Western point of view.

 

Asad's translation bridges this gap quite well and continued to leave

me baffled as the Islam I thought I had come to know appeared much

brighter in his translation.

 

 

The Best Translation I've read, September 2, 2008

By Superwizard (Stanford Ca)

 

Last year I was looking for a translation of the Quran that was both

faithful to its spirit and yet still clear. I read many different

translations and unfortunately I found them all unsatisfactory. They

either used confusing archaic language, translated in an extremely

partial way (without even noting where interpolations were used!) or

else translated in such simple language that much of the spirit of

the Quran was lost. Luckily one of my friends recommended this

translation and from the first moment I read it I knew that it fit my

needs exactly. I definitely recommend this translation for everyone.

 

 

A wonderful translation for non-Muslims and Muslims alike, June 14,

2003

By Sinan (Westborough, MA United States)

 

This review is from: Message of the Quran (Paperback)

I have read the translations by Yusuf Ali, Arberry, and Dawood.

Muhammad Asad's translation and interpretations stands above all. It

is the Quran translation I reccomend to non-Muslims to get a true (in

my view) understanding of Islam.

 

I am an American born Muslim (Pakistani descent). I have been raised

here, and schooled here, and so have a western perspective of events

and history. What I like about Asad's translation is that it is

written by a " westerner, " who was formerly a Viennese Jew. As such,

he carries the gestalt of the West (rationalism, the Enlightenment,

evolution, etc.).

 

In contrast, Yusuf Ali, carries a certain cultural baggage derived

from his experiences in India. The effects of British colonialism

probably colored his world view, and my recollection (I read his

translation many years ago) is that this coloring displays itself in

his translation. I guess I would characterize his translation and

commentary consistent with liberation theology-which is fine, but is

of a certain view that many in the West may not identify.

 

Asad's translation and commentary, on the other hand, incorporates

many of our modern understandings of the world into his explanation.

So for example, evolution is considered a natural process operating

as part of the ordered universe just as the laws of gravity,

electricity, etc. These are the signs of God, that Muslims are

required to believe. Many Muslims who are not from the West, cannot

reconcile modern understandings of science with faith. Just like the

fundamentalist Christian community, they cannot integrate evolution

(and its theological ramifications) into their faith (as a corollary,

it is worthy to note that many scientists-call them darwinian

fundamentalist- cannot integrate religion into science). In Islam,

there is no separation between science and religion. All of your

actions in physical reality are part of your Islam, and an expression

of your religious faith. Obtaining knowledge through science is also

part of your submission to God's will-your Islam. Asad's

interpretation repeatedly affirms this.

 

Asad's explanations and commentary are illuminating. He explains

phenomenon, like miracles, in a way that don't require the reader to

suspend his belief in the normal physical laws of daily experience.

You are not required to believe in phenomenon that run contrary to

objective experience. For example, in the Bible, Jesus is said to

have healed the blind and raised the dead to the living. Ordinary

experience tells us that physically these things are impossible, but

you are required to have faith that these suspended laws of physical

reality actually occurred. Asad's explanation is that in Islam,

people who are closed to the God's spiritual message as relayed

through the prophets, are blind to the obvious truth of God. They are

spiritually dead. Jesus's miracle, was to pass his grace onto his

followers, and make those whose hearts were hardened against God

(blind and spiritually dead), to see the truth and to become

spiritually alive. I find this explanation much more satisfactory

than having to believe in a miracle. The explanation is far more

simple and straightforward.

 

I highly recommend reading the Asad translation in conjunction with

William Chittick's book Visions of Islam, and the Self-Disclosure of

God, to really appreciate the sublime spirituality inhering to Islam.

To my mind, it bestows on the reader how your conduct today carries

with it spiritual and metaphysical dimensions.

 

In this post 9/11 world, where every " expert " on Islam opines on the

violent nature of Islam as revealed through Quran, Asad's translation

dispels these absurdities. Extremists in the Islamic world and the

Western world would do well to read this, as well. For all reasonable

people seeking to truly understand what Islam is about, read Asad's

translation over any other.

