[Roorseprate]

I read an English translation of the Qur'an, now I'm trying to memorise the vocabulary of the Qur'an offered by Sunnipath. (http://spl.qibla.com/Quran/Q0003R0000.aspx)
Especially now during tarawee it annoys me that I didn't do this before. To have a full understanding of what the Imam actually recites would be so much better for mental concentration.

Having spent sometime on late Maulana Abdul Kareem Pareekh Sahab (RA)'s dictionary and little bit of time with Hyderabad Model of meaning of Qur'an I have been trying to get something out of the Imam's recitation in Taraweeh.

This is very beneficial activity. It completely shuts you off from the world. Even if you understand only one word like ulaaa-ika then you are hooked and you wonder as to whom is Allah (SWT) is talking about. It is immediately rewarding activity. For example, when the Imam yesterday came to the words that mean This is a letter that starts with Bismillahirrahmanirraheem
a bulb went on immediately in my mind that we are in the middle of Surah Namal!

[Sthjrderfida]

Having spent sometime on late Maulana Abdul Kareem Pareekh Sahab (RA)'s dictionary and little bit of time with Hyderabad Model of meaning of Qur'an I have been trying to get something out of the Imam's recitation in Taraweeh.

This is very beneficial activity. It completely shuts you off from the world. Even if you understand only one word like ulaaa-ika then you are hooked and you wonder as to whom is Allah (SWT) is talking about. It is immediately rewarding activity. For example, when the Imam yesterday came to the words that mean This is a letter that starts with Bismillahirrahmanirraheem
a bulb went on immediately in my mind that we are in the middle of Surah Namal!

I very much agree. Same goes on in my head during taraweeh. May I suggest another activity that can benefit those who pray taraweeh? Read the Arabic and the English translation of the surahs that the Imam will recite the night before the prayer. It helps because during the prayer you'll remember different parts of the surahs, in English and in Arabic.

[jeargefef]

I very much agree. Same goes on in my head during taraweeh. May I suggest another activity that can benefit those who pray taraweeh? Read the Arabic and the English translation of the surahs that the Imam will recite the night before the prayer. It helps because during the prayer you'll remember different parts of the surahs, in English and in Arabic.

for the reminder.
Have been planning that for years.
Let me see.

[iodillalm]

I don't think that's sad when you were a child. It would be sad if an adult had that problem. If a child has the ability to learn the meaning of the Qur'an along with memorizing it, then tabarakallahu ahsanul khaliqeen. And if he doesn't, then I don't see a problem with that so long as he makes effort to learn it gradually. Otherwise it's misplaced expectations imho. I think a child memorizing words verbatim in a foreign language is ingenious in itself, and if the meanings are also learned from a young age, then that makes one a super genius in my book. You've misunderstood me, brother. A lot of the Quran would probably be beyond the understanding of a child. But when I was talking about myself as a child, I meant all the way up to age 20

What I mean is, not go through the English meaning of every verse, but I think even young children can still be taught about the basic contents.

So if someone asked say, my 9 year old nephew, he could say: it teaches about Islamic history, and Islamic laws, and about the previous Prophets peace be upon them, etc etc. But the fact remains, he can't. So I read through the English meaning of Surah Fil with him, and now he knows what that verse is about. I actually did the same thing with my 6 year old nephew. I don't think they are geniuses now

Why shouldn't a child know that? The stories of the prophets (peace be on them) can be related to children, as can parts of the seerah, etc.

[Keendwainge]

You've misunderstood me, brother. A lot of the Quran would probably be beyond the understanding of a child. But when I was talking about myself as a child, I meant all the way up to age 20

What I mean is, not go through the English meaning of every verse, but I think even young children can still be taught about the basic contents.

