Murshid Al Qari 1

  This work solves an enigma that has puzzled many readers first coming to Islam through English translations of the Quran. The Arabic original stunned hearers in their own language with its unutterable evocative power, incisive arguments, the sharp relief of its contrasts, striking imagery, and precise detail. Most translations stun few. They seem somehow out of focus, the thread of discourse is often inexplicably lost, and they are seldom moving or powerful. The present work is called The Quran Beheld because its translator found that the classical Islamic curriculum for learning the Quranic sciences lifts the veil from the divine masterpiece like stepping from a dark and silent house into a lively spring day outside. Everything changes. A preface outlines the Quran’s continued relevance for readers today. An introduction describes the time-honored Quranic teaching paradigm and interpretive method of talaqqi, ‘one-on-one instruction,’ by which the translator studied the Quran with a traditional scholar in Jordan during the fifteen years of the work. The two went word by word through the Quran together twice, in the light of its greatest exegetes, the Imams of Quranic exegesis or tafsir, which literally means ‘uncovering’—men such as Tabari, Zamakhshari, Abu Su‘ud, Ibn ‘Ashur, Biqa‘i, Razi, Alusi, and others. The introduction explains seven key areas of meaning, ubiquitous throughout the Quran, not incorporated by any previous translation. Such gaps have prevented serious apprehension of many of the themes, logic, and arguments that carry the message of the Quran’s suras forward. Readers may judge for themselves how much this matters. The translation is preceded by a section setting forth the main themes of the Quran, sura by sura. A biographical section shows the lives and works of the Imams mentioned. The work concludes with a 61 page index to help readers find the divine wisdom of Allah's immortal message to Man. This edition is made to be one's companion. Readers will see the Quran in a completely new format, offering easy readability. As the author states in the preface: The Quran is the most read, reread, and memorized book on earth, for the very good reason that it explains the secret of human existence and answers the questions that no human being can answer. “Take it in hand, depend on it, and see if things do not become a great deal clearer, and life a great deal better. It works.” [The above description is from the publisher]