 

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you?

 

 

The Best Interpretation I've Read....., August 13, 2008

By Joey J. (Savannah, GA USA)

 

Amazon as usual was able to give me this beautiful Qur'an that

honestly is the best interpretation I have ever read. Though rare,

this translation has been touted as the best english approximation to

the Arabic that has been written. I have to agree. Even the pages are

decoratated with beautiful calligraphy that truly accentuates the

already present beauty within the pages of this translation. I am

very excited to be reading it. Thank You and God Bless!!

 

 

Unsurpassed English Interpretation, June 18, 2007

By Magus " Magus " (NE ME)

 

Just a short review as others have expressed better than I the

unsurpassed job of interpretation of the Holy Qur'an into English

which Asad was able to achieve - his interpretation and footnotes are

far, far better than any before.

 

The layout of the book is also a gift to those who are learning

Qur'anic Arabic: with English, Arabic, and a transliteration on one

page (along with the all-enompassing guide to pronouncing the

transliteration) Asad has provided a powerful tool to those who are

students of Arabic.

 

A wonderful, wonderful work. The best interpretation of the Holy

Qur'an in English that I've read, and a book of beauty printed on

fine paper and with exceptional typography. This should be the

standard text for all English speaking Muslims as well as any English

speaking person desiring to raed the Qur'an in the very best

interpretation.

 

 

The best translation for non-Arabic readers, November 5, 2006

By Margaret Williams " Tome Raider " (Los Angeles, CA United States)

 

If you're sincerely after an understanding of the Qu'ran, either

learn Arabic and read it (translations are not technically " The

Qu'ran " ), or buy this book! Like many of the translators of the

Qu'ran, Asad was not born into the religion and was not a native

speaker, but unlike the rest, he spent many years living among the

Bedouin who are the only ones still speaking the Arabic in which the

Qu'ran was written down. Modern Arabic is taught in schools and

spoken by millions, but many of the words in the Qu'ran have fallen

out of common usage, so even the best of scholars may almost be

forgiven for not always getting it quite right. But in translatin the

Qu'ran, it HAS to be right. The multiple meanings of the original

words of the Qu'ran make faulty translations and confusion altogether

too prevalent for Western readers. Asad was born a Polish Jew who

discovered Islam and spent most of his life researching Qu'ranic

language. He became a highly respected scholar, even in the Islamic

world. He was a close friend of King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud), a

confidant of the Indian poet Iqbal, and was appointed to represent

Pakistan to the United Nations after India's partition. His

translation and abundant footnotes are invaluable to anyone who is

really looking to penetrate this 1400 year-old text. The Prologue by

the English Islamic scholar Charles Le Gai Eaton is fascinating, the

footnotes are a joy to read and extremely helpful in understanding

the nuances of the words and context in which the verses were brought

forth, and the book itself, with its gorgeous insertions of

calligraphic art, is beautiful to look at. In many footnotes, Asad

compares his own translations to that of Pickthall and several other

translators and explains his choices and leaves the decision to the

reader to accept or reject them. I never enjoyed reading

introductions or footnotes until I got Asad's book. It's not exactly

portable, since the original Arabic, as well as transliterations are

presented along with the English, but it's worth its weight in gold.

If you're trying to get an idea of what the Qu'ran is all about, this

is the one for you.

 

 

Best Translation of the Qur'an I've read, January 22, 2002

By A Customer

 

This review is from: The Message of the Quran (Hardcover)

I have five different translations of the Qur'an at home, and this is

the best in conveying the meaning of the Qur'an. The poetry and

rhythm of the Qur'an is absent here, and Asad himself says that he

makes no attempt to try to capture that at all. So in reading this,

realize that the real Qur'an is in unmetered verse, often rhyming,

and thrilling in its accents. But if you want the meaning of the

verses, this is excellent. It's modern, easy to read, reasonable and

scholarly in its explanatory footnotes, and it makes more sense to

the modern Western mind than any other translation. In contrast to

Dawood's translation (by far the worst), Asad tells you not only the

meaning of the words, but the context, and the way the verse should

be read against the background of the entire Qur'an. It's expensive,

but really really worth getting.

