OK, I have an Arabic speaking friend who criticizes all English translations of the Koran. Because Dawood wasn't available online, as are Pickthal, Shakir, and others, I bought a copy, and as far as translations go, it's probably as good as you're going to get in English. Yusuf Ali is *soft* in his rendering, and you're going to need supporting books like the Tafsirs, Hadiths, and Sira to get as much understanding of Mohammad as possible. Make no mistake, Islam is Mohammad and his belief system. Know the man behind the cloak of this religion, and you'll have a far better understanding of the images coming out of Islam on a daily basis. A Koran might be a gateway, but it will not bring you to understand Mohammad's character; that will be more clearly revealed by his Sunnah.
Good luck, and fasten your seatbelts; it's a very bumpy ride. |
The Koran (Penguin Classics) Books In Print, Audio Books.