The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an: Complete Translation with Selected Notes

622 Pages·2016·7.778 MB·English

�e Meaning of �e Holy �ur’ān
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THE MEANING OF
THE HOLY �UR’ĀN
Complete Translation with Selected Notes
‘Abdullāh Yūsuf ‘Alī
THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION
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© �e Islamic Foundation Published 2003/1424 A.H. Reprinted
2005/1426 A.H.; 2009/1430 A.H.
Published by
�e Islamic Foundation
Mark�eld Conference Centre
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Leicestershire, LE67 9SY, United Kingdom
Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Website: www.islamic-foundation.org.uk
�uran House, P.O. Box 30611, Nairobi, Kenya
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
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permission of the copyright owner.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
�e Meaning of the Holy �ur’ān: Complete Translation with Selected
Notes
1. Koran – Commentaries
I. Ali, Abdullah Yusuf, 1872-1952. II. Islamic Foundation (Great
Britain) 297.1’22521
ISBN 978086037-392-6
Cover Design by Nasir Cadir
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Publisher’s Note
IT IS our great pleasure and privilege to bring out a compact and
thoroughly revised edition of ‘Abdullāh Yūsuf ‘Alī’s translation of the �ur’ān
in modern English. �e Islamic Foundation was the �rst publishing house in
the West to issue this translation in 1975. Over the years, however, there had
been a growing need for a handy English translation of the �ur’ān for average
readers. An elaborate tafsīr work with copious notes or a translation without
any explanatory notes could not meet the needs of the anglophone-reading
public. Accordingly, we have brought out the present edition which, apart
from containing complete translation of the �ur’ānic text, retains essential
notes of ‘Abdullāh Yūsuf Alī’s exhaustive commentary on the �ur’ān, which
would enable the readers to gain a better understanding of the meaning and
message of the �ur’ān.
Since its �rst appearance in 1934, Yūsuf ‘Alī’s translation has held the
pride of place amid English translations by Muslim scholars. Indicative of its
wide popularity are its, at least, forty editions issued from Saudi Arabia, USA,
India, Pakistan, Malaysia, UK and other parts of the world. For years its copies
have been distributed free of charge by the Saudi Arabian embassies
throughout the world. �e merits of this work are many—a highly readable
paraphrase of the �ur’ānic text into chaste, idiomatic English; helpful
explanatory notes displaying the author’s wide range of scholarship and
providing necessary background information about historical allusions made
in the �ur’ān. Notwithstanding its phenomenal popularity, serious
reservations were expressed by Muslim scholars about Yūsuf ‘Alī’s views on al-
Ghayb. Accordingly the Editorial Committee, set up by the Presidency of
Islamic Researches I�a, Call and Guidance, King Fahd Holy �ur’ān Printing
Complex, Madinah, Saudi Arabia, thoroughly revised this work. It now
stands free of the shortcomings which had marred the original edition. �is
revised edition came out in 1990. We have drawn upon it and corrected some
of the mistakes which had crept into this edition as well. Every effort has been
made to present this rendering in modern English, avoiding the archaic,
Biblical expressions employed in the earlier editions. As already indicated, a
bare minimum of 472 explanatory notes out of a total of 6306 have been
retained in the present edition. At times, these have been considerably
abridged. �e original number of the notes features in a square bracket at the
end for those readers who may like to refer to the original note for a detailed
study.
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Prefaced to the present work is an excellent piece by Sayyid Abul A‘la
Mawdudi entitled as ‘Understanding the �ur’ān—An Introduction’ to the
study of the �ur’ān. It is of immense help and guidance for the uninitiated
readers of the �ur’ān. For it clearly instructs how one should approach the
�ur’ān which is not a book in the conventional sense of the term: more
importantly, it sheds ample light on various outstanding features of the
�ur’ān—its uniqueness, its guidance, its central theme, its Makkan and
Madinan Sūrahs, its style and arrangement, its compilation, its universality
and some valuable suggestions for its study. �is ‘Introduction’ would go a
long way in preparing readers mentally for grasping the life-giving message of
the �ur’ān. Another feature aiming at enhancing the value of this work for
readers is the inclusion of a brief Introduction to each Sūrah, containing a
synoptic account of the contents and other salient points which would
contribute to appreciating better the guidance embodied in the �ur’ān. �e
extensive thematic Index should also be of much bene�t for readers.