[Guest guest]

Dear Jagbir and all,

 

This is fantastic that you have found Muhammad Assad's translation which is a

more clear and truthful translation. It is already making a difference in

understanding.

 

warmest regards,

 

violet

 

 

, " jagbir singh "

<adishakti_org wrote:

>

> >

> > i am also stunned that the Quran prophesied that those who have

> > knowledge and faith of the Resurrection will remind Muslims

> > (Christians and Jews) about this Great Event, and that despite its

> > declaration they persistently closed their mind to this promise,

> > determined not to know about the General Resurrection and eternal

> > afterlife as the spirit! That is the true translation of:

> >

> > Waqala allatheena ootoo alAAilma waal-eemana laqad labithtum fee

> > kitabi Allahi ila yawmi albaAAthi fahatha yawmu albaAAthi

> > walakinnakum kuntum la taAAlamoona (Al-Rum 30:56)

> >

> > Asad:

> > But those who [in their lifetime] were endowed with knowledge [see

> > the last note on 16:27.] and faith will say: " Indeed, you have been

> > tardy in [accepting as true] what God has revealed, [Lit., " with

> > regard to (fi) God's revelation (kitab) " , i.e., that the dead shall

> > be resurrected and judged by Him. It is to be noted that the verb

> > labitha signifies " he waited [for something] or he was tardy [with

> > regard to something] " as well as " he stayed [in a place] " or " he

> > remained " . Evidently, in verse 55 ma labithu has the meaning of

> > " they had not stayed " or " remained " , while in verse 56 labithtum

> > denotes " you have been tardy " or " you have waited " .] [and you have

> > waited] until the Day of Resurrection: this, then, is the Day of

> > Resurrection: but you - you were determined not to know it!

> > [Lit., " you were wont not to know " - i.e., " you persistently closed

> > your mind to this promise " .] (Al-Rum 30:56)

> > [Please note that Asad is referring to the unbelievers/transgressors

> > /guilty in verse 55 and the believers of Resurrection in verse 56.]

> >

> > 030.055-56

> > YUSUF ALI: On the Day that the Hour (of Reckoning) will be

> > established, the transgressors will swear that they tarried not but

> > an hour: thus were they used to being deluded!

> > But those endued with knowledge and faith will say:

> > " Indeed ye did tarry, within Allah's Decree, to the Day of

> > Resurrection, and this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye - ye were

> > not aware! "

> >

>

> This is the first time i have come across the true translation of Al-

> Rum 30:56. Only now is it possible to warn Muslims directly that " you

> were wont not to know " - i.e., " you persistently closed your mind to

> this promise " of the Resurrection. Earlier, all one could say is that

> " this is the Day of Resurrection: but ye - ye were not aware! "

>

> The difference between both translations are telling. Muhammad Asad's

> is much more clear and truthful as it warns of a wilful and deliberate

> rejection by Muslims (Christians and Jews) of the Great News and

> promise of the Resurrection.

>

> i have Yusuf Ali's translation but now it is apparent that his work

> is not on par. Asad's translation of Al-Rum 30:56 is indeed a

> breathtaking revelation, but only to " those who [in their lifetime]

> were endowed with knowledge and faith " of the present Resurrection

> taking place. Since he has extensive footnotes in his book " The

> Message of The Qur'an " i ordered it right away. i hope to use his

> notes for www.al-qiyamah.org as Allah (SWT) exhorts the believers of

> the Resurrection to use the Qur'an to admonish and warn:

>

> By the Glorious Quran

> But they wonder that there has come to them a warner from among

> themselves. So the Unbelievers say: " This is a wonderful thing!

