The Message of the Qur'an

View other editions of The Message of the Qur'an.

Excellent interpretation! - Rated
The Quran cannot be perfectly translated in my view. This is an excellent interpretation of the Quran and should be read alongside other interpretations. Only then will you begin to fully understand the beauty of the divine book.

Beware of Translation - Rated
Salaam to all. I must note that this book is beautifully presented. In fact I havent come acrosss a copy of a Mushaf as fine and portraited as this. However when reading the footnotes one must be made aware that Asad relies heaviliy on the Mutazalite aqidah ( doctrine) which is, according to the Ahl as Sunnah Wa'l Jummat, is a deviated sect and their belief in Anthromorphism. Therefore this gives a a wrong translation of the Holy Book. For example read the Surah Al Fil (Elephant) - Asad uses the Mutazalite doctrine that it wasnt birds who dropped the clay stones but actually it was a virus which destroyed the Abysinians - a more modernistic orientalistic and scientific approach.
If you want a good translation then please acquire one that is written by a qualified Islamic scholar - not just someone who can translate Arabic to English. This is important so that the right translation and message and be brought across by using the correct aqidah and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad pbuh. For every ayah the Prophet pbuh explained the ayat so one cannot get the wrong interpretation of Allah's words. These are intact through the preserved Hadith ( speech of Prophet pbuh).One good purchase would be Meaning of Noble Quran by Mufti Taqi Usmani a leading and highly respectable and reputable Islamic scholar. As the saying goes " Dont judge a book by its cover" is well apt in this case. Please I hope you use the advise given and may Allah guide us all to the Straight path. Amin

A window of illumination - Rated
This is the most beautiful but also the most intelligent translation of the Qur'an i have ever come across. First you have the Arabic text, then a transliteration to help you pronounce it correctly, then a translation into English with any extrapolations of Asad's clearly bracketed and finally a commentary.

Asad was clearly someone who saw Islam as progressive, universalist and open. He brings out the Light of the Qur'an, letting God's world illuminate our modern world as it illuminated the Prophet's. At the same time he engages with it. His Qur'an is a teacher not a paper idol. In fact he dedicates the book to "people who think"

Truly this is a gift of gifts.

Unlocks the Quran - Rated
If you want to UNDERSTAND the Quran and its intricities this is the book to get. The commentary is superb. Although there will always be disagreements as to what certain verses mean, Asad puts his point across very clearly. This is essential for muslims to own and would make perfect gifts to non-muslims. Highly recommended.

The Intellectual's Guide to Truth - Rated
This has to be, for me, the finest translation i have come across. Asad's translation is careful to explain WHY he has chosen to translate a word as this rather than as that and puts many references into their historical context.
Comparing to other translations, at least this sort of information allows you to make your own mind up.

i read this cover to cover and not long after, converted. That is how inspiring and powerful i found this text. There are several occasions where Asad has gone beyond the translation and explained the logic of a particular statement in the Qur'an (why men are permitted 4 wives but women not permitted 4 husbands, for example) allowing the reader to actively engage with the Qur'an message.. but what i like most is that he goes beyond the translation but only in the footnotes, not in the actual text (not putting words into God's mouth, as it were)

i found reading this to be inspiring, an eye opener and my first big step into what Islam really is about.