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Liked It4 of 6 members found this review helpful “THE BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD [3” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It2 of 5 members found this review helpful “I'll definitely be in the minority with my dissenting review of this book, but this is my honest review, and I altruistically chose to read this book in an attempt to better understand my Muslim brothers and sisters. |
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“NOTE: This review and the four-star rating consider only this particular translation and edition of the Qu'ran. It offers no argument for or against the theology, morality, or cultural significance of the Qu'ran itself.
Simcha Wood wrote this review Monday, January 30, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Tarif Khalidi's translation of the Qu'ran is poetic and its diction and rhetoric seem to strike a delicate balance between gravity and accessibility. That is, the language is sufficiently elevated for a text that asserts its own divine authorship, but is not unduly stilted or archaic. There are moments in which one suspects the translator is struggling to capture the English equivalent of a classical Arabic concept with a word that carries both the right register and connotations - one notable example is the frequent use of the adjective "manifest," a usage that sometimes draws attention to itself, though perhaps a necessary distraction when one considers that the many synonyms available - including "obvious," "transparent," and "lucid" - carry connotations which in context could be read as inadvertantly derogatory or otherwise not wholly apt. My only real nitpick with the translation, is Khalidi's use of "booty" instead of "spoils." Khalidi is writing in the British-English idiom, and is perhaps not fully cognizant that "booty" is now somewhat heavily weighed down (if that is the right figure of speech) with a levity that has attached itself both to the literal and slang uses of "booty" in American English.
I also would like to have seen more commentary, as found for example in Robert Alter's and Everett Fox's translations of the Torah. In the introduction to this translation's brief glossary, Khalidi argues that he does not want to weigh down a first-time reader with commentary. And this is certainly an admirable stance. Nevertheless, some more specific historical context for some of the material would have been appreciated by this first-time reader and, as the very act of translating a religious text will involve some level of exegesis, I do not think additional commentary from the translator would pose any significant additional barriers between the English reader and an experience of an unmediated Qu'ran.”
“I NED TO GIFT to afire bare and to be Muslim ”
Abdullah wrote this review Sunday, January 22, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 1 members found this review helpful“I definitely recommend everyone read this work primarily because very few people seem to know what it is about. I am always hearing people say, `The Quran is just like the Bible' - well, it is not. The writers of the Biblical narratives understood how to tell a story and, whether one agrees with the virtues they tried to instill, those stories hold to narrative form, structure, and drama. The Quran is a mish-mash of tales taken from other traditions (Christianity, Judaism, Hellenic Paganism) and presented as `unerring truth' and the `last word' from the eternal God to human beings. Read it for yourself and come to your own conclusion. Highly recommended but, for me, an enormous frustration and vexation to the spirit (to put it mildly). I find it interesting that, of all the world religions, it is only Islam which instantly resorts to extreme acts of violence when confronted with opposing views. Once one reads the Quran one understands a little better why that is.”
Joshua J. Mark wrote this review Monday, January 9, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“5 Sura. Imprescindible para enternder el mundo árabe en las últimas décadas. Lectura muy interesante como libro sagrado. Reflexiones que van más allá del Islam. ”
David Barrancos wrote this review Wednesday, December 28, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Our Guide for better life.
Amani H wrote this review Thursday, December 15, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I've read this book, and will keep reading inshallah.
”“This is a book for muslims so after we pray we read the holy quran.Ive read it and you have to memerize it it is very long you have to remeber it so you can pray and read whie you pray in your head.Ive praid alot at home with my parents mostly people go to the mausk to pray on eid or ramadan today is eid and we have t pray alot since im at school most of the time i do my make up test i pray if i miss it my mom tells me if im good a praying or in my quran .I get my quran mostly right cause i read it alot .When my friend comes over we pray together then we read the quran .It is really good .Why do we muslims have to read it ? Let me tell you why its important to us it means about death helpless people people with cancer or anything like that .It is all in arabic americans that dont know arabic cant read it.That the quran is the muslims book americans have there own book the bible and other religons have there own book .I hope all muslims read this. :)”
Mrs. Davis wrote this review Friday, September 2, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A difficult read. It doesn't really cross cultural lines. I feel it should be read by anyone who feels the need to jump to conclusions about what Muslims believe. ”
M. Romeo wrote this review Thursday, July 28, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A must read for a Christian who wants to better understand Islam”
Charles wrote this review Saturday, July 23, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“The best book in the world, 5 stars aren't enough.”
rs.booksrgreat wrote this review Tuesday, May 31, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
