The Koran

The Koran, as N. J. Dawood states, is 'not only one of the most influential books of prophetic literature but also a literary masterpiece in its own right. Universally accepted by Muslims to be the infallible Word of God as revealed to Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel nearly fourteen hundred years ago, the Koran still provides the rules of conduct fundamental to the Arab way of life. N. J. Dawood's masterly translation, first published in the mid-1950s and now completely revised in the light of a life-long study of the language and style of the Koran, presents the English reader with a clear, fluent and authoritative rendering, while fully reflecting the characteristic flavour and rhythm of the original. The present edition follows the original sequence of the Koranic suras and is accompanied by a comprehensive index and a parallel Arabic text.

The Koran Introduction

Note to the General Reader

Chronological Table of the Main Events in the Life of Muhammad

1. The Exordium (Al-Fatihah)

2. The Cow (Al-Baqarah)

3. The 'Imrans (Al-'Imran)

4. Women (Al-Nisa')

5. The Table (Al-Ma'idah)

6. Cattle (Al-An'am)

7. The Heights (Al-A'raf)

8. The Spoils (Al-Anfal)

9. Repentance (Al-Tawbah)

10. Jonah (Yunis)

11. Hud

12. Joseph (Yusuf)

13. Thunder (Al-Ra'd)

14. Abraham (Ibrahim)

15. Al-Hijr

16. The Bee (Al-Nahl)

17. The Night Journey (Al-Isra')

18. The Cave (Al-Kahf)

19. Mary (Maryam)

20. Ta' Ha'

21. The Prophets (Al-Anbiya')

22. Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj)

23. The Believers (Al-Mu'minun)

24. Light ((Al-Nur)

25. Al-Furqan

26. The Poets (Al-Shu'ara')

27. The Ant (Al-Naml)

28. The Story (Al-Qasas)

29. The Spider (Al-'Ankabut)

30. The Greeks (Al-Rum)

31. Luqman

32. Adoration (Al-Sajdah)

33. The Confederate Tribes (Al-Ahzab)

34. Sheba (Saba')

35. The Creator (Al-Fatir)

36. Ya'sin

37. The Ranks (Al-Saffat)

38. Sad

39. The Throngs (Al-Zumar)

40. The Believer (Al-Mu'min); or The Forgiving One (Ghafir)

41. Revelations Well Expounded (Fussilat)

42. Counsel (Al-Shura)

43. Ornaments of Gold (Al-Zukhruf)

44. Smoke (Al-Dukhan)

45. Kneeling (Al-Jathiyah)

46. The Sand Dunes (Al-Ahqaf)

47. Muhammad

48. Victory (Al-Fath)

49. The Chambers (Al-Hujurat)

50. Qaf

51. The Winds (Al-Dhariyat)

52. The Mountain (Al-Tur)

53. The Star (Al-Najm)

54. The Moon (Al-Qamar)

55. The Merciful (Al-Rahman)

56. That Which is Coming (Al-Waqi'ah)

57. Iron (Al-Hadid)

58. She Who Pleaded (Al-Mujadilah)

59. Exile (Al-Hashr)

60. She Who is Tested (Al-Mumtahanah)

61. Battle Array (Al-Saff)

62. Friday, or The Day of Congregation (Al-Jum'ah)

63. The Hypocrites (Al-Munafiqun)

64. Cheating (Al-Taghabun)

65. Divorce (Al-Talaq)

66. Prohibition (Al-Tahrim)

67. Sovereignty (Al-Mulk)

68. The Pen (Al-Qalam)

69. The Catastrophe (Al-Haqqah)

70. The Ladders (Al-Ma'arij)

71. Noah (Nuh)

72. The Jinn (Al-Jinn)

73. The Mantled One (Al-Muzammil)

74. The Cloaked One (Al-Muddathir)

75. The Resurrection (Al-Qiyamah)

76. Man (Al-Insan)

77. Those That Are Sent Forth (Al-Mursalat)

78. The Tidings (Al-Naba')

79. The Soul-Snatchers (Al-Nazi'at)

80. He Frowned ('Abasa)

81. The Cessation (Al-Takwir)

82. The Cataclysm (Al-Infitar)

83. The Unjust (Al-Mutaffifin)

84. The Rending (Al-Inshiqaq)

85. The Constellations (Al-Buruj)

86. The Nightly Visitant (Al-Tariq)

87. The Most High (Al-A'la)

88. The Overwhelming Event (Al-Ghashiyah)

89. The Dawn (Al-Fajr)

90. The City (Al-Balad)

91. The Sun (Al-Shams)

92. Night (Al-Layl)

93. Daylight (Al-Duha)

94. Comfort (Al-Sharh)

95. The Fig (Al-Tin)

96. Clots of Blood (Al-'Alaq)

97. Qadr

98. The Proof (Al-Bayyinah)

99. The Earthquake (Al-Zalzalah)

100. The War Steeds (Al-'Adiyat)

101. The Disaster (Al-Qari'ah)

102. Worldly Gain (Al-Takathur)

103. The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)

104. The Slanderer (Al-Humazah)

105. The Elephant (Al-Fil)

106. Quraysh

107. Alms (Al-Ma'un)

108. Abundance (Al-Kawthar)

109. The Unbelievers (Al-Kafirun)

110. Help (Al-Nasr)

111. Al-Lahab

112. Oneness (Al-Ikhlas)

113. Daybreak (Al-Falaq)

114. Men (Al-Nas)

Index