One of the reasons prompting us to bring out this handy edition of the
�ur’ān translation was the increasing interest in Islam expressed by non-
Muslims in the wake of 11 September events. We are con�dent this work
would go a long way in familiarising them with the meaning and message of
Islam. It would help dispel some misperceptions about things Islamic. May
Allah Subḥā nahū wa Ta‘ālā accept our effort in this cause.
It is our pleasant duty to thank our friends and colleagues, without whose
invaluable help and assistance this work could not be produced. Particular
mention should be made of Haji Koya Kutty, Islamic Book Trust, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia; Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin and Dilwar Hussain, Islamic
Foundation, Leicester; E. R. Fox and A. R. Kidwai, Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, India.
May Allah accept our endeavour in the cause of presenting before
mankind the eternal message of the �ur’ān, the �nal Divine guidance for all
times and places (Āmīn). We shall be obliged for your comments and
suggestions, which would enable us to improve upon this work in the next
edition.
Rabī‘ al-Awwal 1422H Dr. M. Manazir Ahsan
June 2002 Director General
�e Islamic Foundation
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Transliteration
Guide to Pronouncing Arabic Words
For some Arabic vowels and sounds there is no English equivalent. In
order to help readers overcome this problem some special marks have been put
on certain words in this book.
For example, ā, ī and ū stand for the vowel sounds aa (as in path), ee (as in
feet) and oo (as in pool) respectively.
Similarly, the signs (’) and (‘) have been used for the Arabic letters hamzah
(as in Wuḍū’) and ‘ayn (as in Ka‘bah).
Arabic Alphabet and its English Equivalent
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Contents
Understanding the �ur’ān—An Introduction by Sayyid Abul A‘la Mawdudi
Excerpts from the Preface to the First Edition
Translator’s Introduction
Chapter
1 Al-Fātiḥah (�e Opening)
2 Al-Baqarah (�e Heifer)
3 Āl ‘Imrān (�e Family of ‘Imrān)
4 Al-Nisā’ (�e Women)
5 Al-Mā’idah (�e Table Spread)
6 Al-An‘ām (�e Cattle)
7 Al-A‘rāf (�e Heights)
8 Al-Anfāl (�e Spoils of War)
9 Al-Tawbah (�e Repentance) or Barā’ah (Immunity)
10 Yūnus (Jonah)
11 Hūd (�e Prophet Hūd)
12 Yūsuf (Joseph)
13 Al-Ra‘d (�e �under)
14 Ibrāhīm (Abraham)
15 Al-Ḥijr (�e Rocky Tract)
16 Al-Naḥl (�e Bee)
17 Al- Isrā’ (�e Night Journey) or Banī Isrā’īl (�e Children of Israel)
18 Al-Kahf (�e Cave)
19 Maryam (Mary)
20 Ṭā Hā
21 Al-Anbiyā’ (�e Prophets)
22 Al-Ḥajj (�e Pilgrimage)
23 Al-Mu’minūn (�e Believers)
24 Al-Nūr (�e Light)
25 Al-Furqān (�e Criterion)
26 Al-Shu‘arā’ (�e Poets)
27 Al-Naml (�e Ants)
