The Koran : Arthur's Classic Novels

The Koran

Free Koran eBooks in English

See also Writings of Islam page

The Koran is a much misunderstood book. I wish to convince you that it is at least as valid as the New Testament. I will be providing different versions of English translations and I will give you my preferences. I will also provide a course on basic themes of the Koran.
I am always glad to get feedback from you.

"Unlike the Bible which was written by a great number of people, the Qur'an was the work of one man. It stands unchallenged as the most influential Book of one individual person. This is even more remarkable from a man who could neither read nor write. It is the first work of prose literature of Arabia and ranks uncontested as the best.

" Reading the Qur'an is done much more than reading from any other book including the Bible since it is used in public worship, in schools, in individual worship, private study and reading. Because of this fact alone it is a sufficient claim on our attention. It is the most widely-read Book in existence.

"The Qur'an and its Revealer are the foundation of Islam. It is the sacred Book of hundreds of millions of people who regard it as the Word of God spoken through the mouth of His Prophet. It affords many insights into the spiritual development of a most backward people and the creation of religious personalities (i.e. saints, scholars, poets, etc.)."
from
The Disconnected Letters of the Qur’án
and the Significance of the Number Nineteen
by Robert T. Cameron

Please be patient with the spelling mistakes. I am proofreading all the translations.

For an explanation of the Koran see Koran Introduction

The Koran translated from the Arabic by J. M. Rodwell
This version is with no introduction and no footnotes.

The Koran translated from the Arabic by J. M. Rodwell
This version is not in traditional order and has many footnotes.
'ALL that is in the Heavens, and all that is in the Earth, praiseth God: His the Kingdom and His the Glory! And He hath power over all things! '

The Koran Interpreted A Translation by A. J. Arberry
A poetic version, well thought out with excellent preface.

The Message of The Qur'an translated and explained by Muhammad Asad
A translation by a very thoughtful modern thinker who became a Muslim from Polish-Jewish stock. Unusual commentary, well done. But very large file.
The Message of The Qur'an translated by Muhammad Asad
without commentary to make the reading easier and the file smaller.

Al-Qur'an translation by Ahmed Ali
A good translation.

The Koran and a good translation. If you are comfortable with English try this one. I think it the best for now.
The believers are a band of brothers. Make peace among your brothers and fear God, so that you may be shown mercy.

The Koran translated by E.H. Palmer
'O ye folk! serve your Lord who created you and those before you; haply ye may fear! who made the earth for you a bed and the heaven a dome; and sent down from heaven water, and brought forth therewith fruits as a sustenance for you; so make no peers for God, the while ye know! '

The Holy Qur'an translated M. H. Shakir
'Those who disbelieve from among the followers of the Book do not like, nor do the polytheists, that the good should be sent down to you from your Lord, and God chooses especially whom He pleases for His mercy, and God is the Lord of mighty grace.'
'Whatever communications We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that God has power over all things?' -- and another version --
The Holy Qur'an translated M. H. Shakir

The Qur'an translated by Yusuf Ali
This is a straitforward translation. Very popular amoung Muslims who have difficulties with the Arabic.
10:26. 'To those who do right is a goodly (reward) -- Yea, more (than in measure)! No darkness nor shame shall cover their faces! they are companions of the garden; they will abide therein (for aye)! '

The Qur'an tranlated by George Sale
This is the oldest translation in my list but one of the best for its accuracy.

13:32 Apostles before thee have been laughed to scorn; and I permitted the infidels to enjoy a long and happy life: But afterwards I punished them; and how severe was the punishment which I inflicted on them!
See also Word version with intro a large file 3MB.
See also 30 portions for daily reading of Sale's English Translation of The Holy Qur'an Daily Reading
See also Word version RTF
See also HTML version HTML

Koran English Translation by Dr. T.B.Irving
4:93. Anyone who kills a believer deliberately will receive as his reward [a sentence] to live in Hell for ever. God will be Angry with him and curse him, and prepare dreadful torment for him.

The Noble Qur'an English Translation by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
40. Verily, those who turn away from Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc. by attacking, distorting and denying them), are not hidden from Us. Is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Verily! He is All-Seer of what you do (this is a severe threat to the disbelievers).