So if someone asked say, my 9 year old nephew, he could say: it teaches about Islamic history, and Islamic laws, and about the previous Prophets peace be upon them, etc etc. But the fact remains, he can't. So I read through the English meaning of Surah Fil with him, and now he knows what that verse is about. I actually did the same thing with my 6 year old nephew. I don't think they are geniuses now

Why shouldn't a child know that? The stories of the prophets (peace be on them) can be related to children, as can parts of the seerah, etc.

I understand where you're coming from now, and I agree with you because that's definitely doable for children.


for giving tawfiq to understand one another.

[Grzqbmhy]

Ok lets see this...

Answer honestly...

How many of you have read complete Qur'an in your native language (translation that is) ?

In many Muslim cultures , Muslim kids are just made to read Qur'an like parrots...the essence of Qur'an doesn't even come out ...

So answer the poll may be?

[Srewxardsasv]

I dislike the term "read like parrots". Even that type of "parrot reading" will earn the reciter hasanat. No one will argue about the superiority of understanding what one reads but still, we shouldn't downplay efforts to memorize the Qur'an. It's insulting to say the least.

I, and thousands of others memorized the Qur'an in that manner and the method has been tried, tested and proven to be very fruitful.

[xsexymasterix]

Reading the eng. Qur'an from cover to cover is a big ask. But most important to get an understanding. Last year I sat down on my PC and took the english/arabic quran mp3 and painstakingly deleted each arabic verse so left is an english language only Quran that "runs" without interruption.

Its one link about 700mb. You are all welcome to download it. Believe me its well worth hearing regularly.

English-spoken-Quran-Bilal_Phelps

AND here is a one minute sample of the eng. only version for you to try:

https://www.4shared.com/mp3/FgdHV7uS/sample.html

[TpDoctorOneTp]

Reading the eng. Qur'an from cover to cover is a big ask. But most important to get an understanding. Last year I sat down on my PC and took the english/arabic quran mp3 and painstakingly deleted each arabic verse so left is an english language only Quran that "runs" without interruption.

Its one link about 700mb. You are all welcome to download it. Believe me its well worth hearing regularly.

English-spoken-Quran-Bilal_Phelps

AND here is a one minute sample of the eng. only version for you to try:

https://www.4shared.com/mp3/FgdHV7uS/sample.html

This is brilliant, thank you!

[niemamczasu]

Reading the eng. Qur'an from cover to cover is a big ask. But most important to get an understanding.[/URL]

I have wondered what the difference in length is from the Arabic to the English. I realize that this can vary based upon translation. Typically, how many pages does an Arabic-only Qur'an cover?

[oliverlogo]

I have wondered what the difference in length is from the Arabic to the English. I realize that this can vary based upon translation. Typically, how many pages does an Arabic-only Qur'an cover?

Some people regularly use the edition that fits snugly in man's front pocket of shirt.

[verizon]

Some people regularly use the edition that fits snugly in man's front pocket of shirt.

Would it be about the size of a pocket-sized NT Bible?

I don't think they make English Qur'an translations that small, do they?

All of the English translations that I have range from approximately 435 pages to about 900+ pages....

[zilsolley3]

Just to enjoy the Meaning,Thought-Provoking Verses,I Sometimes wish I was Born an Arab!

The Noble Quran was given to us with the Most Beautiful Poetic Eloquence...
at the time it was Revealed to Muhammad (SAW),the Art of the Pagan Arabs was Poetry.They believed they were the Best in it!
So Allah (swt) sent down an Entire Book (with Divine Guidance & Law) , which in every verse, there is Beauty in the Form of Poetry.
From the Beginning to the End

At the Time,our Prophet (SAW) could not read...
The Quran & Islam are His Miracles

The first revelation from Allah (swt) through the Angel Gibreal to Prophet Mohamed (saws) was the first five verses of Surah (chapter) Al-Alaq:

"Iqra bismi rabbikalla dhi khalaq. Khalaqal insana min alaq. Iqra wa rabtukal alrram. Alladhi 'allama bil qalam. 'Allamal insana malam ya’lam, "

"Read in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clot. Read, for your Lord is most
Generous, Who teaches by means of the pen, teaches man what he does not know." (96: 1-5).

and till today,it stands Strong,in the Hearts & Minds of Millions of Muslims around the World
Promoting the Highest Moral Code & Conduct to lead the Masses into a State of Harmony amongst themselves
and the World around them...

