Many readers who first came to Islam through English translations of the Quran have been perplexed by this work. The unfathomable emotive power, cutting reasoning, sharp relief of contrasts, startling imagery, and perfect precision of the Arabic original astounded listeners in their own tongue. Few are surprised by most translations. They appear out of focus, imprecise, the thread of dialogue is frequently lost for no apparent reason, and they are rarely moving or forceful.

The Quran Beheld was named by the translator's discovery that the ancient Islamic curriculum for mastering Quranic sciences lifts the veil from the heavenly masterpiece like walking from a gloomy and silent house into a vibrant spring day outside. Everything fluctuates.

A introduction explains why the Quran is still relevant to readers today. During the fifteen years of effort, the translator studied the Quran with a traditional scholar in Jordan, using the time-honored Quranic teaching paradigm and interpretive method of talaqqi, 'one-on-one instruction.'

In the light of the Quran's greatest exegetes, the Imams of Quranic exegesis or tafsir—men like Tabari, Zamakhshari, Abu Su'ud, Ibn 'Ashur, Biqa'i, Razi, Alusi, and others—the two went word for word through the Quran together twice.

The introduction explains seven major areas of meaning that are found throughout the Quran but have never been translated before. Many of the concepts, reasoning, and arguments that drive the message of the Quran's suras forward have been obscured by these gaps. Readers can decide for themselves how important this is.

The translation's English is placed next to the Arabic original, and it is preceded by a section outlining the Quran's primary topics, sura by sura.

About the Author

Shaykh NUH HA MIM KELLER was born in eastern Washington State in 1954. He read philosophy at Gonzaga University, the University of Chicago, and UCLA, entered Islam in 1977 at al-Azhar in Cairo, and moved to Jordan in 1980. A scholar of traditional Islamic sciences who studied with sheikhs in Jordan and Syria, he has produced such works as Reliance of the Traveller, Sea Without Shore, and the Chain of Gold edition of Dala’il al-Khayrat. He is a senior fellow at the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought.

Details:

• Title: THE QURAN BEHELD: An English Translation from the Arabic
• Hardcover
• Translator: Nuh Ha Mim Keller
• ISBN13: 9781590080832