Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparrow
Do you have to read it in Arabic to appreciate the poetry?
(What's the best English translation?)
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Not at all! Of course, it's best to read it in the Arabic, but I understand it very minimally and was able to come away with an appreciation of the artistry of the original verse. My favorite translation is the Muhammad Asad translation (titled
Message of the Qur'an, you can read it online here:
http://www.islamicbulletin.com/free_...quran_asad.htm). It's great because it provides tons of context, which is extremely helpful to anyone who is really trying to understand Islam as it relates to culture (and Arab culture in particular). There are tons of other great translations though. The Hilali/Khan translation is the one that is most used in your average American mosque, for example.
There's also tons of exegesis out there on the Qur'an, which I doubt most people would be interested in. However, it's good to remember that those interpretations exist because it underscores the fact that Islam, along with all other religious traditions, does not exist as a monolith.