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Title: The Koran: With Parallel Arabic Text (Penguin Classics)
ISBN: 0140445420
Author:
Anonymous
N. J. Dawood
Publicate Date: 2000-07-01
Publish: 2000-07-01
List Price: $23.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $13.04
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $4.86
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Readable, Reliable Rendition of Islam's Sacred Scriptures
When I decided to read the Koran, I studied the various translations available, trying to find the most readable, reliable version available. I downloaded all available public domain translations from gutenberg.org and carefully compared them against the translations currently available in print. I bought several, but not all, the translations, and settled upon this translation to read. I chose this translation because it was one of the most readable and because of my long experience of the reliability of Penguin translations. After I bought my (non-parallel edition) copy in a used book store, I discovered this parallel text edition. For the reader who doesn't read Arabic (which would cover most of us), the only advantage this edition has over the non-parallel text edition is that this edition is still in print and the non-parallel edition will have to be bought used.
As one who knows next to nothing about Islam, I was struck by three things: The moral teachings; the martial teachings; and the figure of Jesus.
First the moral teachings: They are quite similar to the moral teachings of the Christian Bible. Indeed, the Koran explicitly recognizes the scriptural nature of the "Torah" and the "Gospel." The moral teachings don't seem to be as plentiful in the Koran as in the New Testament, but I think there's a very good explanation. Mohammed was at war most of his prophetic career, therefore quite a lot of the Koran deals with warfare.
Second, the martial teachings: They are quite prevalent, and one could easily read the martial teachings to the exclusion of all else in the Koran. Something that struck me about the martial teachings was that they stressed non-aggression. The good believer is to fight only in self defense, and only enough to accomplish the defense. After defeating the enemy, then the good believer must be forgiving and merciful.
Martial teachings prevail in number over moral teachings in the Koran because Mohammed was persecuted in his lifetime, driven out of Mecca, attacked in Medina, and forced to defend himself in a bloody war. Quite naturally, if he's engaged in a war during most of the time he's revealing the Suras of the Koran, he's going to be talking about warfare. Thus, warfare can become a significant aspect of Islamic theology.
Third, the figure of Jesus: Jesus occupies a place in the Koran superior to all the prophets who preceded him. Muslim belief about Jesus is very similar to, but also quite different from, Christian belief. So near, yet so far apart.
Reading the Koran isn't going to make you an expert on Islam any more than reading the Bible is going to make you an expert on Christianity. But given the political, religious, and cultural climate of today's world, it is worth the effort to try to learn something about the beliefs of approximately 1,000,000,000 of our fellow-beings on this planet.
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2: I Suppose One Might Ask: "Do I Hear The Voice Of God Behind These Words?"
The Koran. Certainly it is one of the two books that have impacted humankind more than any other. For that reason, it should be on the short list of books any serious person with an interest in religion, history, politics, sociology, or current events, should read in her or his lifetime. Supposedly there is no such thing as a "translation" of this holy book. If a version of it appears in other than its archaic Arabic, then it is said to be a "study guide" and not a translation. I kept that in mind all through my study of this monumental work.
I think the Koran represented one of the most significant codifications of law since the time of Hammurabi, and viewed in that light alone its importance in human affairs is assured, but of course the Koran is far more than merely the basis for a legal system, it was the founding code for an entire civilization. To a devout Muslim, the Koran is a pathway to eternal life, a perfect record of the spoken word of God, and it is a reference work for personal conduct, societal ethics, and unifying morality.
Is there anything for a westerner to fear from reading the Koran? No. Is there anything to be gained? Probably. I doubt a beginning to end reading of this book will change the lives of many people who have acquired it for the purpose of study, but in what it stands to teach us about the culture against which our own is at war (and I do stand by that characterization of our global situation) the Koran is invaluable.
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3: Helpful, simplistic
This cut and dry translation is a good one, with a wondergul index and proper translations of the most important points. Of course the 'poetic' passages are lost, but hence the parallel Arabic text is sitting there for the reader to work through, and check the translation himself. A very readable and helpful translation of the many I own I have always gone back to this one for easy reference when doing research. If one is a religious scholar interested in the 'poetic nuance' then they should be reading the Arabic, as anyone reseraching the Bible should learn Hebrew. For the student, for the person interested in Koran, this ia a great beggining.
Seth J. Frantzman
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4: oversimplified translation
NJ Dawood has a very straightforward style of translating. This makes for an easier read, but unfortunately he makes a lot of mistakes when translating the parts of the Quran that are more subtle and require a deeper understanding of the Arabic language.This becomes evident in his tranlation of some of the parables and also many of the verses that make reference to historical events. For a more accurate translation I would recommend Muhammad Asad or Nooruddin.
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5: AUTHENTIC, ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE
N.J. Dawood did a humble job in translating this version of "The Koran". It is a very good effort.
The fact that he included a parallel Arabic text (on every page) authenticated his accuracy and intention. Translations are hardly perfect, but this one really came close.
First published in 1956, subsequent editions (and reprints) of this Koran have maintained its tradition of using simple language. Any English speaker who want to know what Muslims believe in should read this book. It is very easy to understand.
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