By Isra Cheema, Sharif Randhawa, and Imam Adam Jamal
Every Muslim desires to understand the intricate language and nuances of the Qur’an. However, more than four out of every five Muslims in the world come from non-Arab backgrounds and do not speak Arabic, the language in which the Qur’an was revealed. Accordingly, the majority of Muslims, as well as interested non-Muslims, who wish to understand the Qur’an have to do so through translations in their native languages. In this article, we will consider some of the features of a number of popular translations of the Qur’an in English, which make them suitable for different kinds of readers.
The fact is that there is no single best English translation of the Qur’an. Among reputable translations, each has different aims and features that make it suitable for different kinds of readers and purposes. At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that the Arabic of the Qur’an is incredibly deep, eloquent, and illustrative, so there will always be some meaning lost in translation, and each translator will attempt to compensate for that in different ways. The only way to grasp the true richness of a language is to know the language itself. But here, we shall discuss the following English translations of the Qur’an, some of which have deep roots and have made a major impact in the English-speaking community, and others that are relatively new.
The Earliest Translation
The earliest English translation of the Qur’an to receive widespread and lasting acceptance in the English-speaking Muslim community is Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall’s The Meaning of the Glorious Qur’an, first published in 1930.
This was followed closely afterwards in 1934 by Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s The Holy Qur’an. Though they both use a poetic style and sometimes archaic language (such as the pronouns ‘thee,’ ‘thou,’ and ‘thy’), they are fairly clear and remain two of the most popular and widely-available English translations of the Qur’an. These two translations more than any others have set the bar for what a good English translation of the Qur’an should be like, a bar that to this day has rarely been exceeded. Both come in editions with explanatory footnotes by their translators.
The Most Poetic
In 1980, Muhammad Asad published The Message of the Qur’an, an English translation and interpretation of the Qur’an. Asad was an Austrian Jew who converted to Islam and spent many years working on this translation and engaging in scholarly research. This translation is among the most poetic, and aims to convey the meanings of the Qur’an in a refined English style rather than to provide a literal word-for-word rendering of the Arabic. Asad’s introduction and highly readable footnotes help to guide the reader through the Qur’an, which has also helped to make it one of the most popular translations among English readers. At the same time, some of Asad’s interpretations are unconventional, so this translation is best used alongside another for comparison.
The 1980s also saw the publication of The Noble Qur’an by Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali. This translation attracts some readers for its plentiful footnotes that provide information from traditional Sunni sources of hadith (statements attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or his companions) or commentaries of the Qur’an. However, many readers find the quality or style of the English to be wanting, and find that the extensive and often repetitive interpretations that are inserted within brackets into the text to be a severe obstruction to its flow and readability. It also provides a particular interpretation of the Qur’an that reflects its publication from Saudi Arabia, and which not all Muslims would find agreeable.
Best for Arabic Students
In contrast to Asad’s, the Saheeh International translation aims to provide a literal rendering of the Arabic of the Qur’an into “plain” English. It is was produced by three American women, Emily Assami, Mary Kennedy, and Amatullah Bantley, who converted to Islam in the 1980s, and published from Saudi Arabia in 1997. It has become popular as a more contemporary translation, but focuses more on providing a literal meaning of the Arabic than on providing smooth English. This makes it a useful resource for students who are seeking to learn the literal meaning of the Arabic of the Qur’an.
The Noble Qur’an by Abdalhaqq and Aisha Bewley, both experienced and prolific translators of Islamic literature into English, was published in 1999. This translation provides a straightforward yet elegant rendering of the meanings of the Qur’an into English, without employing brackets or extensive footnotes which could impede the flow of the reading. However, this is achieved by leaving many key Arabic terms that tend to be familiar to Muslims untranslated, such as “salah” (ritual prayer) or “deen” (religion, way of life). While a glossary of these terms is provided at the back of the translation, its target readership seems to be Muslims or readers who are educated enough about Islam that they are already familiar with some of its terminology
Easiest to Read
The Qur’an: A New Translation by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, published in 2004 by Oxford University Press, is one of the most recent translations of the Qur’an. Abdel Haleem is a scholar of the Qur’an and Classical Arabic who was trained at the prestigious al-Azhar University in Cairo and teaches Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Accordingly, his translation reflects his mastery of Qur’anic Arabic. At the same time, it seeks to convey the meanings of the Qur’an in fluid English rather than to provide a literal meaning of the Arabic of the Qur’an. As a result, it has become one of the most reputable contemporary translations of the Qur’an in English. It has informative introductions and brief footnotes which make it convenient and accessible to readers of diverse backgrounds. One of the more unique features of this translation is that it is in the form of manageable paragraphs, rather than in verse form.