> " What! When we die and become dust, (shall we live again?) That is a

> (sort of) return far (from our understanding) " ...

> We know best what they say;

> And thou are not one to overawe them by force.

> So admonish with the Qur'an such as fear My Warning!

>

> surah 50:1-3,45 (Qaf)

> (Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur'an, Amana Corporation, 1989.)

>

> Other than Muslims who else can you admonish with the Qur'an such as

> fear His Warning that the Resurrection has begun? Who else but to the

> disbelieving ulema can you say: " You persistently closed your mind to

> this promise " (of the Resurrection)?

>

> That is exactly what is being done on the forum and sites. Muhammad

> Asad's scholarly work will only make it easier. From the Amazon.com

> Customer Reviews i know i will not be disappointed as the 1200-page

> " The Message of The Qur'an " is highly praised:

>

> Absolutely the best!, October 22, 2005

> By Architect

>

> Wow!! I just finished reading The Message of The Qur'an and am blown

> away by the amazing quality of this translation. It took Muhammad

> Asad 17 years to produce this work, and it shows in the depth of the

> translation, notes and appendices. He has an incredible talent for

> taking any obscure passage and explaining its meaning and

> significance in a plausible, logical, and moderate way. This edition

> contains extensive footnotes, with liberal alternative explanations

> of key passages from other leading Islamic scholars. Every surah also

> has a brief introduction into the historical context and/or the

> significance of the revelation. This is BY FAR the best translation

> I've read, and has given me a greater depth and understanding of the

> Qur'an than I've ever had. If you want to learn more about the

> Qur'an, I'd highly recommend this edition to anyone.

>

>

> The spirit of the Quran..., January 15, 2002

> By A. Ort " aorto " (Youngstown, Ohio)

>

> This review is from: The Message of the Quran (Hardcover)

> ...from a western point of view. I was astounded upon reading this

> translation. I continue to revisit. Rather than doing a literal

> translation as many author translators do (Pickthall, Ali, etc.),

> Asad seeks the true 'spirit' of the Quran. This is not to say he

> strays from the letter (at least not that I am aware of) but to say

> that he wants the deeper and truer meaning of the words to come

> through.

>

> It is said that there are seven layers of meaning to every verse of

> the Quran. Asad is seeking this depth in his translation.

>

> The extensive commentaries are remarkable and the insight he provides

> as a scholar on some of the verses do differ quite a bit from the

> more 'common' understandings but I firmly believe they are more in

> the 'spirit' of Islam and less influenced from the outside than many

> translations and subsequent commentaries such as Ali's.

>

> While Pickthall and Ali are quite literal in their interpretation, by

> remaining so close to the text, something is often missed. And unless

> one knows Arabic and is familiar with how the various verses, as a

> whole, are understood in the light of the Sunnah of the Prophet, the

> Quran, in English, can be a challenging text, especially from a

> Western point of view.

>

> Asad's translation bridges this gap quite well and continued to leave

> me baffled as the Islam I thought I had come to know appeared much

> brighter in his translation.

>

>

> The Best Translation I've read, September 2, 2008

> By Superwizard (Stanford Ca)

>

> Last year I was looking for a translation of the Quran that was both

> faithful to its spirit and yet still clear. I read many different

> translations and unfortunately I found them all unsatisfactory. They

> either used confusing archaic language, translated in an extremely

> partial way (without even noting where interpolations were used!) or

> else translated in such simple language that much of the spirit of

> the Quran was lost. Luckily one of my friends recommended this

> translation and from the first moment I read it I knew that it fit my

> needs exactly. I definitely recommend this translation for everyone.

>

>

> A wonderful translation for non-Muslims and Muslims alike, June 14,

> 2003

> By Sinan (Westborough, MA United States)

>

> This review is from: Message of the Quran (Paperback)

> I have read the translations by Yusuf Ali, Arberry, and Dawood.

