Book
Bibliography of the Translations of the Meanings of the Glorious Quran into English
📖 Overview
Bibliography of the Translations of the Meanings of the Glorious Quran into English chronicles and analyzes over 60 English translations of the Quran published between 1649 and 2002. The book provides detailed biographical information about each translator and examines their methodological approaches.
Each entry contains publication details, the translator's background and qualifications, and an assessment of the translation's strengths and limitations. The work includes both complete translations and partial renderings of the Quran, organizing them chronologically to track the evolution of Quranic translation into English.
Documentation of each translation includes samples of rendered verses, notes on the translator's interpretative choices, and commentary on the accuracy of the English expressions used. The book maintains reference citations and includes appendices with supplementary materials about translation theory and methodology.
The bibliography serves as both a scholarly reference work and a lens through which to understand how cultural and historical contexts have influenced different approaches to translating Islam's central text. The analysis raises questions about translation philosophy and the challenges of conveying sacred texts across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
👀 Reviews
There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Abdur Raheem Kidwai's overall work:
Based on available academic reviews and reader feedback:
Readers value Kidwai's comprehensive analysis of Quran translations and his systematic evaluation methodology. Academic reviewers on research platforms highlight his detailed comparisons between different English renderings and clear explanations of translation challenges.
Strengths cited by readers:
- Clear presentation of complex translation issues
- Thorough documentation and references
- Balanced assessment of different translations
- Useful for both scholars and general readers studying Quranic texts
Common criticisms:
- Academic writing style can be dense
- Some sections repeat information across different works
- Limited availability of his books outside academic circles
Ratings data is limited since most of his work appears in academic publications. His "Bibliography of Quran Translations" received positive reviews in Islamic studies journals, though formal ratings are not available on major retail platforms. Academic citation indexes show his works are frequently referenced in translation studies and Islamic scholarship.
Note: Due to the specialized academic nature of his writing, broad public review data from sources like Goodreads is minimal.
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The Translation of the Holy Quran: A Bio-Bibliographic Study by Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu A reference work documenting the historical development of Quran translations with cataloged entries of translators and their works.
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Early Printed Qurans: The Dissemination of the Quran in the West by Hartmut Bobzin A bibliographic compilation of early Quran printings and translations in European languages with publication details and historical context.
The Koran in English: A Biography by Bruce B. Lawrence A documentation of the evolution of English Quran translations from the 17th century to present with bibliographic details of major translations.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 The book catalogs over 150 different English translations of the Quran published between 1649 and 2002, serving as the most comprehensive reference work of its kind
🎓 Author Abdur Raheem Kidwai is a professor at Aligarh Muslim University and has dedicated much of his academic career to studying Quranic translations and Islamic literature
📖 The first complete English translation of the Quran was published by Alexander Ross in 1649, despite Ross not knowing Arabic and working from a French translation
✍️ The bibliography reveals that nearly 40% of English Quran translations were produced by non-Muslims, offering diverse perspectives on the sacred text
🔍 The work examines not just the translations themselves, but provides critical analysis of their accuracy, methodology, and the historical context in which they were produced