|
In the Name of
Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE HOLY
QUR'AN
An Annotated
Bibliography
by
A.R. Kidwai
|
|
| Before the fairly recent
publication of the massive World Bibliography of The Translations
of The Meanings of The Holy Qur'an (Istanbul, OIC
Research Center, 1986), it was hard to even track down the material
on the translations of the Holy Qur'an in various languages. Nonetheless,
since the Bibliography is not annotated, the reader gets no idea about
the translations make-up, his dogmatic presuppositions and his approach
to the Qur'an, as well as the quality of the translation. The present
annotated bibliography, taking into account only complete English translations
to date, attempts to answer some of the above questions. In preparing
the bibliography I received all possible help from the Islamic Foundation,
Leicester (UK), which is thankfully acknowledged. |
|
| BY
MUSLIMS, 1905-59 |
| 1905 |
| Khan, Mohammad Abul Hakim, The Holy Qur'an,
(Patiala, 1905), 2 edns. Subtitle:
'With short notes based on the Holy Qur'an or the authentic traditions
of the Prophet (pbuh), or/and New Testaments or scientific truth. All
fictitious romance, questionable history, and disputed theories have
been carefully avoided. A physician by profession, Abul Hakim Khan was
not thoroughly versed in Islam. Initially he had Qadyani leanings which
he later recanted. His translation is more of a rejoinder to the anti-Islam
missionary propaganda rife in the day than a piece of sound Qur'anic
scholarship. Contains scant notes. His translation is badly marred by
literalism. |
|
| 1912 |
| Dehlawi Mirza Hairat (ed.), The
Koran: Prepared by Various Oriental Learned Scholars and Edited by Mirza
Hairat (Delhi, 1912). 2
edns. Though intended as 'a complete and exhaustive reply to the manifold
criticisms of the Koran by various Christian authors such as Drs. Sale,
Rodwell, Palmer and Sir W. Muir', it contains little material to justify
this claim. Verses numbered part-wise instead of Sura-wise. The language
used in the translation is quite weak. |
|
| 1912 |
| Abu'l Fadl, Mirza, The Qur'an Translated into English
from the Original Arabic (Allahabad, 1912).
3 edns. Dedicated to Sultan Jahan Begum, [Lady] ruler of Bhopal [India].
References to the Bible with a view to bringing out the superiority
of the Qur'an. Refutation of the missionary views in a casual manner.
Includes few notes. |
|
| 1930 |
| Pickthall, Muhammad Marmaduke William, The Meaning
of the Glorious Qur'an (London, 1930).
At least 27 edns. One of the most widely used translations done
by an English man of letters who accepted Islam. Faithfully represents
the sense of the original. His use of the Biblical English, however,
tends to be a stumbling block for an average reader. Too brief notes
on the circumstantial setting of the Suras and the Qur'anic allusions
hence not very helpful for an uninitiated reader of the Qur'an. |
|
| 1934-37 |
| Ali Abdullah Yusuf, The Holy Qur'an: Translation
and Commentary (Lahore, 1934-37).
At least 35 edns. Another extremely popular translation. Written in
style and couched in chaste English, it stands out above other translations
as a highly readable rendering of the Qur'an into English. Copious notes
are reflective of Yusuf Ali's vast learning. Nonetheless, some of his
notes, particularly, on the Qur'anic eschatology and angelology smack
of apologia and pseudo-rationalism. Sufistic bias is also quite marked
in his notes. (For a detailed discussion on Yusuf Ali's
unorthodox views, please see Kidwai, A.R., 'Abdullah Yusuf Ali's Views
on the Qur'anic Eschatology', Muslim World League Journal 12 (5) February
1985, pp. 14-17). |
|
| 1941-57 |
| Daryabadi, Abdul Majid, The Holy Qur'an with English
Translation and Commentary (Lahore, 1941-57).
At least 4 edns. A faithful, though largely unacknowledged, translation. |
|
| BY MUSLIMS,
1960-86 |
|
| 1962 |
| Jullundri, Ali Ahmad Khan, Translation of the Glorious
Holy Qur'an with Commentary (Lahore, 1962).
