A New English Translation of the Qur'an
 

http://19.org/

Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Reformis...%3C%20/a%20%3E

If you want some examples, see here:

http://www.yuksel.org/e/books/rtq.htm

I used the Yusef Ali, because it was what I was told to use. It's a very popular translation. However the excerpt above shows why it is problematic. "After the death of the Prophet Muhammad, something interesting happened. In direct contradiction to the teachings of the Quran, male clerics dedicated the religion not to God alone, but to a "holy" corporation consisting of:

God +
Muhammad +
Muhammad's companions +
The companions of Muhammad's companions +
Early sect leaders +
Late sect leaders +
Early scholars of a particular sect +
Late scholars of a particular sect; and so on.

The product of this corporation was the Hadith (teachings attributed to Muhammad), the Sunnah (actions attributed to Muhammad), the Ijma (consensus of a select group of scholars), the Ijtihaad (religious decrees by early scholars) and numerous sects. This concoction of medieval Arab/Christian/Jewish cultures was introduced to the masses as God's infallible religion, as delivered by the last prophet. The only thing actually delivered by God to Muhammad, however, was the text of the Holy Quran, which is set out as the final and authoritative divine message to humankind:"


It shows why it would be improper to interpret the Fourth Sura to allow men to beat their wives, and why Mohammed was most likely a "Gentile", not an illiterate, as is popularly promoted.

Okay, so it isn't that new, but new to me.

Here is also a link with a standard English translation plus audio of it in Classical Arabic being sung. It also has the short vowels in the Arabic script. http://quran.com

FARMS' Dan Peterson has a new bio of Muhammad out, published by Eerdmans

http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Proph...3497485&sr=1-1

Would it be a personal question if i asked you how you found out about this version of Quran translation and the interpretation's method involved? I dont seem to recall who was/is your adviser for the first found, if there is any. I am not going to pretend that I am not impressed by the job you have done to actually achieve a better understanding of this version of Islam in your research despite all the distractive propagandas out there.

In answer to your questions.

I was introduced to Yusef Ali's translation by an Egyptian and devout Muslim. He sends his children for instance to a private Islamic school which he established himself. I found it useful, but in working upon Arabic and seeking for an outline of the Surat, I found this Turkish man's translation. I am awaiting its arrival as I like how he is translating the provisions, as it makes more sense.

I am struggling at learning Arabic, I can read the abjad now, but I still don't have a grasp on grammar or pronunciation. I still can't hear 'ayn. I wish I could imitate that sound and am very frustrated. Plus the verb structure is quite complex. Yet I try.

My son, bless his heart, is trying some Farsi, (no he's not getting very far, but he's having fun learning at his own pace on his own. He says he has trouble with the pronunciation as well).

It will take a long time to grasp the Qur'an. What is hard for somebody not initiated with it, is the lack of narrative or story. It's much more similar to our Doctrine & Covenants, where the story behind the section must be learned in order to learn the section.

I did read the Fatiha, but found it more fun to simply listen to. Surat 2 takes forever to listen to.

A Question to you:

Do you read the Qur'an, or do you read a Farsi translation of the Qur'an?

If so, how does Farsi translate some of the verses which were translated in a problematic way in English?