Ocean is a Vast resource
Try it for more information and books about the Koran and Islam.

The Meaning Of The Glorious Qur'an (Pickthall tr.)
Al-Qadr: Power
Revealed at Mecca

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
97.1 Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Predestination.
97.2 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is!
97.3 The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
97.4 The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees.
97.5 (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn.

The Qur'an translation to English by Muhammad Zafrulla Khan
Thus who will turn away from the religion of Abraham but he who has ruined his soul? Of a surety, We exalted him in this world, and in the next also he will be among the righteous.

The Qur'an English Translation by Maulana Muhammad Ali
Those who disbelieve in the messages of God and would slay the prophets unjustly and slay those among men who enjoin justice, announce to them a painful chastisement.

The Qur'an translation to English by Sher Ali
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion. Surely the right has become distinct from error; so whosoever refuses to be led by those who transgress and believes in God, has surely grasped a strong handle which knows no breaking. And God is All-Hearing. All-Knowing.

The Qur'an translated by Sheikh Muhammad Sarwar
We gave some of Our Messengers preference over others. To some of them God spoke and He raised the rank of some others. We gave authoritative proofs to Jesus, son of Mary, and supported him by the Holy Spirit. Had God wanted, the generations who lived after those Messengers would not have fought each other after the authority had come to them. But they differed among themselves, some of them believed in the authority and others denied it. They would not have fought each other had God wanted, but God does as He wills. (2:253)

The Qur'an translated to English by Khalifa
5:68 Say, "O people of the scripture, you have no basis until you uphold the Torah, and the Gospel, and what is sent down to you herein from your Lord." For sure, these revelations from your Lord will cause many of them to plunge deeper into transgression and disbelief. Therefore, do not feel sorry for the disbelieving people.

Themes of the Koran Vol I an introduction.
A little history and a selection of verses with some clarifying comments.

Themes of the Koran Num. 2 This is the second study course.
This is the basic course with Koran and Bible references.

Themes of the Koran Vol 2 a second introduction.
A more detailed selection of verses with some clarifying comments.

Restatement of History of Islam and Muslims by Sayed Ali Asgher Razwy
This is a new story of Islam. It is the story of the movement which was launched by Muhammad, the Messenger of God, in A.D. 610 in Makkah, and was consummated with the support of his cousin, collaborator and vicegerent, Ali ibn Abi Talib, in A.D. 632 in Medina. It covers a period of ninety years from A.D. 570 when he was born in Makkah, to A.D. 661 when his successor, Ali ibn Abi Talib, was assassinated in Kufa.

The Collection and Sources of the Qu'ran English Translations Of The Qur'an

The Koran English and Arabic

Koran in Many Languages

Koran in Persian

Scientific Approach to the Qur'an

Six Lessons in Islam by Marzieh Gail
Islam in the beginning is a story of two cities -- Mecca and Yathrib, later called Medina. Medina was a rich oasis. It was an agricultural community; many of its clans were Jews and they cultivated the extensive palm groves.

For an explanation of the Koran see Koran Introduction

The Way things Now work

A meditation on a sign, maybe a vision, maybe a fact.

I sat in meditation in my easy chair,
Thinking deeply on my great love of the Koran
And how it happened, and how it happened

It came to me that reading of the Dawood translation
Of the chapter 'Thunder' number thirteen
It made me cry, so beautiful, so beautiful

I was branded as a lover, chapter 13
A number 13 Muslim, so much I wanted to speak
Of my love for the word of God, the word of God.

Later I got up to check the rain outside
When I openned the curtains a flash of lightning
In February deep thunder, lightning and thunder

I concluded that God wanted me to read Thunder, the Chapter
So I read it aloud, noting the many wonderful verses
Many wonderful passages

Everyone has guardian angels, one before and one behind
Today I went to do shopping and the bank
A little heedless of the lights, heedless of the lights

A man called out behind me, be careful
The lights had not changed and traffic was turning passing
When I cross a woman tells me cooly to be more careful

A scruffy old white man and an small black woman
Behind and before, guardians of mine?
This time I noticed them, but how many other times
Have I paid them little attention

From Heavenly Poems

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