> Muhammad Asad's translation and interpretations stands above all. It

> is the Quran translation I reccomend to non-Muslims to get a true (in

> my view) understanding of Islam.

>

> I am an American born Muslim (Pakistani descent). I have been raised

> here, and schooled here, and so have a western perspective of events

> and history. What I like about Asad's translation is that it is

> written by a " westerner, " who was formerly a Viennese Jew. As such,

> he carries the gestalt of the West (rationalism, the Enlightenment,

> evolution, etc.).

>

> In contrast, Yusuf Ali, carries a certain cultural baggage derived

> from his experiences in India. The effects of British colonialism

> probably colored his world view, and my recollection (I read his

> translation many years ago) is that this coloring displays itself in

> his translation. I guess I would characterize his translation and

> commentary consistent with liberation theology-which is fine, but is

> of a certain view that many in the West may not identify.

>

> Asad's translation and commentary, on the other hand, incorporates

> many of our modern understandings of the world into his explanation.

> So for example, evolution is considered a natural process operating

> as part of the ordered universe just as the laws of gravity,

> electricity, etc. These are the signs of God, that Muslims are

> required to believe. Many Muslims who are not from the West, cannot

> reconcile modern understandings of science with faith. Just like the

> fundamentalist Christian community, they cannot integrate evolution

> (and its theological ramifications) into their faith (as a corollary,

> it is worthy to note that many scientists-call them darwinian

> fundamentalist- cannot integrate religion into science). In Islam,

> there is no separation between science and religion. All of your

> actions in physical reality are part of your Islam, and an expression

> of your religious faith. Obtaining knowledge through science is also

> part of your submission to God's will-your Islam. Asad's

> interpretation repeatedly affirms this.

>

> Asad's explanations and commentary are illuminating. He explains

> phenomenon, like miracles, in a way that don't require the reader to

> suspend his belief in the normal physical laws of daily experience.

> You are not required to believe in phenomenon that run contrary to

> objective experience. For example, in the Bible, Jesus is said to

> have healed the blind and raised the dead to the living. Ordinary

> experience tells us that physically these things are impossible, but

> you are required to have faith that these suspended laws of physical

> reality actually occurred. Asad's explanation is that in Islam,

> people who are closed to the God's spiritual message as relayed

> through the prophets, are blind to the obvious truth of God. They are

> spiritually dead. Jesus's miracle, was to pass his grace onto his

> followers, and make those whose hearts were hardened against God

> (blind and spiritually dead), to see the truth and to become

> spiritually alive. I find this explanation much more satisfactory

> than having to believe in a miracle. The explanation is far more

> simple and straightforward.

>

> I highly recommend reading the Asad translation in conjunction with

> William Chittick's book Visions of Islam, and the Self-Disclosure of

> God, to really appreciate the sublime spirituality inhering to Islam.

> To my mind, it bestows on the reader how your conduct today carries

> with it spiritual and metaphysical dimensions.

>

> In this post 9/11 world, where every " expert " on Islam opines on the

> violent nature of Islam as revealed through Quran, Asad's translation

> dispels these absurdities. Extremists in the Islamic world and the

> Western world would do well to read this, as well. For all reasonable

> people seeking to truly understand what Islam is about, read Asad's

> translation over any other.

>

> Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

> Was this review helpful to you?

>

>

> The Best Interpretation I've Read....., August 13, 2008

> By Joey J. (Savannah, GA USA)

>

> Amazon as usual was able to give me this beautiful Qur'an that

> honestly is the best interpretation I have ever read. Though rare,

> this translation has been touted as the best english approximation to

> the Arabic that has been written. I have to agree. Even the pages are

> decoratated with beautiful calligraphy that truly accentuates the

> already present beauty within the pages of this translation. I am

> very excited to be reading it. Thank You and God Bless!!