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Finally, a particularly fresh and notable translation is The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, published in 2016. This translation offers a remarkable balance between providing an accurate rendering of the Arabic of the Qur’an, lucid and readable English that does not stray far from the literal meanings of the Arabic of the Qur’an, and helpful explanatory notes to guide the reader. Yet, the most unique feature of this translation is that it inserts words in small square brackets that assist the clarity and flow of the translation, and which convey an accurate meaning of the Qur’anic text. These superscript square brackets are far neater than the full brackets and explanations within the texts of some English translations of the Qur’an.
Takeaway
All of the above translations represent valuable tools for readers and speakers of the English language to understand the Qur’an, whether Muslim or non-Muslim. Individually, each of them serves to convey the meanings of the Qur’an in different ways and appeals to different needs and preferences of readers, inviting each person to encounter the sacred scripture of Islam in a way that is accessible, enjoyable, and enriching. Collectively, they provide a treasure house of learning, and deserve to be appreciated in every mosque, household, and heart. Such translations provide an indispensable service, because although the Qur’an in all of its poetic beauty is an Arabic text, not all of us know Arabic. Now, go out and find your favorite translation!
Let us know your favorite translation and why in the comments!
Imam Adam’s Note:
A lot of people are asking: So what is the final answer?
It is hard to choose, but here are some recommendations so that I stop getting emails about it 🙂
Best overall / Easiest to read English: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem and Dr. Mustafa Khattab. Great for sharing with non-Muslims, young people, mostly everyone.
Best for Arabic Students: Saheeh International because they match the Arabic as much as possible.
Best for Interesting Footnotes: As a young reader I always enjoyed the commentaries in the footnotes of the translations of Muhammad Asad and Abdullah Yusuf Ali because they made me think more deeply about the Quran. Whether or not I agreed with their commentary, I realized that there’s much more to it than I thought. Abdel Haleem also has concise Surah summaries at the beginning of each chapter as we mentioned in the main article.
What about Best Tafsir?
What about Tafsir / Commentaries if I want to study more in depth?
Check out our separate article here: Best Quran Tafsir (Commentary) in English
But for quick English research I recommend two commentaries from the last century. You can start with Tafheem ul Quran for economics, sociology, history, and politics, and with Ma’ariful Quran for spirituality and Islamic law.
And now we also have the newer The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary, published in 2015 by Seyyed Hossein Nasr and his team of scholars. This translation is unique in that it includes not only the translation of the Quranic text but also extensive commentary on each verse, drawing from a wide range of classical and contemporary sources. The commentary includes discussions on the linguistic, historical, and theological contexts of each verse, providing a comprehensive understanding of the Quranic text. The translation itself is also well-regarded for its clarity and accessibility, making it a valuable resource for both Muslims and non-Muslims seeking a deeper understanding of the Quran. Please bear in mind that this recommendation is for study and not because I endorse everything that these 8-10 volume works contain.
By clicking on any of the links above, we will get a small portion of the proceeds that will support our blog.
Watch: Imam Adam Jamal and Sharif Randhawa compare different Quran Translations for Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
Sources:
- Ansari, Khizar Humayun. “Ali, Abdullah Yusuf (1872–1953), Indian Civil Servant and Islamic Scholar | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 18 Dec. 2017
- Haleem, M.A.S. Abdel. The Qurʼan: a New Translation. Oxford University Press, 2016.
- Huda. “The World’s Muslim Population.” Learn Religions, Learn Religions, 24 Oct. 2018
- Kidwai, A.R. “Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall’s English Translation of the Quran (1930): An Assessment.” Marmaduke Pickthall: Islam and the Modern World, edited by Geoffrey P. Nash, Brill, LEIDEN; BOSTON, 2017, pp. 231–248. JSTOR
- Kramer, Martin. “The Road from Mecca: Muhammad Asad.” Martin Kramer on the Middle East,
- Zavadski, Katie. “How Three American Women Translated One of the World’s Most Popular Qurans.” The Daily Beast, 26 Mar. 2017
Please check out this new miracle Quran ebook (this isn’t spam, search for it on Google 🙂 )
Ebook: Quran MEANINGS Explained in Pictures:
Read online:
https://www.slideshare.net/docsforu/ebook-quran-meanings-with-pictures-120pages-238682834
Download:
https://archive.org/download/ebook-quran-meanings-with-pictures-120pages_202101/ebook-Quran-Meanings-With-Pictures-120pages.pdf
JazakAllahu khayr.
