The Holy Qur'an: English Translation, Commentary and Notes with Full Arabic Text (English and Arabic Edition) Hardcover – October 19, 2001

I'm giving this product 5 stars despite the fact that this publisher sometimes has a problem with quality assurance. Some customers believe they are receiving a used book, and sometimes these books get sent back, but the publisher is not in a Western country, nor are some of their customers, so this company can't keep up with the quality of many Western publishers.Besides, I wanted a copy of Abdullah Yusuf Ali's classic translation with commentary. If I purchase from other publishing houses, I would end up with a better print, but I'd have a revised commentary from a Wahabist perspective, which I don't care to own. I want a true Sunni Muslim commentary, and if that means I have to buy from a publisher whose products are sometimes (not always) substandard, so be it.I am a 12er Shia Muslim, and many of our scholars believe this translation is worth having. I enjoy the translation and commentary even if it is was made for our Sunni brothers and sisters, and I can live with the differences of opinion. I consider Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation with commentary a 20th century Sunni classic which is just a useful today. It is my hope Allah willing that a publishing house with good quality control, committed to publishing true Sunni works, would obtain the rights to publish this classic.The cover and font is fine (although some readers may have some trouble reading sections with smaller print), but the printing itself has problems. This may be an annoyance, but one I can live with.I also recommend M. M. Pickthal's translation of the Quran, which is the first translation I ever read, and also a Sunni translation. Some Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian anti-Muslim books in the 1980s portrayed the Quran to be a book that was hard to understand in translation, and that the revelations in the Quran can't be placed in history. However, Pickthal included a short Biography of the Prophet (SAWW) and explained that there were early and late Meccan and Madinan revelations, so this knowledge for me refuted those anti-Muslim tracts I had read when I was a fundamentalist Christian in my twenties. Abdullah Yusuf Ali's commentary gives more insights on the Surahs than does Pickthal.My favorite 12er Shia Muslim translation of the Quran is the one by S V Mir Ahmed Ali, with commentary. There is of course a little bit of a difference of opinion on translation and on the dating of a few Surahs, but I believe it is good for knowledgeable lay Sunni and Shia Muslims to compare and contrast these differences. This leads to better understanding between Muslims. Actually, we have more in common than we might think.Unless you want your bookshelf to have only the best looking books on the shelves (which is not a bad idea in areas of one's home that may be seen by visitors), please don't pass up this classic. Remember, you can always keep this Quran by your nightstand by your bed. I keep mine with my S V Mir Ahmed Ali Quran translation, our 1st Imam Ali Ibn Talib's Peak of Eloquence, our 4th Imam's As-Sahiffa As-Sajjadiyyah (the Psalms of Islam), our 6th Imam Jaffar As-Saddiq's Lantern of the Path, and the Forty Hadith of Imam Nawawi (which I read before I became a Muslim and have always liked since).Enjoy!Addendum:Besides the commentaries, there are Appendices after certain chapters that give additional information that has bearing on the Surah. One excellent example is Appendix VIII which supplements the commentary on the Verse of Lights, Surah 24:35 by giving a summary of various sections of Imam Ghazali's book, Miskat-ul Anwar (The Niche of Lights), as well as the contrasting Verse of Darkness, Surah 24:40. These Appendices enhance the commentary. You won't find these gems in the newer additions.

Awesome volume, wasn't expecting to make "War and Peace look skinny, but this book is 3.5 inches or 9 cm thick, makes my study Bible look thin... I haven't spent too much time with it, as I had to force myself to put it down, or should I say close it and put it on the shelf for later, as it is too heavy to sit and hold in hands to read. It is beautifully made, and a joy to have in my home library, along with all of my books... I used to have a cheep paperback with no commentary, but misplaced it, this one is too big to loose.As you will see in the images, it is a large volume that you will want to place on a table or desk to enjoy... Now I will be able to learn about the roots of Islam by studying this awesome volume. Don't let the table of contents scare you when it refers to volume I, as volume II is contained in the same volume. Just look at this book, It is has beautiful 'guilt' artwork on the front cover and spine, the back cover is plane green.The paper the book is printed on, is regular book paper, and I am sure that is why it is so thick and heavy, but with standard paper, if you want to make notes, and or highlight it won't show through to the other side of the page...

Just received mine in the mail. My first action was to check the pages as I have read that a few people buy this Qur'an and it arrives missing pages, Mine were all there (took me about a hour to check). Also as I was flipping through I noticed its not very well built and looks to me as thought someone put it together by hand hastily, some of the text is faded and some pages were stuck together (not badly just a small bit at the page numbers) and there's a few pages that were not cut right and stick out at the bottom right corner but I'm going to fix that soon with a X-Acto knife.Aside from the poor construction it has great translation and commentary (which is why i gave it 4 stars and not 2 or 3). Basically its a good read and helpful study tool (whether you're Muslim or not) but Its not constructed well. If you buy it sit down when it arrives and examine it to see if its acceptable to you first. Then take further action if need be.

I ordered this Qur'an last week and it arrived in 3 days. It is the thickest book I have ever owned, it is going to take me a while to read it. It came new in a plastic wrap and the printing is legible. I am Catholic and wanted to know what is going on in Islam as I hear all kinds of stories but have a hard time finding people who can answer my questions. This book was first published in 1934 and I know it was a lot of work to put it together. I have been told that you have to read the Qur'an in Arabic to really understand it but I do not have time (or a real reason) to learn Arabic. There are plenty of footnotes and cross references, get back to me next year and I will tell you what I thought!

Invaluable, scholarly, critical, and revealing text. Ali's translation of the Qur'an is an important work for anyone whose desire is to gain an understanding of Islam. Ali's work is profound; exhaustive and illuminating, but it is not heavy or verbose, rather it is an absolute joy to read. His research draws not only from a well of his personal expereience as a Muslim, but also from extensive research. Citing Jewsih, as well as Christian, religious texts, Ali's work steadfastly and critically serves to clarify the true messages related by the Qur'an. His notes offer sound and approachable ideas to concepts of Islam including, but not limtied to: prayer, patience, behavior, and faith. If you are curious about Islam or wish to have a guide to Islamic faith that is respected by millions of Muslim's for it's compassion and beauty, read Abdullah Yusuf Ali's, Holy Qur'an.