>

>

> Unsurpassed English Interpretation, June 18, 2007

> By Magus " Magus " (NE ME)

>

> Just a short review as others have expressed better than I the

> unsurpassed job of interpretation of the Holy Qur'an into English

> which Asad was able to achieve - his interpretation and footnotes are

> far, far better than any before.

>

> The layout of the book is also a gift to those who are learning

> Qur'anic Arabic: with English, Arabic, and a transliteration on one

> page (along with the all-enompassing guide to pronouncing the

> transliteration) Asad has provided a powerful tool to those who are

> students of Arabic.

>

> A wonderful, wonderful work. The best interpretation of the Holy

> Qur'an in English that I've read, and a book of beauty printed on

> fine paper and with exceptional typography. This should be the

> standard text for all English speaking Muslims as well as any English

> speaking person desiring to raed the Qur'an in the very best

> interpretation.

>

>

> The best translation for non-Arabic readers, November 5, 2006

> By Margaret Williams " Tome Raider " (Los Angeles, CA United States)

>

> If you're sincerely after an understanding of the Qu'ran, either

> learn Arabic and read it (translations are not technically " The

> Qu'ran " ), or buy this book! Like many of the translators of the

> Qu'ran, Asad was not born into the religion and was not a native

> speaker, but unlike the rest, he spent many years living among the

> Bedouin who are the only ones still speaking the Arabic in which the

> Qu'ran was written down. Modern Arabic is taught in schools and

> spoken by millions, but many of the words in the Qu'ran have fallen

> out of common usage, so even the best of scholars may almost be

> forgiven for not always getting it quite right. But in translatin the

> Qu'ran, it HAS to be right. The multiple meanings of the original

> words of the Qu'ran make faulty translations and confusion altogether

> too prevalent for Western readers. Asad was born a Polish Jew who

> discovered Islam and spent most of his life researching Qu'ranic

> language. He became a highly respected scholar, even in the Islamic

> world. He was a close friend of King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud), a

> confidant of the Indian poet Iqbal, and was appointed to represent

> Pakistan to the United Nations after India's partition. His

> translation and abundant footnotes are invaluable to anyone who is

> really looking to penetrate this 1400 year-old text. The Prologue by

> the English Islamic scholar Charles Le Gai Eaton is fascinating, the

> footnotes are a joy to read and extremely helpful in understanding

> the nuances of the words and context in which the verses were brought

> forth, and the book itself, with its gorgeous insertions of

> calligraphic art, is beautiful to look at. In many footnotes, Asad

> compares his own translations to that of Pickthall and several other

> translators and explains his choices and leaves the decision to the

> reader to accept or reject them. I never enjoyed reading

> introductions or footnotes until I got Asad's book. It's not exactly

> portable, since the original Arabic, as well as transliterations are

> presented along with the English, but it's worth its weight in gold.

> If you're trying to get an idea of what the Qu'ran is all about, this

> is the one for you.

>

>

> Best Translation of the Qur'an I've read, January 22, 2002

> By A Customer

>

> This review is from: The Message of the Quran (Hardcover)

> I have five different translations of the Qur'an at home, and this is

> the best in conveying the meaning of the Qur'an. The poetry and

> rhythm of the Qur'an is absent here, and Asad himself says that he

> makes no attempt to try to capture that at all. So in reading this,

> realize that the real Qur'an is in unmetered verse, often rhyming,

> and thrilling in its accents. But if you want the meaning of the

> verses, this is excellent. It's modern, easy to read, reasonable and

> scholarly in its explanatory footnotes, and it makes more sense to

> the modern Western mind than any other translation. In contrast to

> Dawood's translation (by far the worst), Asad tells you not only the

> meaning of the words, but the context, and the way the verse should

> be read against the background of the entire Qur'an. It's expensive,

> but really really worth getting.

>

[Guest guest]

http://www.adishakti.org/forum/to_all_muslims_you_persistently_closed_your_mind_\

to_this_promise_of_the_resurrection_9-23-2008.htm