Has anyone looked into the English translation of the Meaning of AL-QUR’AN by Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik?
It is another relatively newer (Copyright 1997) translation in present-day English published by The Institute of Islamic Knowledge, Houston, Texas, USA.
This translation contains a Surah (Chapter) Index, a Juz (Part) Index, and a Synopsis of each Surah in the beginning of the Quran which is quite helpful in locating what we want to read. Moreover, it contains a brief note about the Surah and its contents at the beginning of each Surah (Chapter) which gives a good background to understand the contents of each Surah. Furthermore, the detailed Subject Index at the back of the Quran is very helpful in finding the item we are looking for.
It is helpful in understanding the Quran and its contents in plain English.
What is the academic background of the the author Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik ??
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali, faculty of languages and translation, Al-Azhar University, and published by Cairo: Publishing House for Universities. The Qur’an 1999 by Mohammedali Habib Shakir is an English translation directed towards Shia Muslims. It is published in New York by Tahirke Tarsile Qur’an.
[20] Exposition of the Holy Quran 1996 by Ghulam Ahmed Pervez is an English rendering of the 1961 Urdu translation, Mafhum-al-Quran.
I read a lot on this issue today.
God only knows!
My Qur’an instructor (from the West but is so educated she runs her own school) had us get “The Study Qur’an,” editor-in-chief Seyyed Hossein Nasr (other editors Dagli, Dakake, Lumbard, and Rustom. It looks like it has more notes than Yusuf-Ali! First class is Thursday. I’m excited. I know a lot but I’m mainly self-educated, so looking forward to a systematic study.
Multiple English Quran translations are available from the open web project Quran Explorer at http://www.quran-archive.org
I think the best ones are Mohammad Asad, Ahmad Zaki Hammad and Majid F.
Very good input
Alsalam Alokom,
Has anyone try to read this translation
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u-lQ1Ef97xIyl4-eAezdr_3CpP1mvJdwYOfJLv5F-4w/edit
Thanks,
The Correct Quran Translation
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B091NQ31M9/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tpbk_p1_i8
nice news
i use an android app called Al Quran (Tafsir & by word) by Greentech Apps Foundation. It contains most of the english translations mentioned in this article, as well as the english translation of Tafsir Ibnu Katsir – all in one app. So you can compare the translation on the go, including those in my native language. A great app.
I also bought an english translation called The Majestic Quran by Dr Musharraf, which is also good. This is my daily reading now.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hii, thanks for sharing the info, can i do blog commenting in all these sites or need to do only on those places whioch is related with the industry.
Thanks everyone for recommending The Clear Quran. For more info visit http://www.theclearquran.org
There is also a FREE app, search for the Clear Quran on you app store.
Welcome Imam Mustafa, surely we will add your translation to our review.
thanks ust, however the recitation of all Qari hafs aasim recited without alif. How do one explain there is an alif but the alif is mahzuf hidden in most recitation without the madd of 2 harakah. The word jannatin is jama’ without alif. Hope you can assists me on these on reference grammarians that explains these. thanks ust
I think the title of the article is inappropriate. No matter which written translation is the best, it’s not the best way to approach the Quran. DiscoverTaimiyyah Zubair. She has done a complete english lecture on the translation and tafsir of the Quran from the first chapter until the last. Click on the link below and listen to her translation and explanation of the first three verses of Chapter 67 (al Mulk) and you’ll know what I mean:
http://data.alhudamedia.com/Media/Al-Quran/Talim_al-Quran/TQ2010/TQE2010-P29-L291B_Al-Mulk_1-30_Tafsir_1-3.mp3
If next time you’re approached by someone, a non muslim in particular, asking for the best and the clearest translation of the Quran, Mustafa Khattab may provide him or her a free book. But with Taimiyyah Zubair, she’ll give a free listening. And she does it better…
Clear Qur’an
By talal itani
According to me,
It is the best Qur’an translation ever I seen.
