With growing anguish about the world’s religiously-driven conflicts and misunderstandings, recently I was moved to revisit the Qur’an. The following collection of passages is the result. I especially recommend the version from which these readings were gleaned: a recent update of Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s English translation of the meanings of the Qur’an. This is a beautifully accessible translation with helpful commentary. (The date of publication is not indicated in my copy; however, it is a recent translation that builds upon Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s earlier work.)
May our world know peace.
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15 Readings from The Holy Qur-an: English Translation of the Meanings and Commentary
Excerpted passages, phrased as poems, from Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation, revised and edited by The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA, Call and Guidance, King Fahd Holy Qur'an Printing Complex.
1
"In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way;
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
Those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray."
—Surah 1 (The Opening)
2
"Say, when afflicted with calamity:
'To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return.'
On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear.
(Pray:)
'Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear.
Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness.
Have mercy on us.' "
—Surah 2 (The Heifer), 143, 268, and 286
3
"Allah is the Lord of bounties unbounded.
Be ye worshippers of Him Who is truly the Cherisher of all.
Hold fast, all together,
By the rope which Allah (stretches out for you).
If Allah helps you, none can overcome you.
If He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you?
In Allah, then,
Let believers put their trust."
—Surah 3 (The Family of Imran), 74, 79, 103, and 160
4
"Praise be Allah,
Who created the heavens and the earth,
And made the darkness and the light.
To Him is due the primal origin
Of the heavens and the earth.
No vision can grasp Him,
But His grasp is over all vision."
—Surah 6 (Cattle, Livestock), 1, 101, and 103
5
"If the enemy incline towards peace,
Do thou (also) incline towards peace,
And trust in Allah: for He is One
That heareth and knoweth (all things)."
—Surah 8 (The Spoils of War), 61
6
"Allah is All-knowing, All-Wise.
Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Allah loveth those who make themselves pure.
He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme!"
—Surah 9 (Repentance, Immunity), 97, 99, 108, 129
7
"Nor say of anything, 'I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow'—
Without adding, “So please Allah!”
And call thy Lord to mind when thou forgettest, and say,
'I hope that my Lord will guide me
ever closer (even) than this to the right road.' "
—Surah 18 (The Cave), 23-24
8
"And the servants of (Allah) Most Gracious
Are those who walk on the earth in humility,
And when the ignorant address them, they say, 'Peace!' "
—Surah 25 (The Criterion), 63
9
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp:
The Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star:
Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west,
Whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it:
Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light."
—Surah 24 (Light), 25, 35
10
"Behold! he cried to his Lord in secret, praying:
'O my Lord! infirm indeed are my bones,
And the hair of my head doth glisten with grey:
But never am I unblessed, O my Lord, in my prayer to Thee!
So peace is on me the day I was born,
The day that I die,
And the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)!' "
—Surah 19 (Mary), 3, 4, 33
11
"Praise be to Allah
Who has created the heavens and the earth;
Who sends you down rain from the sky;
Who has made the earth firm to live in; made rivers in its midst;
Who listens to the distressed when he calls on Him;
Who relieves its suffering;
Who guides you through the depths of darkness."
—Surah 27 (The Ants), 59-63
12
"Whoever submits his whole self to Allah, and is a doer of good,
Has grasped indeed the most trustworthy hand-hold."
—Surah 31 (The Wise—Luqman), 22
13
" 'Peace!' - a word (of salutation) from a Lord Most Merciful!
He is the Creator Supreme, of skill and knowledge (infinite)!"
—Surah 36 (Ya-Sin, being abbreviated letters), 58 and 81
14
"O mankind! We created you
And made you into nations and tribes,
That ye may know each other
Not that ye may despise (each other)."
—Surah 49 (The Inner Apartments), 13
15
"The destination (of all)
Is to Allah."
—Surah 35 (The Originator of Creation, or The Angels), 18
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