7 Parallel Qur’an Translations: A Brief Overview

Please select the Quranic surah you want to read:

1. Sahih International

  • Translators: A group translation (edited by Umm Muhammad).
  • Focus: Aims for literal accuracy (word-for-word meaning) using clear, modern English.
  • Key Feature: Very popular in modern digital and print media due to its straightforward language and adherence to a generally accepted literal interpretation.

2. Pickthall

  • Translator: Marmaduke Pickthall (An English convert to Islam).
  • Focus: Uses a classical, formal English style. It aimed to provide an “English equivalent” while retaining original Islamic terminology (e.g., Allah, Salat).
  • Key Feature: Considered the first authoritative English translation by a Muslim. Highly respected for its dignified and formal tone.

3. Yusuf Ali

  • Translator: Abdullah Yusuf Ali.
  • Focus: Most famous for its extensive footnotes and commentary (tafsir) which offer detailed background and theological context.
  • Key Feature: Extremely popular, though the English is sometimes archaic, resembling the King James Bible style. The value lies primarily in its rich commentary.

4. Shakir

  • Translator: M.H. Shakir.
  • Focus: Known for being more concise and simple than Yusuf Ali, with fewer footnotes.
  • Key Feature: The language is generally direct and less stylized, making it an easier read for some.

5. Muhammad Sarwar

  • Translator: Muhammad Sarwar.
  • Focus: Focuses on using simple, clear, and fluent modern English for easy comprehension.
  • Key Feature: A contemporary translation designed to communicate the central message of the Qur’an without heavy theological phrasing or deep commentary.

6. Mohsin Khan (Hilali & Khan)

  • Translators: Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali.
  • Focus: Strictly adheres to the Salafi/Wahhabi school of interpretation. It frequently uses parenthetical insertions to clarify the meaning based on Hadith and Sunnah (Prophetic tradition).
  • Key Feature: Known for its literal approach and inclusion of bracketed explanations to ensure the interpretation aligns with established scholarly views.

7. Arberry

  • Translator: Arthur John Arberry (Academic).
  • Focus: An academic and literary translation. Arberry’s primary goal was to capture the rhythm, music, and rhetorical quality (eloquence) of the original Arabic text.
  • Key Feature: Highly praised for its attempt to convey the poetic beauty and flow of the Qur’an, often prioritizing literary quality over detailed commentary.