3 edns. The translator boastfully entitles his work as 'After few centuries
a True and Easy translation of the Glorious Holy Qur'an'. Marred by
numerous mistakes of translation. Appended to the translation is a lengthy
appendix dealing with diverse topics in a bizarre way, heaps abuses
in the Saudi rulers and slights the role of Sunna. A simply unreadable
work. |
|
| 1964 |
| Ali, S.V. Ahmad, The Holy Qur'an with English Translation
and Commentary according to the version of the Holy Ahlul Bait. With
special notes from Ayatullah Agha Haji Mirza Mahdi Pooya Yazdi
(Karachi, 1964). 3 edns. Vindicates
on the authority of the Qur'an itself such sectarian doctrines of Shias
as Imamat, Muta'a (temporary marriage),
the nomination of Ali as the Prophet's successor, Taqqiyya
(hiding the faith), Tabarra (cursing),
and mourning in the month of Muharram. Invectives used against both
the Umayyad and Abbasid rulers. Strongly refutes the view that the Shias
believe in the alteration (Tahreef) of the Qur'an. |
|
| 1966 |
| Tariq, Abdur Rahman and Gilani, Ziauddin, The Holy
Qur'an: Rendered into English (Lahore, 1966).
l edn. An explanatory translation supplemented by brief notes, without
the Arabic text. Though this translation is in consonance with the orthodox
Muslim viewpoint, its language and presentation leave a lot to be desired. |
|
| 1969 |
| Latif, Syed Abdul, al-Qur'an: Rendered into English
(Hyderabad, 1969).1 edn. Apart
from the translation of the Qur'an, Syed Abdul Latif also rendered Abul
Kalam Azad's incomplete Urdu tafsir The Tarjuman al-Allah into
English. Devoid of notes and the text, this translation does not advance
much one's understanding of the Qur'an. At best, it represents the author's
pious enthusiasm to undertake a noble enterprise. |
|
| 1974 |
| Ali, Hashim Amir, The Message of the Qur'an Presented
in Perspective (Tokyo, 1974).
1 edn. In his zeal to bring out the thematic unity of the Qur'an, the
translator has devised a new Sura order, re-arranging the Suras under
the following five sections which he calls as the five 'books' of the
Qur'an: Book I - The Portal, al-Fatihah; Book II - The Enlightenment,
ar-Ruh, 18 earliest Meccan Suras; Book III - The Guidance, al-Huda,
36 early Meccan Suras; Book IV -The Book, al-Kitab, 36 late Meccan Suras;
and Book V - The Balance, al-Mizan, 24 Medinite Suras. Going a step
further, he has made up 600 sections of the Text, in place of the standard
558 sections, for, what he calls, perspective purposes. In making a
mess of the Sura and ruku order of the Qur'an, it does not occur to
Hashim Amir Ali that the thematic unity of the Qur'an has been quite
remarkably demonstrated by some exegetes without disturbing the traditional
arrangements of the Qur'an. The level of translation is, however, fairly
good. |
|
| 1977 |
| al-Hilalai, Taquiuddin and Khan, Muhammad Muhsin, Explanatory
English Translation of the Meaning of the Holy Qur'an (Chicago,
1977). 2 edns. It is, in fact, a summarized
English version of Ibn Kathir's exegesis, supplemented by al-Tabri's,
with comments from Sahih al-Bukhari. Both the translators have been
introduced as Salafi (traditional followers of the way of the prophet).
The translation is intended to 'present the meanings of the Qur'an which
the early Muslims had known'. |
|
| 1979 |
| Ahmad, Muhammad Mofassir, The Koran: The First
Tafsir in English (London, 1979).
1 edn. Explanatory notes have been interpolated into the translated
text. It marks a serious deviation from the norms of the Qur'anic exegesis
in that it would open the floodgate for presenting any material as the
translation of the Text itself. Grossly misinterprets several Qur'anic
terms. For example, al-Ghayb (the Unseen) is rendered
as the 'consequence of one's action'. |
|
| 1980 |
| Muhammad Asad, The Message of The Qur'an (Gibraltar,
1980). l edn. Translated in chaste, idiomatic
English by a convert from Judaism to Islam. However, it contains some
serious departures from the orthodox viewpoint on a number of Qur'anic
statements. Asad appears to be reluctant to accept the literal meaning
of some Qur'anic verses. For example, he doubts the throwing of Ibrahim
into fire, Jesus speaking in the cradle; refers to Khidr and Dhulqarnain
as mythical figures and expresses unconventional views on abrogation
(Naskh) theory. (For details please
see Arfaque Malik's review in the Muslim World Book Review, Vol. 1,
No. 1 (1980), pp. 5-7) |
|
| 1980 |
| Zayid,
Mahmud Y. (checked and revised) in collaboration
with a committee of Muslim scholars, The Qur'an: An English Translation
of the Meaning of the Qur'an (Beirut, 1980).
