THE GRACIOUS QUR’ĀN: A MODERN PHRASED INTERPRETATION IN ENGLISH
Interpreter: Dr. Ahmad Zaki Hammad
Publications: Lucent Interpretations, LLC
P.O. Box 3931
Lisle, IL 60532-8831 USA
No. Of pages: 1404 (Arabic-English Parallel Edition)
ISBN: 978-1-935146-02-5
Reviewed by SYED HAMED ALKAFF & DR. MAAZ AMJAD
This is a successful attempt to present the essence of the Qur’ān’s message in lucid English. However, the “interpretation” is a liberal translation which contains explanations of the holy verses of the Qur’ān. In this way, it has become a mixture of Allah’s words and the interpreter’s words. Sometimes one cannot distinguish between the two.
Nevertheless, the interpreter has done a marvellous job in purposely making it an interpretation rather than a translation in order to convey the message of the Divine Revelation without any linguistic “hiccups” and also to maintain the flow.
But the translation/interpretation should have made a little less usage of such “formal” English which seems to cater only to the needs of the “core” English speaking world (i.e. the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand) and seems to belittle the wider readership which includes South Asia, South East Asia and Africa.
It is notable that the interpreter hasn’t “deviated” from the traditional interpretation of the Qur’ānic text, including the texts related to the hudood punishments.
Comments On Some Specific Verses:
A) In Surah Al Baqarah verse 208, the learned interpreter has translated the word “Al Silm” (السلم) as “peace” while the whole context beginning from verse 205 clearly indicates that whoever follows the footsteps of Satan creates chaos and disorder as is mentioned in the above mentioned verse and whoever follows the Divine Guidance and the footsteps of Allah’s Messenger creates peace and stability in the world. That’s the reason they were demanded to enter the whole of the Islamic system of life and not merely a part of it which was done by the Jews. We therefore request our esteemed interpreter to review this specific word “peace”.
B) In verses 275-279 of Surah Al Baqarah, we observe that –
1) The interpreter has used the word “usury” instead of “interest” which amounts to limiting the interest based transactions to only the money lenders excluding thereby the institutionalised practice of interest which is the lifeline of current economic system. This system lends money to the governments and bails them out too. What a selling and purchasing!
This is actually done by dictating new and harder terms to the governments at each bail out bargain. Greece is a shining example in this case.
The “blunder” committed by our esteemed interpreter betrays his lack of understanding of current politico-economic system and his underestimation of the extremely devastating effects of interest on human lives. It is just like equating cancer to common cold!
2) The interpreter has translated Al Zakath (الزكاة) which is a specialised Islamic term, as Zakath-Charity which isn’t right because Zakath isn’t a charity but an obligatory pillar of Islam. By suffixing ‘charity’ to Zakath, the learned interpreter has devalued an obligatory pillar of Islam to an optional act.
3) The learned interpreter has translated the word ‘Al Bay’ (البیع) literally as ‘selling’ when in truth it carries the meanings of both buying and selling in the Arabic language. This translation carries the possibility of misleading the readers into thinking that only selling equals interest but not buying. This implies that one is forbidden from buying interest based products but not selling them.
In conclusion, we consider The Gracious Qur’an A Modern Phrased Interpretation in English, an appreciable contribution to Qur’ānic literature and a valuable effort at propagating Qur’ān’s message especially among the English speaking peoples.