Making the Quran Accessible to Everyone: The Challenge of producing plain and easy Translation

Abstract

As a Quran teacher, my goal is to teach this sacred book faithfully and make it accessible to everyone. To achieve this, I needed a resource: a plain English translation presented in a contemporary style. I reviewed existing Quran translations and identified several issues: archaic language, poetic verse presentation, lack of sections, and absence of titles. These problems made the text resemble poetry, which was confusing for readers. I then conducted a survey to understand what kind of translation readers wanted and the problems they faced. Based on their feedback, I defined the criteria for a successful Quran translation and created a new version, The Majestic Quran in Plain English, beginning this journey in 1995.

As a student of the Quran for over 60 years, I understand the initial difficulties. In the early 1970s, translations felt foreign and overwhelming. While studying O Level religious education, I could easily grasp the stories in the Gospels, presented in plain English with clear sections and headings. In contrast, Quran translations were challenging because they used archaic language, verses without context, and no clear topics. This made understanding Allah’s words difficult.

Many Muslims want to read and understand the Quran but are discouraged by translations in archaic English or literal formats that lack coherence. This often leads to the Quran remaining on the shelves unread.

The primary issue is that some popular translations use old English from the early 20th century, presenting each verse separately without connecting them into paragraphs or topical sections. Readers must piece together the text, without guidance on topics or context. A task no reader wants to do. This disconnection leaves readers frustrated, thinking, “I don’t understand it; it’s not for me.”

Even newer translations perpetuate this issue. This way of presenting Quran translation is called versification, a term coined by Professor Mohammed Abdel Halim. Here verses are presented separately, each sentence stands alone. It’s like poetry, without paragraphs or sections. Readers are not guided by headings or rubrics, making the text difficult to navigate.

The Special Features of The Majestic Quran Translation

To address these issues, we set out to create a translation that meets the following standards, making it a page-turner:

1. Clear and Plain English: Easy to understand English that is contemporary.
2. Enjoyable to Read: Readers should feel, “I get it—most if not all of it!” It brings Allah’s words to life and makes them relevant in everyday language. Thousands of testimonials confirm we’ve struck a chord with readers. Alhamdulillah.
3. Section Headings: These break the text into bite-sized, understandable sections. Knowledge is defined as “information organized systematically.” The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. By presenting verses together in passages, we make sense of them, a fact confirmed by thousands of testimonials we have received from readers. The headings guide the reader with simple descriptions, thought-provoking question. And often they aid in linking different parts of the Surah.
4. Content Organization: The 114 Surahs are arranged in the divinely ordained order (Tawqifi). By examining their themes, we classified them into groups.
5. Comprehensive Introductions: Each Surah’s introduction provides context, a summary, and a focus on the central theme, helping readers grasp the unfolding message. This includes the circumstances of revelation, a summary, and the central theme, aiding readers in understanding the overall message of the Surat.

Conclusion

By identifying and analysing the problems with existing translations, we defined success criteria for a new Quran translation. The result is The Majestic Quran, proving that the Quran’s message can be made easy to read. This translation removes the language barrier that has long hindered Quran readers.

Our aim was to produce a translation that is reader-friendly, free-flowing, eloquent, and accurate. We want Quran readers to understand its meanings as the blessed messenger and his companions did. This creative interpretation grants readers access to Allah’s words, showing the coherence and linking of verses into a meaningful passage. Prof. Ibrahim Negm, advisor to the mufti of Egypt, noted this and remarked “This is a paradigm shift in the genre of Quran translations”.

Sincerity is key to any endeavour of a believer, we do everything only for the love of God, seeking His pleasure. This is the foundation of all good deeds and the core of Islam. I believe this was dominant reason for the success of The Majestic Quran. Allah grants real success and attracts people’s hearts to it.

* Speech delivered at online conference “Approaches to Quran Translations,” 3rd August 2024, organized by the British Board of Scholars and Imams.

Dr Musharraf Hussain OBE, DL