Based mainly on a Jew, N.J. Daud's English translation of the Qur'an
hence repeats the mistakes of mistranslation that mar Daud's translations.
In the supplement on Muslim religious practices and law both the Sunni
and Shia doctrines have been presented. |
|
| 1981 |
| Sarwar, Sheikh Muhammad, The Holy Qur'an: Arabic
Text and English Translation (Elmhurst, 1981).
l edn. Without any notes this explanatory translation paraphrases the
contents of the Qur'an in a lucid style. |
|
| 1982 |
| Shakir,
M.M., Holy Qur'an (New York 1982).
An example of blatant plagiarism in that about 90% of this English translation
has been verbatim copied from Muhammad Ali Lahori's English translation
of the Qur'an. Though it does not contain any notes, the Shia doctrines
have been indicated in the Subject index of the Qur'an with pointed
reference to the Qur'anic verses in order to give the impression that
such Shia doctrines as Imamat, Ali as the chosen one, martyrdom
of Hussain, khums, Masoom (the infallible
ones) and Vali occur in the Qur'an itself. |
|
| 1984 |
| Ali Ahmad, al-Qur'an: A Contemporary Translation
(Karachi, 1984),
2 edns. Devoid of explanatory notes or background information about
Suras, this translation rendered in fluent idiomatic English is vitiated
by several instances of mistranslation. Contains unorthodox, apologetic
and pseudo-rationalistic views on the hell, stoning of Abraha's army,
the Tree, the Verses II:73, 248 and 282, III:49 and IV:01. |
|
| 1985 |
| Irving,
T.B., The Qur'an: the First American Version (Vermont,
1985). 1 edn. Apart from the obnoxious title this
translation is not al-together free from mistakes of translation and
loose expressions, such as in al-Baqarah II:37 and 157. Assigns theme(s)
to each Qur'anic ruku (section). Contains neither
the Text nor explanatory notes. Uses American English expressions. |
|
| 1986 |
| Khatib,
M.M., The bounteous Koran: A Translation of Meaning and Commentary
(London, 1986). 1 edn. An authentic
and faithful translation of the Qur'an in readable, fluent English.
Free from irksome use of archaic Biblical English as in Pickthall, Yusuf
Ali and Daryabadi. Contains a historically based 'Introduction' discussing
Islam, the Qur'an and Sirah, and brief yet insightful notes on the circumstantial
setting and the meaning of certain Qura'nic allusions and expressions.
Suffers from a few inaccuracies in translation. For example al-Furqan
XXV:16, 29, 46 and 62, al-Maidah V:67 and Maryam X1X:26 and 34, etc.
(For details see A.R. Kidwai's review on it in Muslim
World Book Review (Spring 1988), Vol. 8, No.3, pp. 11-13). |
|
| BY
NON-MUSLIMS, QADIYANIS, 1917-70 |
|
| 1917 |
| Ali, Muhammad, The Holy Qur'an: English Translation
(Lahore 1917). At least 10 edns.
The translation supplemented by exhaustive notes betrays the translator's
Qadiyani beliefs. Grossly twists and misinterprets the Qur'anic verses
related to the Promised Messiah and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the
seal of prophethood. Swayed by pseudo-rationalism, Muhammad Ali
denies the occurrence of some miracles such as the gushing forth of
twelve springs as a result of the Prophet Moses' striking his staff
(al-Baqarah II:60), angelhood of Harut and Marut (al-Baqarah II:102),
Jinns listening to the Qur'an (al-Jinn LXXII:01) and the stoning of
Abraha's army to death by the birds (al-Fil CV:3). The language
used in his translation is not also up to the mark. |
|
| 1920 |
| Sarwar, Ghulam, Translations of the Holy Qur'an
(Singapore, 1920). 8 edns. The
introduction constitutes a brilliant critique of the English translations
of the Qur'an by Sale, Rodwell, Palmer and Muhammad Ali. Devoid of the
Text and notes. Lavishes a gushing eulogy on both the translation and
approach of Muhammad Ali. The only deflect Sarwar discovers in Muhammad
Ali's translation is the 'very poor construction of a great many passages
in the body of the translation' hence his new translation. |
|
| 1955 |
| Ali, Sher, The Holy Qur'an (Lahore,
1955). 13 edns. The official Qadyani translation
of the Qur'an. Apart from retaining the unpardonable faults of misinterpretation
and mistranslation found in Muhammad Ali's translation, Sher Ali interpolated
more blatantly the Qadyani doctrines into his translation. |
|
| 1960 |
| Peer, Salahuddin, The Wonderful Koran (Aminabad,
1960). 2 edns. Another Qadyani translation
of the Qur'an. |
|
| 1964 |
| Nuri, Khadim Rahman, The Running Commentary of
the Holy Qur'an with under- bracket comments (Shillong
1964) 1 edn. Sufistic leanings of the translator
characterize this Qadyani translation of the Qur'an. |
|
| 1969 |
| Farid, Malik Gulam (ed.), The
Holy Qur'an: English Translation and Commentary (Rabwah,
1969). 2 edns. The commentary is based on Mirza
Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad's Urdu Translation of the Qur'an. Published
under the auspices of Hadrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Third Successor of the
Promised Messiah and Head of the Ahmadiyyah Movement in Islam'. |
|
| 1970 |
| Khan, Zafrullah, The Qur'an: Arabic Text and English
Translation (London, 1970).
