Quran: Arberry translation

[Augustus]

Has anybody read the Arberry translation of the Quran?

http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.arberry/1:1

I've heard that it is the closest to the Arabic in terms of grammar and expression.

Is this correct? How does it compare to other translations?

I would appreciate any opinions from Arabic speakers. Thank you

 

[YmirGF]

Has anybody read the Arberry translation of the Quran?

http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.arberry/1:1

I've heard that it is the closest to the Arabic in terms of grammar and expression.

Is this correct? How does it compare to other translations?

I would appreciate any opinions from Arabic speakers. Thank you

Respectfully, as this is in the Islam Dir... I can't speak to the veracity of Arberry, as it is now a very old translation, but I have used this online site for several years and find it very helpful seeing the different renderings in English.

http://www.islamawakened.com/Quran/23/13/default.htm

(It's a pretty easy site to navigate around the passages.)

 

[Shia Islam]

Has anybody read the Arberry translation of the Quran?

http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.arberry/1:1

I've heard that it is the closest to the Arabic in terms of grammar and expression.

Is this correct? How does it compare to other translations?

I would appreciate any opinions from Arabic speakers. Thank you

i tried once to compare the different translations of the Quran.

For many verses they are the same.

However, for someone who wants to study Islam deeply, it is highly recommended that he/she study Arabic..

All of these translations have problems...

Also, to translate the Quran, one needs to understand it to a degree that is not possible normally for the translators.

according to what i remember, the translation you are talking about have more problems than many of the others.

Abdulla yousuf Ali may have less problems than many others..

marmaduke pickthall is almost at the same level as Yousuf Ali.

 

[Cordoba]

It's best to read a translation of the meanings of the Qur'an done by a Muslim.

A. J. Arberry was a non-Muslim orientalist. His translation was first published in 1955, which means it is now 60 years old.

During these years, better and more accurate translations have been produced, including the translation of Sahih International in the 1990s and the Oxford translation of Dr. Abdel Haleem in 2004.

This year, a new translation was produced in the US, edited by Dr. Nasr, titled The Study Qur'an which I have not yet read but you may also wish to check.

Hope that helps

 

[Augustus]

It's best to read a translation of the meanings of the Qur'an done by a Muslim.

A. J. Arberry was a non-Muslim orientalist. His translation was first published in 1955, which means it is now 60 years old.

During these years, better and more accurate translations have been produced, including the translation of Sahih International in the 1990s and the Oxford translation of Dr. Abdel Haleem in 2004.

This year, a new translation was produced in the US, edited by Dr. Nasr, titled The Study Qur'an which I have not yet read but you may also wish to check.

Hope that helps

Thanks for your reply. I have another question if you could help.

I read the following:

"He rendered the Qur'an into understandable English and separated text from tradition. The translation is without prejudice and is probably the best around. The Arberry version has earned the admiration of intellectuals worldwide, and having been reprinted several times, remains the reference of choice for most academics. It seems destined to maintain that position for the foreseeable future."
Assessing English Translations of the Qur'an
by Khaleel Mohammed
Middle East Quarterly
Spring 2005, pp. 58-71


With translations of the Quran, how much do translators incorporate tafsir into their translations? I know you get the (bracketed) information to show additions, but other than this, how much are translators trying to translate the actual Arabic, and how much are they trying to create something aesthetically pleasing and correct in orthodox interpretation (rather than reflecting the syntax, grammar and expression of the Arabic)?

 

[Cordoba]

Not an easy question, as each translator has a special methodology.

Producing a 100% accurate translation of the original Arabic text that reflects the grammar and expressions and all other aspects of the text in a mission impossible.

Some translations of the meanings of the Qur'an incorporate tafsir in the actual translated text, while others refer to them in the footnotes. On the other hand, a literal translation word for word would not do justice to the reader to understand the original text, so I believe that unconsciously many translators also convey their own understanding and interpretation of the Arabic text.

In summary, each of the available English translations has strong points and weak points.

For more info on the latest translation mentioned above by Dr. Nasr, you may wish to check this review which was just published yesterday:

http://muslimmatters.org/2015/12/14/the-study-quran-a-review/

Peace and all the best

 

[Augustus]

Thank you

 

[FearGod]

Has anybody read the Arberry translation of the Quran?

http://tanzil.net/#trans/en.arberry/1:1

I've heard that it is the closest to the Arabic in terms of grammar and expression.

Is this correct? How does it compare to other translations?

I would appreciate any opinions from Arabic speakers. Thank you

I found his translation to be close to the actual words than using his own interpretation.

For example verse 21:30, in Arabic

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

By Sahih International

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

By Arberry

Have not the unbelievers then beheld that the heavens and the earth were a mass all sewn up, and then We unstitched them and of water fashioned every living thing? Will they not believe?