This is a multi-listing for 3 translations of the Meaning of the Qur'an in the English Language without the Arabic text. Please choose the translation from the drop-down menu.

• The Meaning of The Glorious Qur'an
  Translated by: Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
  Size: 13cm x 19cm x 2cm (WxHxD)
  Pages: 400
• The Meaning of The Holy Qur'an
  Translated by: Abdullah Yusuf Ali
  Size: 13cm x 19cm x 1.9cm (WxHxD)
  Pages: 384
• The Meaning of The Wise Qur'an
  Translated by: Sahib Mustaqim Bleher
  Size: 13cm x 19cm x 1.8cm (WxHxD)
  Pages: 352

All translations are in Modern English and have a Brief Index of Subjects.

About the Qur'an

The Qur'an is no ordinary book. To Muslims it is the eternal word of God (Allah), dictated to the prophet Muhammad - peace be with him - via the angel Gabriel (Jibreel). Originally revealed in Arabic, its style is unrivalled, its language eloquent, its meaning deep. It is beyond any translation to render all this richness of expression in another language. Yet, the Qur'an is primarily a book of guidance and must, therefore, be accessible to those who seek the truth contained in it. Whilst a translation cannot be an authoritative replacement of the original, it can make the meaning of its verses available to a non-Arabic speaking readership.

The verses (Ayahs) of the Qur'an were revealed throughout the 23 years of prophet Muhammad's prophethood, often in connection with events of the time. They were then memorised, recorded in writing, collected and arranged into chapters (Surahs). Within those verses we find narratives describing the creation of the world from earliest times or recounting the missions of earlier prophets, we come across general exhortation to belief and righteous conduct, we are given the tools and principles for reflection and sound judgement in a multitude of life's situations, and we receive detailed rulings on important aspects of criminal and civil law. Thus the Qur'an is not only a text of inspiration but also the foundation of the legal and social structure of Islamic society.

The text of the Qur'an has not changed since the days the prophet Muhammad - peace be with him - received this revelation, yet its content retains its relevance, validity and dynamics and continues to inspire believers of every generation as well as challenge the status quo of human society. The convincing observations of the Qur'an which, after all, are a communication from our Maker, are a powerful call to action and a rebuttal of complacency. They appeal to both the mind and the heart of the reader or listener, they call for justice and compassion, they decry and defy falsehood, pretence and oppression. They represent an uncomfortable truth for those who would like to banish the courage of one's conviction and do not want us to use our intellect and power of reflection to guide us along our path in life.

About the Translators

Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall (1875-1936) was an English traveller, novelist, polemicist and educationist who embraced Islam in 1917. His travels throughout the Muslim world formed the basis of several novels set in the Middle East and allowed him to become fluent in Arabic, Turkish and Urdu. After his conversion, he served as the acting Imam of the London Mosque (Notting Hill), worked for 15 years with Muslims in the Indian subcontinent as the editor of Islamic Culture (Hyderabad, Deccan), and served as the Nizam's advisor and publisher.
The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'an: An Explanatory Translation is his best-known work. While familiar with European Qur'anic criticism, he also spent time in Egypt with various traditional scholars to acquaint himself with their views. In later years, his works served as the basis for the Portuguese (Mozambique) and Tagalog (the Philippines) language editions.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1872-1953) was a British-Indian Islamic scholar and barrister. He was born into a family of the Sunni Bohra community in Surat, India. He was taught Arabic from early childhood, and by age five he had finished memorising the Quran. He attended Anjuman-e-Islam School in Bombay where another Indian Muslim by the name of Muhammad Ali Jinnah was his schoolmate. After receiving a BA from Bombay University in 1891, he won a Bombay Presidency scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge, where he received another BA and a law degree. He was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn, London. The Holy Qur'an: English Translation & Commentary is his best-known work. He worked on it for more than 10 years and it was published in 30 parts over a period of three years (1934-37). He completed his magnus opus at the age of 65. Since it's publication, it has gone on to become the most widely published and read translation of the Qur'an in the English language.

Dr. Sahib Mustaqim Bleher

Dr. Sahib Mustaqim Bleher is a convert to Islam who is familiar to Muslims in the UK for both his lectures and booklets on a great variety of subjects. As a professional writer and translator he carefully edited both the Muhammad Pickthall and Yusuf Ali translations of the Qur’an for IDCI to in some way modernise the now antiquated language those translations originally employed whilst being mindful not to alter the approach those translators took when rendering the meaning of the Arabic Qur’an in English. Those editions have been highly popular. With the present volume, the translator dedicated years of his life to produce a highly readable translation of the Qur’anic message of his own which he hopes has remained faithful to the original, expressed in plain English and informed by the classical Islamic texts on the interpretation of the Qur’an (Tafsir). We pray that this translation will open the door to the divine message for a large section of English speakers.