28 Al-Qaṣaṣ (�e Narration)
29 Al-‘Ankabūt (�e Spider)
30 Al-Rūm (�e Roman Empire)
31 Luqmān
32 Al-Sajdah (�e Prostration)
33 Al-Aḥzāb (�e Confederates)
34 Saba’ (�e City of Saba’)
35 Fāṭir (�e Originator of Creation)
36 Yā Sīn
37 Al-Ṣāffāt (�ose Ranged in Ranks)
38 Ṣād
39 Al-Zumar (�e Crowds)
40 Ghā�r (Forgiver) or Al-Mu’min (�e Believer)
41 Fuṣṣilat (Expounded) or Ḥā Mīm
42 Al-Shūrā (Consultation)
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43 Al-Zukhruf (�e Gold Adornments)
44 Al-Dukhān (�e Smoke)
45 Al-Jāthiyah (�e Kneeling Down)
46 Al-Aḥqāf (Winding Sand-tracts)
47 Muḥammad
48 Al-Fatḥ (�e Victory)
49 Al-Ḥujurāt (�e Inner Apartments)
50 Qāf
51 Al-Dhāriyāt (�e Winds that Scatter)
52 Al-Ṭūr (�e Mount)
53 Al-Najm (�e Star)
54 Al-Qamar (�e Moon)
55 Al-Raḥmān (�e Most Gracious)
56 Al-Wāqi‘ah (�e Inevitable Event)
57 Al-Ḥadīd (Iron)
58 Al-Mujādalah (�e Woman Who Pleads)
59 Al-Ḥashr (�e Gathering or Banishment)
60 Al-Mumtaḥanah (�e Woman To Be Examined)
61 Al-Ṣaff (�e Battle Array)
62 Al-Jumu‘ah (Congregation)
63 Al-Munā�qūn (�e Hypocrites)
64 Al-Taghābun (Mutual Loss and Gain)
65 Al-Ṭalāq (Divorce)
66 Al-Taḥrīm (Prohibition)
67 Al-Mulk (�e Dominion)
68 Al-Qalam (�e Pen) or Nūn
69 Al-Ḥāqqah (�e Sure Reality)
70 Al-Ma‘ārij (�e Ways of Ascent)
71 Nūḥ (Noah)
72 Al-Jinn (�e Spirits)
73 Al-Muzzammil (Folded in Garments)
74 Al-Muddaththir (�e One Wrapped Up)
75 Al-Qiyāmah (�e Resurrection)
76 Al-Insān (Man)
77 Al-Mursalāt (�ose Sent Forth)
78 Al-Nabā’ (�e Great News)
79 Al-Nāzi‘āt (�ose Who Tear Out)
80 ‘Abasa (He Frowned)
81 Al-Takwīr (�e Folding Up)
82 Al-In�ṭār (�e Cleaving Asunder)
83 Al-Muṭaffifīn (�e Dealers in Fraud)
84 Al-Inshiqāq (�e Rending Asunder)
85 Al-Burūj (�e Zodiacal Signs)
86 Al-Ṭāriq (�e Night-Visitant)
87 Al-A‘lā (�e Most High)
88 Al-Ghāshiyah (�e Overwhelming Event)
89 Al-Fajr (�e Break of Day)
90 Al-Balad (�e City)
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91 Al-Shams (�e Sun)
92 Al-Layl (�e Night)
93 Al-Ḍuḥā (�e Glorious Morning Light)
94 Al-Sharḥ (�e Expansion)
95 Al-Tīn (�e Fig)
96 Al-‘Alaq (�e Clinging Clot) or Iqra’ (Read!)
97 Al-Qadr (�e Night of Power or Honour)
98 Al-Bayyinah (�e Clear Evidence)
99 Al-Zilzal (�e Convulsion)
100 Al-‘Ādiyāt (�ose �at Run)
101 Al-Qāri’ah (�e Day of Noise and Clamour)
102 Al-Takāthur (�e Piling Up)
103 Al-‘Aṣr (Time �rough the Ages)
104 Al-Humazah (�e Scandalmonger)
105 Al-Fīl (�e Elephant)
106 Quraysh (�e Tribe of Quraysh)
107 Al-Mā‘ūn (�e Neighbourly Needs)
108 Al-Kawthar (�e Abundance)
109 Al-Kā�rūn (�ose Who Reject Faith)
110 Al-Naṣr (�e Help)
111 Al-Lahab (�e Flame) or Al-Masad (�e Plaited Rope)
112 Al-Ikhlāṣ (�e Purity of Faith)
113 Al-Falaq (�e Daybreak)
114 Al-Nās (Mankind)
Index
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