Do you mean this one: https://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai-s-grand-mufti-warns-against-unauthorised-quran-translations-on-the-internet-1.646237
No, not that one. This one: https://theclearquran.org/
Among other institutions, it has also been approved by Al Azhar University. The author of the translation is Mustafa Khattab.
Sorry, please ignore my previous reply. I thought you had replied to my comment.
Salam Ust kindly enlightened me on surah AlWaqiah verse 89.
I have exhausted my reference on kalimah جنّت . There is no alif indicates as plural but in tahlil kalimaat Quran it is a plural word.
Q. any discussion on these by grammarian scholars
Thank you Ust
The alif is hidden – it is pronounced جَنَّات
i’d recommend
The Qur’an: With a Phrase-By-Phrase English Translation Hardcover – 26 Mar 2007
by Ali Quili Qar’ai (Translator)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0940368218/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i0
Dr. Mustafa Khattab – The Clear Quran is the best translation and its free on http://www.sendaquran.com
2nd recommendation; Abdel Haleem – The Quran
Do you have a recommendation for an Arabic to English Quran?
Subhanallah I am shocked and scared of what I am reading our scholars on the permanent committee of issuing Fatawā was that said the closest to the best translation of the mushaaf is Sahih International but said only if you don’t have access to these ,out of those that were mentioned so due to due diligence and the safety of our Muslim non arabic speaking at the Quran complex in Saudi Arabia with 1000 of scholars and proof readers and linguists who checked all these other Qurans they warned against those mentioned and came up with the Hilali/Khan translation clearly I see the issue here promoting these translation’s mentioned brothers fear Allah subhana wata’ala and stick with the Hilali/Khan translation and only if you have too the Sahih International also beware there is a new translated Quran promoted in the prison system and public now by the Qadaniyyah(Ahmadiyyah sect)
The Glorious Quran Word-for-word Translation to Facilitate Learning of Quranic Arabic: Juz 11-20 https://www.amazon.in/dp/1452870454/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4mphDbM24E8Q0
I love this Holy Quran ! Tremendous help in really understanding the meaning individually !
Thanks for your comment. At the end of the day the translation of the Quran is not the Quran, it is a human effort and can NEVER be 100% correct or 100% accurate. The best alternative for those who are shocked and scared of translations is to learn Arabic 🙂
1) Recommendations for learning Arabic, esp from home?
2) I recently learned that one trick in translating any religious text written in Arabic specifically into English is that, while Arabic is much more *concise*, English is much more *precise*. I’d learned that a single Arabic word may require 5-7 English words to convey the intended idea—and I guess that’s where a big part of the challenge of translation comes (ie, in making sure those 5-7 words convey precisely what the one word was meant to say.)
3) So I guess that means you really have to trust your translator! I got into a discussion with several people on one of the YT channels devoted to Korra (The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra”) and read through a certain amount of abuse with a tolerant smile—until someone said something completely untrue about the precious Faith of Muhammad. I think my inquiring politely for him to post a sentence or two in support of his view closed him down, as well as another YT’er who had similar feelings about Muhammad marrying such very young girls and committing war atrocities. I think a simple “Where are you getting your info?” suffied to get him to peddle his wares of hate and misinformation elsewhere. I don’t know why this specific cartoon draws (pun intended) comment that brings in Muhammad and the Holy Qur’an. Probably got a little carried away there; please edit if inappropriate.
Mawlana Bilal Ali Ansari recommends Dr. Zaki Hammad’s “Gracious Quran”
In my experience, this is THE translation. The author spent over 20 years on it, and is immensely qualified: he graduated from al-Azhar, and completed his PhD from the University of Chicago – a balance of East and West, English and Arabic needed to perfect such a translation. He is currently a department head at al-Azhar.
The language of the translation is fluid, powerful, simple but also elegant – reading it captures a lot of the feelings I get when reading the Quran in Arabic (as a beginner student of Arabic).
Having read all the translations mentioned above, I don’t agree that Dr Haleem’s is the best..many of the Quranic words that are translated do not give the true meaning. I agree its difficult to translate the Quran.
Personally I have benefited from Mawlana Abu Al Ala Mawdoodi”s translation the most.
Great translation, we’ll try to write something about that in the future 🙂
Aslm. JAZAK ALLAH. TO understand Quran for Me is to connect with Allah only.
