Good translation of Koran?

[Argh]

Heya,

I’m wondering if anyone can recommend an *authoritative *translation of the Koran, with commentary?

The reason I’m asking is that I’m doing preliminary research for my Master’s article or thesis on Islam in China. More specifically, the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to control and manage Muslims in China.

Thanks

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Heya,

I’m wondering if anyone can recommend an *authoritative *translation of the Koran, with commentary?

The reason I’m asking is that I’m doing preliminary research for my Master’s article or thesis on Islam in China. More specifically, the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to control and manage Muslims in China.

Thanks

I don’t quite know how those two are related, but I can try to help.

Yusuf Ali is one of the most well respected translations, along with commentary, on the Quran. There even exist some “Yusuf Ali Only” Muslims who think, if you don’t have Yusuf Ali’s version, you don’t have a good translation.

There exist other translations that are good: M. Pickthall. M.H. Shakir, Arthur J. Arberry, and Muhammad Asad.

One translation to avoid: the one done by Maulana Muhammad Ali. He was an Ahmadi, whom most Muslims consider a heretical sect, and as such if you quote from his translation they probably won’t take you seriously.

 

[Kadaveri]

Greetings.

I don’t think there’s any one translation that could be called authoritative, they all have strengths and weaknesses. I actually wouldn’t recommend Yusuf Ali’s translation; it’s not too bad it’s just that he has a tendency to put his own interpretations into the text itself when even though these interpretations are not heretical or anything, he should say when he’s expanding on what he thinks the verse means rather than strictly translating it. The most accurate translations I’ve read are Muhammad Asad’s and Marmaduke Pickthall’s, the later using quite a lot of archaic English so it may be tough for some to read, though the translation itself is very accurate. Both have very good commentaries.

And yes, Maulana Muhmamad Ali’s is to be avoided.