Allah Hu Akbar!

[Leczyslaw]

Would it be about the size of a pocket-sized NT Bible?

I don't think they make English Qur'an translations that small, do they?

All of the English translations that I have range from approximately 435 pages to about 900+ pages....

I do not remember, even if I have seen, the pocket-sized NT Bible.
This should give you some idea of the print I am talking about.
Arabic is ultra efficient in space it takes to write the text. The word MUHAMMED in Arabic takes only as much space as the letter M in English.

[quorceopporce]

I've read the Sahih International Translation of the Qur'an (which in my opinion is the closest English translation to the actual Arabic)

I've listened to some tafseer videos, and read tafseer of some verses in Maariful Qur'an.

Not all of us can experts in Arabic you know. Nevertheless, reading the English translation itself is amazing.

[perpelverw]

Reading the eng. Qur'an from cover to cover is a big ask.

Not really, the translation of the Qur'an is relatively short. You could read it multiple times in a single day if you wanted to (not that this is necessarily a good way to read it).

[astefecyAvevy]

Not really, the translation of the Qur'an is relatively short. You could read it multiple times in a single day if you wanted to (not that this is necessarily a good way to read it).

I do not know many people who would have time to read a 500-1000 page book multiple times in a single day.

Let's see..... I pulled out my "shortest" English translation of approx. 435 pages, and I counted an approximate average number of words per page (400), so that makes a total approximate number of words at 174,000 words. On average, most adults read 250-300 words per minute. So, 174,000 divided by 250 equals 696 minutes or 11.6 hours. Given that the typical day has only 24 hours, minus time for eating (3), prayer (1), sleep (8), and other unmentionables (1), brings the number of hours down to approximately 11 hours......

So, the average individual could read an English translation of the Qur'an approximately one full time through in a single day.

I am now wondering if other English translations have less words and are faster reads. I do realize that some translators are more concise with words than others.

[Vobomei]

Not really, the translation of the Qur'an is relatively short. You could read it multiple times in a single day if you wanted to (not that this is necessarily a good way to read it).

Akhi it is the original Arabic, after it has been memorized, that you can recite a part of in seven minutes. I am talking about fast reciters. Usual reciters take about 20 minutes to recite a part. I take about an hour to recite a part and I am out after that. So the fast Haafiz reciter will take about 7 time 30, that is, 210 minutes to finish a Qur'an. This is three and half an hour. So a fast reciter can hope to finish one Qur'an per day. Of course there have been superfast reciters who had done multiple recitations in a day. Those will be exceptions. In case of translations the single reading will take not less than a month. Or that is what happened in my case - it was more than a month when I did it.

And even in case of Arabic recitation we should remember the Hadith that whoever has finished the Noble Qur'an in less than three days has understood nothing. You shall get the reward for recitation but if any understanding is aimed at then our recitation should not be more than ten parts a day.

[Shinegayboyx]

Perhaps our brother Arif was exaggerating.... or maybe he has an exceptionally short translation?

[JennaJJxoxoxo]

Perhaps our brother Arif was exaggerating.... or maybe he has an exceptionally short translation?

I used to have a copy of a translation that was only around 350ish pages, if even that. That's what I was making my assumption on. Aside from that, PouringRain's post inspired me to take a reading speed test (11.6 hours to read 174,000 words seemed really, really slow to me). I found out that I read much faster than an average person, so I had a bias I was unaware of when I made that post. I assumed everyone else could read as fast as I can.

Anyway, my point still stands. It's not a "big ask" for an adult to read 435ish pages or 500 pages. Saying 1000 pages though isn't fair, I've never seen a thousand page translation that was only a translation and not a commentary or tafsir as well.