Have anyone read the new, The Majestic Quran? Plain simple English with section breaks and clear surah summary. It also has a reflection statement or question at every arabic side of the pages.
https://www.majesticquran.co.uk/
I agree with you, I think Dr Haleem’s is the most concise however in modern English. A reply above says how some older translations use archaic English language. I would argue it is harder to read but more beneficial, as relative to certain Arabic words I have found archaic language explains it better than modern English. Here is a link for Maulana Maudidi’s (may Allah have mercy on him) tafsir for anyone interested http://www.englishtafsir.com
Here is a link from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Glorious-Quran-Translation-Commentary-Koran/dp/0860373606
There is a translation by Abdul Majid Daryabadi, an indian scholar and someone who converted from Atheism in the early 1900s. a bit old, but touches upon several important topics relevant to this day and age still through small footnotes.
Yes I know about this one! It’s also very enlightening.
Salam do you have recommendation for an Arabic to English Quran with transliteration?
I don’t have a specific one, as I don’t delve into transliteration much. But I do see this one here quite often. Or the one that contains Yusuf Ali’s translation.
If you can’t read Arabic, I suggest our free alphabet app, it’s called “Alif” and it’s available on iOS so far. We’re looking to get it made on Android too.
Thanks!
Assalaamu Alaykum, I am in the process of watching tafseer of the Qur’an by Dr Israr Ahmed (may Allah have mercy on him), it is on YouTube and very insightful for non-arabic speakers like me. I found this translation online with transliteration, al-quran.info ,and also for tafsir ibn kathir, qtafsir.com
Barakillahu feek
How can we get a copy of this?
Several different translations were mentioned, you can find them online I’m sure – try amazon.com?
Very interesting commentaries about the English translations of the Holy Quran. I have benefited from the translations of Pickthall. Yusuf Ali and Mahdi Poya.
.
As-salamu alaykum,
Translations by Saheeh International, Yusuf Ali, and others are rather old and unnecessary comprehensive. Translations such as “glad tidings” rather than “good news” are not of this time.
A recent translation made by Dr. Mustafa Khattab (The Clear Quran, 2016) is considered to be the best English translation of the Quran by many scholars and imaams, including Hamza Tzortzis and Suhaib Webb. The translator argues that in Saheeh International there are many words than can be interpreted differently because their meaning has changed over time. For example, the word ‘corn’ is used for a particular Arabic word in Saheeh International, while in current times a more appropriate translation would be ‘wheat’. At the time, the translation wasn’t incorrect, but because the meaning of the word ‘corn’ has changed, it is now an incorrect translation. This is just one of the many examples he gave. Unfortunately, their website seems to be offline as of now, but I’ve added it below in case it will be online soon. This translation can also be bought on Amazon and is also available for free on quran.com (Dr. Mustafa Khattab).
https://theclearquran.org/
Thanks for the comment Zarif, I’ve heard of that one, will definitely have to do a review of it sometime!
Thanks for your response. Yes, you really should. It includes short summaries before every surah and it includes footnotes for some verses. I believe the footnotes are also included on quran.com. It’s written not only for Muslims, but for non-Muslims as well. The controversial verses of the Qur’an contain footnotes for non-Muslims to understand the contexts of the verses. If someone decided to give out Qurans to people as Da’wah, I’d strongly recommend this version.
Which English translations of Qur’an also have transliteration in it ? Has anyone looked into all of them ?
My Yusuf Ali is dated more like 1959. Was there a revision? I started out with Pickthall, which I think is a great first Qur’an for an interested Western non-Muslim who would like to learn what the Qur’an really says rather than listen to all the hype about how horrible and violent it is. I started there, having an interest and no one to lead me by the hand. But I could not do without my Yusuf Ali because of the voluminous notes and the fact that it includes the Arabic, which I am trying to learn with your gracious assistance. With respect, I do not consider Yusuf Ali unnecessarily comprehensive. His notes have opened up worlds of meaning for me—but I was raised as a Christian in the West, so I imagine I need a lot explained that someone raised in a Muslim culture would understand!
I would like to thank Zarif Atai for the recommendation on the Clear Qur’an. I’ve also heard Rodwell and the translation called “The Noble Qur’an” mentioned favorably. I have 7 translations, which is really the only way a non-Arabic speaker can hope to understand some of the nuances. Thank you for this blog post! I see I have a few more translations to add to my collection!
I think the English translation of Maulana Maududi’s tahfimul Quran by Islamic foundation Markfield , Leicester is a wonderful work with lots of historical notes and maps and in a social revolution context.
Jazak Allah khayr