4 edns. A notable Qadyani translation. Marred by unaccountable liberties
in that Zafrullah Khan, following the footsteps of other Qadyanis, does
not recognize the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the
last Prophet. |
|
| BY OTHER
NON-MUSLIMS, 1649-1956 |
|
| 1649 |
| Ross, Alexander, The Alcoran of Mahomet translated
out of Arabique into French, by the Sieur Du Ryer...And newly Englished,
for the satisfaction of all that desire to look into the Turkish vanities
(London, 1649). 8 edns. The
latest edition came out in 1856. A very crude specimen of the Orientalist-missionary
approach to the Qur'an. In his 'Introductory Note to the Christian Reader'
Ross specifies his purpose: 'I thought good to bring it to their colours,
that so viewing thine enemies in their full body thou must the better
prepare to encounter...his Alcoran'. In the same rabidly anti-Islamic
vein is the Appendix to the work entitled as 'A needful caveat or Admonition,
for them who desire to know what use may be made of or if there be danger
in reading the al-Coran'. As to the quality of the translation itself,
Zwemer's remark is quite illuminating: 'He (Ross)
was utterly unacquainted with Arabic, and not a thorough French scholar;
therefore his translation is faulty in the extreme'. Zwemer, S.M., Muslim
World, V, (1915), p.250. |
|
| 1734 |
| Sale, G., The Koran: Commonly called the Alkoran
of Mohammed (London, 1734).
At least 123 edns. The latest edition appeared in 1975. Contains an
exhaustive Preliminary discourse on Sira and the Qur'an. In translating
the Qur'an Sale's missionary intent is quite marked. For in the note
to the reader he suggests the rules to be observed for 'the conversion
of Mohammedans' (p. v); evaluates the Prophet
thus: 'For how criminal soever Mohammed may have been in imposing a
fake religion on mankind, the praises due to his real virtues ought
not to be denied him' (p. vii), talks of different
editions of the Qur'an which, for him, vary in contents (p.
45), points out the borrowings in the Qur'an, (pp.
49 and 50) and refers to the piecemeal revelation of the Qur'an
as a 'contrivance' (p.50). Full of instances of
omission and mistranslation. For example, Ar-Rahman nir Raheem,
is simply rendered as 'Most Merciful'. The recurrent Qur'anic address,
Ya aayuhan nas is translated as 'O people of Mecca'. Renders
as 'Substitute' and as 'Secret History'. Parts of some verses have been
altogether omitted, as for example, in Ale-Imran III:98 is not translated. |
|
| 1861 |
| Rodwell, J.M., The Koran (London,
1861). 32 edns. Question the authenticity of
the traditional Sura order and invents a new so called chronological
Sura order. In the Introduction he refers to the prophet as the crafty
author of the Qur'an; indicates the Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian and
other sources of the Qur'an; advises missionary activists how to carry
out their work and hold the prophet a victim of self-deception, a cataleptic
subject from his early youth...liable to morbid and fantastic hallucinations
(p.14). Suffers from a number of mistakes of mistranslation
and misinterpretation. For example, (al-Mudathir LXXIV:39)
is translated as 'they of God's right hand', (al-Kauthar
CVIII:2) as 'Pray therefore to the Lord and slay the victims'.
