Synopses & Reviews
This bilingual edition of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, was first published in the United States in 1988. Ahmed Ali, the distinguished Pakistani novelist, poet, critic, and diplomat, presents this elegant and poetic translation in a contemporary and living voice. On each page, the original Arabic and the translated English sit side by side, encouraging the reader to draw from both texts. Professor Ali also includes notes where necessary, providing the full meaning of each word and phrase. This accessible volume is truly essential for both scholars and followers of Islam.
Review
Ahmed Ali's work is clear, direct, and elegant--a combination of stylistic virtues almost never found in translations of the . His is the best I have read.
Review
"In one of the most popular English versions of the Qur'?n, Ahmed Ali has succeeded in bringing all of the subtlety, depth, and spiritual power of Islam into his translation of this peerless scripture. Without distorting the English, Ali, a highly regarded author in his own right, renders the poetry of the original Arabic into lines of elegance and rhythm. . . . For the curious, the convert, or the devout, Ahmed Ali's Al-Qur'?n will bring all readers closer to the glory of God."--Brian Bruya, Amazon.com
Review
In one of the most popular English versions of the Qur'an, Ahmed Ali has succeeded in bringing all of the subtlety, depth, and spiritual power of Islam into his translation of this peerless scripture. Without distorting the English, Ali, a highly regarded author in his own right, renders the poetry of the original Arabic into lines of elegance and rhythm. . . . For the curious, the convert, or the devout, Ahmed Ali's Al-Qur'an will bring all readers closer to the glory of God. Brian Bruya
Synopsis
This bilingual edition of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, was first published in the United States in 1988. Ahmed Ali, the distinguished Pakistani novelist, poet, critic, and diplomat, presents this elegant and poetic translation in a contemporary and living voice. On each page, the original Arabic and the translated English sit side by side, encouraging the reader to draw from both texts. Professor Ali also includes notes where necessary, providing the full meaning of each word and phrase. This accessible volume is truly essential for both scholars and followers of Islam.
Synopsis
"This translation of the
Qur'?n aims at doing something new--it seeks to bring out the original rhythms of the Quranic language and the cadences. It also departs from traditional translations in that it gives more refined and differentiated shades of important concepts."
--Fazlur Rahman, University of Chicago"Ahmed Ali's work is clear, direct, and elegant--a combination of stylistic virtues almost never found in translations of the Qur'?n. His is the best I have read."--F. E. Peters, New York University
Synopsis
"This translation of the Qur'an aims at doing something new--it seeks to bring out the original rhythms of the Quranic language and the cadences. It also departs from traditional translations in that it gives more refined and differentiated shades of important concepts."--Fazlur Rahman, University of Chicago
"Ahmed Ali's work is clear, direct, and elegant--a combination of stylistic virtues almost never found in translations of the Qur'an. His is the best I have read."--F. E. Peters, New York University
Synopsis
This bilingual edition of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, was first published in the United States in 1988. Ahmed Ali, the distinguished Pakistani novelist, poet, critic, and diplomat, presents this elegant and poetic translation in a contemporary and living voice. On each page, the original Arabic and the translated English sit side by side, encouraging the reader to draw from both texts. Professor Ali also includes notes where necessary, providing the full meaning of each word and phrase. This accessible volume is truly essential for both scholars and followers of Islam.
Synopsis
"This translation of the
Qur'an aims at doing something new--it seeks to bring out the original rhythms of the Quranic language and the cadences. It also departs from traditional translations in that it gives more refined and differentiated shades of important concepts."--Fazlur Rahman, University of Chicago
"Ahmed Ali's work is clear, direct, and elegant--a combination of stylistic virtues almost never found in translations of the Qur'an. His is the best I have read."--F. E. Peters, New York University
About the Author
Ahmed Ali (1910-1994), a pioneer of the modern Urdu short story and cofounder of the All-India Progressive Writer's Movement and Association, taught at leading Indian universities and was a visiting professor in China and the United States. He published numerous works of fiction and nonfiction, including the widely acclaimed translations of classical Urdu poetry, The Golden Tradition. His novels include the classic Twilight in Delhi.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 6
By Way of Preface 7
1 The Prologue 11
2. The Cow 12
3. The Family of Imran 51
4. The Women 73
5. The Feast 97
6. The Cattle 114
7. Wall Between Heaven and Hell 133
8. Spoils of War 54
9. Repentance 162
10. Jonah 177
11. Hud 188
12. Joseph 200
13. Thunder 211
14. Abraham 217
15. AI-Hijr 223
16. The Bees 228
17. The Children of Israel 240
18. The Cave 250
19. Mary 260
20. Ta Ha 266
21. The Prophets 275
22. The Pilgrimage 283
23. The True Believers 291
24. The Light 298
25. The Criterion 306
26. The Poets 312
27. An-Naml 321
28. The History 329
29. The Spider 337
30. The Romans 343
31. Luqman 348
32. As-Sajdah 352
33. The Allied Troops 355
34. Sheba 363
35. The Originator 368
36. Ya Sin 373
37. Who Stand Arrayed in Rows 378
38. Sad 385
39. The Small Groups 391
40. The Believer 399
41. Adoration 407
42. Consultation 412
43. Ornaments of Gold 418
44. Smoke 424
45. Kneeling 427
46. Al-Ahgaf 431
47. Muhammad 435
48. Victory 439
49. Apartments 443
50. Qaf 446
51. The Dispersing 449
52. The Mount 452
53. The Star 455
54. The Moon 458
55. Ar-Rahman 461
56. The Inevitable 465
57. Iron 469
58. The Disputant 473
59. Confrontation 476
60. The Woman Tried 479
61. Formations 482
62. The Congregation 484
63. The Hypocrites 486
64. Exposition 488
65. Divorce 490
66. Prohibition 492
67. The Kingdom 494
68. The Pen 497
69. The Concrete Reality 500
70. The Steps 502
71. Noah 504
72. Thejinns 506
73. The Enwrapped 508
74. The Enfolded 510
75. The Resurrection 512
76. Time 514
77. The Emissaries 516
78. The Announcement 518
79. Those Who Pull and Withdraw 520
80. He Made a Wry Face 522
81. The Folding up 524
82. The Splitting 526
83. The Defrauders 527
84. The Cleaving 529
85. Signs of the Zodiac 530
86. The Night Star 531
87. The Most High 532
88. The Overpowering 533
89. The Dawn 535
90. The Earth 537
91. The Sun 538
92. The Night 539
93. Early Hours of Morning 540
94. The Opening Up 541
95. The Fig 542
96. The Embryo 543
97. Determination 544
98. The Clear Proof 545
99. The Earthquake 546
100. The Chargers 547
101. The Calamity 548
102. Plenitude 549
103. Time and Age 550
104. The Slanderer 551
105. The Elephants 552
106. The Quraish 553
107. Things of Common Use 554
108. Pre-eminence 555
109. The Unbelievers 556
110. Help 557
111. Abu Lahab 558
112. Pure Faith 559
113. The Rising Day 560
114. Men 561
Index 563
Index of Names 571