bradley@im4u.UUCP (David K. Bradley) (10/08/85)
Can anybody out there recommend a good English translation of the Koran?
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David K. Bradley
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Computer Science Department, bradley@sally.UTEXAS.EDU
The University of Texas at Austin bradley@ut-sally.UUCP
{ihnp4,harvard,gatech,ctvax,seismo}!ut-sally!bradley
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------kene@teklds.UUCP (Ken Ewing) (10/11/85)
> Can anybody out there recommend a good English translation of the Koran? > > -- > David K. Bradley > Some years ago I bought an English translation of the Koran published by Penguin Classics. The order of the chapters is different from original (to be more understandable to non-Moslems, according to the Introduction), but I'm aware of no other discrepancies. Since I am not a Moslem, and have no knowledge of Arabic, I cannot comment on the accuracy of anything in the book. I do happen to like Penguin Classics, though, so I do have reasonable confidence that the translation is faithful. Also, the book is rather inexpensive (around $3-$4), so you don't lose any big investment if it turns out unsatisfactory. Isn't it true (according to Islam) that if the Koran is translated to any language other than Arabic, it ceases to be the Word of Allah? Ken Ewing Tektronix, Walker Road [decvax,ucbvax]!tektronix!teklds!kene
tim@k.cs.cmu.edu.ARPA (Tim Maroney) (10/14/85)
> Isn't it true (according to Islam) that if the Koran is translated to any > language other than Arabic, it ceases to be the Word of Allah? That's true. The Koran is according to legend written in tablets of stone in Heaven. It is written in Arabic. There are similar legends in Judaism, although of course the Torah is in Hebrew; it is also my understanding that they are more ethereal than the Islamic legends of the tablets. There is no such thing as an "English Koran", only, as the subject line indicates, a translation of the Koran into English. I agree that the Penguin Classics edition (trans. by N. J. Dawood) is good, as well as widely available. A sample, which I just randomly opened to: "56:15 They shall recline on jewelled couches face to face, and there shall wait on them immortal youths with bowls and ewers and a cup of purest wine (that will neither pain their heads nor take away their reason); with fruits of their own choice and flesh of fowls that they relish. And theirs shall be the dark-eyed houris, chaste as hidden pearls: a guerdon for their deeds. "There they shall hear no idle talk, no sinful speech, but only the greeting, 'Peace! Peace!' "Those on the right hand -- happy shall be those on the right hand! They shall recline on couches raised on high in the shade of thornless sidrahs and clusters of talh; amidst gushing waters and abundant fruits, unforbidden, never-ending. "We created the houris and made them virgins, loving companions for those on the right hand: a multitude from the men of old, and a multitude from the later generations." -=- Tim Maroney, CMU Center for Art and Technology Tim.Maroney@k.cs.cmu.edu uucp: {seismo,decwrl,etc.}!k.cs.cmu.edu!tim CompuServe: 74176,1360 My name is Jones. I'm one of the Jones boys.