Explains the use of the word abd (al-Alaq XCVI:10)
in the Qur'an thus: 'Since it was the slaves who had embraced Islam,
the Qur'an uses this expression'. |
|
| 1880 |
| Palmer, E.H., The Koran (London
1880). 15 edns. A Cambridge scholar entrusted
with the preparation of a new translation of the Qur'an for Max Muller
'Sacred Books of the East Series'. Nykl notes no less than 70 instances
of omissions and mistranslation in his translation. Nykl, A.R., 'Notes
on E.M. Palmer's The Qur'an in the Journal of the American Oriental
Society 56 (1936), pp. 77-84. |
|
| 1937 |
| Bell, Richard, The Qur'an translated with a crucial
rearrangement of Surahs (London 1937).
4 edns. His aim in translating the Qur'an is to 'understand the deliverances
of Muhammad afresh' (p. v). Apart from describing
the Prophet as the author of the Qur'an, Bell believes that the Qur'an
in its written form was 'actually written by Muhammad himself' (p
vi). Illustrates 'alteration, substitutions and derangements
in the text'. For example, II:209 is a later addition, 206-208 are unconnected
scraps and 210 is the original continuation of the verse No. 205. On
each page he indicates his peculiar arrangement of verses. |
|
| 1955 |
|
| Arberry, A.J., The Koran Interpreted (London,
1955). 12 edns. Contains
no explanatory notes or background information about Suras. Not altogether
free from omissions and mistranslations. For example al-Anfal VIII:59
is rendered as: 'And thou are not supposed that they who disbelieve
have outstripped Me' whereas the correct translation would be: 'Let
not those who disbelieve deem that they have escaped Me'. An-nabi-ul
Ummi is mistranslated as 'the Prophet of the common folk'. Other instances
of mistranslation are: Ale-Imran III:43; Nisaa IV:72, 147 and 157; Maida
V:55; Araf VII:157; al-Sajdah XXXII:23; al-Anfal VIII:59 and Yunus X:88,
etc. |
|
| 1956 |
| Dawood, N.J., The Koran (London,
1956). 11 edns. An Iraqi Jew. Speaks of the
influence of Jewish and Christian teachings on the Prophet and condemning
the traditional Sura order follows the chronological Sura order. Marred
by serious mistakes of translation 'bani Adam" (al-Araf
VII:31) is rendered as children of Allah [correct
translation is 'children of Adam'], in Al-Baqarah II:191 'al
fitnatu asyaddu minal qatl(i)' is mistranslated as 'idolatry is worse
than carnage' [correct translation is 'oppression is
worse than slaughter']. |
|
| Those who wish to understand the specific and broader meaning
of the verses of the Qur'an, it is recommended that they should also read commentary on the subjects and verses of the Qur'an. The English readers
will find either Yusuf Ali's or Maududi's commentaries a good source. Allama
Yususf Ali presents the meaning Ayah (verse) by Ayah with detailed footnotes for
relevant words in each verse and includes a detailed index of the topics
mentioned in the Qur'an. Maulana Maududi's work covers commentary for each Surah
(chapter) of the Holy Qur'an. |
|
| Pickthall writes in his
foreward of 1930: "... The Qur'an cannot be translated. ...The book is here rendered
almost literally and every effort has been made to choose befitting
language. But the result is not the Glorious Qur'an, that inimitable
symphony, the very sounds of which move men to tears and ecstasy. It
is only an attempt to present the meaning of the Qur'an-and peradventure
something of the charm in English. It can never take the place of the
Qur'an in Arabic, nor is it meant to do so..." |
|
| "The Holy Qur'an,"
Text, Translation and Commentary by Abdullah
Yusuf Ali, 1934. (Latest Publisher: Amana Publications,
Beltsville, MD, USA; Title: "The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an," 1992).
A pocket edition of Yusuf Ali's translation is also available in contemporary
English. |
|
| "The Meaning of the
Glorious Koran," An Explanatory
Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall, a Mentor Book Publication.
(Also available as: "The Meaning of the Glorious Koran,"
by Marmaduke Pickthall, Dorset Press, N.Y. and several Islamic book
publishers; Published by several publishers since 1930). Note:
The Mentor publication (451 MJ1529 195) contains
a few errors/omissions, e.g., in Surah 72: the last part of Verse 2
should read "we ascribe no partner unto our Lord", and Surah 68: Verse
22 should read "straight" road instead of "beaten" road. In case of
any doubt, the reader is advised to check with a copy from an Islamic
publisher and also check with an Islamic scholar for the meaning directly
from the Arabic original. |
|
