Literal translations of the Qur’an, may often sound irrelevant and fail to correspond to the original meaning.Therefore, many scholars recommend studying the Qur’an through interpretations with commentaries that deal with the reasons for revelation (asbab al-nudhul) and notes for specific references.
“Ali Unal’s translation is one of the best English translations of the last few decades. The language is both lucid and faithful to the original Arabic. The commentary is extremely valuable for two main reasons. The first is the degree to which it roots itself in the classical tafsir tradition, bringing to its audience the insights of centuries of classical Qur’an interpretation. The second is its focus on the spiritual teachings and implications of the verses–a focus that is far too rare in many other contemporary commentaries.”
-Scott C. Alexander, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Islamic Studies
Director, Catholic-Muslim Studies, Catholic Theological Union
