oxford world’s classics THE QUR(cid:1)AN The Qur(cid:1)an is the supreme authority in Islam. It is the fundamental and paramount source of the creed, rituals, ethics, and laws of the Islamic religion. This supreme status stems from the belief that the Qur(cid:1)an is the word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad via the archangel Gabriel, and intended for all times and all places. The Qur(cid:1)an was the starting point for all the Islamic sciences, which were developed in order to study its grammar, pronunciation, and style, and it is the basis of Islamic law and theology; indeed, as the celebrated fifteenth-century scholar and author Suyuti said, ‘Everything is based on the Qur(cid:1)an’. The entire religious life of the Muslim world is built around the text of the Qur(cid:1)an. As a consequence of the Qur(cid:1)an, the Arabic language moved far beyond the Arabian peninsula, deeply penetrating many other languages within the Muslim lands––Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian, and others. The first sura (or section) of the Qur(cid:1)an, al-Fatiha, which is an essential part of the ritual prayers, is learned and read in Arabic by Muslims in all parts of the world, and many other verses and phrases in Arabic are also incorporated into the lives of non-Arabic-speaking Muslims. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem was born in Egypt, and learned the Qur(cid:1)an by heart from childhood. Educated at al-Azhar, Cairo, and Cambridge Universities, he has taught Arabic at Cambridge and London Universities since 1966, including courses in advanced practical translation and the Qur(cid:1)an. He is now Professor of Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His most recent publications are Understanding the Qur(cid:1)an: Themes and Style (2001) and English Translations of the Qur(cid:1)an: The Making of an Image (2004). He is also working on An Arabic–English Dictionary of Qur(cid:1)anic Usage, with El-Said Badawi. He is the editor of the Journal of Qur(cid:1)anic Studies and the London Qur(cid:1)anic Studies series. oxford world’s classics For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics have brought readers closer to the world’s great literature. Now with over 700 titles–– from the 4,000-year-old myths of Mesopotamia to the twentieth century’s greatest novels–– the series makes available lesser-known as well as celebrated writing. The pocket-sized hardbacks of the early years contained introductions by Virginia Woolf, T. S. Eliot, Graham Greene, and other literary figures which enriched the experience of reading. Today the series is recognized for its fine scholarship and reliability in texts that span world literature, drama and poetry, religion, philosophy and politics. Each edition includes perceptive commentary and essential background information to meet the changing needs of readers. OXFORD WORLD’S CLASSICS (cid:1) The Qur an A new translation by M. A. S. ABDEL HALEEM 1 3 Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6dp Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in OxfordNew York AucklandCape TownDar es SalaamHong Kong Karachi Kuala LumpurMadrid MelbourneMexico CityNairobi New DelhiShanghaiTaipeiToronto With offices in ArgentinaAustriaBrazilChileCzech RepublicFranceGreece GuatemalaHungaryItalyJapanSouth KoreaPoland Portugal SingaporeSwitzerlandThailand TurkeyUkraineVietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © M. A. S. Abdel Haleem 2004, 2005 The moral rights of the author have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) First published 2004 First published, with corrections, as an Oxford World’s Classics paperback 2005 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organizations. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Koran. English. The Qur(cid:1)an / a new translation by M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. p. cm. –– (Oxford world’s classics) Originally published: 2004. Includes bibliographical references and index. I. Abdel Haleem, M. A. II. Title. III. Oxford world’s classics (Oxford University Press) BP109 2005 297.1′22521––dc22 2004030574 ISBN 0–19–283193–3 1 Typeset in Ehrhardt by RefineCatch Limited, Bungay, Suffolk Printed in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc CONTENTS Introduction ix The Life of Muhammad and the Historical Background x The Revelation of the Qur(cid:1)an xiv The Compilation of the Qur(cid:1)an xv The Structure of the Qur(cid:1)an: Suras and Ayas xvi Stylistic Features xix Issues of Interpretation xxi A Short History of English Translations xxvi This Translation xxix A Chronology of the Qur(cid:1)an xxxvii Select Bibliography xxxix Map of Arabia at the Time of the Revelation xliii THE QUR(cid:1)AN 1. The Opening (Al-Fatiha) 3 2. The Cow (Al-Baqara) 4 3. The Family of (cid:2)Imran (Al-(cid:2)Imran) 34 4. Women (Al-Nisa(cid:1)) 50 5. The Feast (Al-Ma(cid:1)ida) 67 6. Livestock (Al-An(cid:2)am) 80 7. The Heights (Al-A(cid:2)raf) 94 8. Battle Gains (Al-Anfal) 110 9. Repentance (Al-Tawba) 116 10. Jonah (Yunus) 128 11. Hud (Hud) 136 12. Joseph (Yusuf) 145 13. Thunder (Al-Ra(cid:2)d) 153 14. Abraham (Ibrahim) 158 15. Al-Hijr (Al-Hijr) 162 16. The Bee (Al-Nahl) 166 17. The Night Journey (Al-Isra(cid:1)) 175 18. The Cave (Al-Kahf) 183 19. Mary (Maryam) 191 vi Contents 20. Ta Ha (Ta Ha) 196 21. The Prophets (Al-Anbiya(cid:1)) 203 22. The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajj) 209 23. The Believers (Al-Mu(cid:1)minun) 215 24. Light (Al-Nur) 220 25. The Differentiator (Al-Furqan) 227 26. The Poets (Al-Shu(cid:2)ara(cid:1)) 232 27. The Ants (Al-Naml) 239 28. The Story (Al-Qasas) 245 29. The Spider (Al-(cid:2)Ankabut) 252 30. The Byzantines (Al-Rum) 257 31. Luqman (Luqman) 261 32. Bowing down in Worship (Al-Sajda) 264 33. The Joint Forces (Al-Ahzab) 266 34. Sheba (Saba(cid:1)) 272 35. The Creator (Fatir) 277 36. Ya Sin (Ya Sin) 281 37. Ranged in Rows (Al-Saffat) 285 38. Sad (Sad) 290 39. The Throngs (Al-Zumar) 295 40. The Forgiver (Ghafir) 301 41. [Verses] Made Distinct (Fussilat) 307 42. Consultation (Al-Shura) 311 43. Ornaments of Gold (Al-Zukhruf) 316 44. Smoke (Al-Dukhan) 321 45. Kneeling (Al-Jathiya) 324 46. The Sand Dunes (Al-Ahqaf) 327 47. Muhammad (Muhammad) 331 48. Triumph (Al-Fath) 334 49. The Private Rooms (Al-Hujurat) 338 50. Qaf (Qaf) 340 51. Scattering [Winds] (Al-Dhariyat) 343 52. The Mountain (Al-Tur) 345 53. The Star (Al-Najm) 347 54. The Moon (Al-Qamar) 350 55. The Lord of Mercy (Al-Rahman) 353 56. That which is Coming (Al-Waqi(cid:2)a) 356 57. Iron (Al-Hadid) 359 58. The Dispute (Al-Mujadala) 362 Contents vii 59. The Gathering [of Forces] (Al-Hashr) 365 60. Women Tested (Al-Mumtahana) 368 61. Solid Lines (Al-Saff) 370 62. The Day of Congregation (Al-Jumu(cid:2)a) 372 63. The Hypocrites (Al-Munafiqun) 374 64. Mutual Neglect (Al-Taghabun) 376 65. Divorce (Al-Talaq) 378 66. Prohibition (Al-Tahrim) 380 67. Control (Al-Mulk) 382 68. The Pen (Al-Qalam) 384 69. The Inevitable Hour (Al-Haqqa) 387 70. The Ways of Ascent (Al-Ma(cid:2)arij) 389 71. Noah (Nuh) 391 72. The Jinn (Al-Jinn) 393 73. Enfolded (Al-Muzzammil) 395 74. Wrapped in his Cloak (Al-Muddaththir) 397 75. The Resurrection (Al-Qiyama) 399 76. Man (Al-Insan) 401 77. [Winds] Sent Forth (Al-Mursalat) 403 78. The Announcement (Al-Naba(cid:1)) 405 79. The Forceful Chargers (Al-Nazi(cid:2)at) 407 80. He Frowned ((cid:2)Abasa) 409 81. Shrouded in Darkness (Al-Takwir) 411 82. Torn Apart (Al-Infitar) 412 83. Those who Give Short Measure (Al-Mutaffifin) 413 84. Ripped Apart (Al-Inshiqaq) 415 85. The Towering Constellations (Al-Buruj) 416 86. The Night-Comer (Al-Tariq) 417 87. The Most High (Al-A(cid:2)la) 418 88. The Overwhelming Event (Al-Ghashiya) 419 89. Daybreak (Al-Fajr) 420 90. The City (Al-Balad) 422 91. The Sun (Al-Shams) 423 92. The Night (Al-Layl) 424 93. The Morning Brightness (Al-Duha) 425 94. Relief (Al-Sharh) 426 95. The Fig (Al-Tin) 427 96. The Clinging Form (Al-(cid:2)Alaq) 428 97. The Night of Glory (Al-Qadr) 429 viii Contents 98. Clear Evidence (Al-Bayyina) 430 99. The Earthquake (Al-Zalzala) 431 100. The Charging Steeds (Al-(cid:2)Adiyat) 432 101. The Crashing Blow (Al-Qari(cid:2)a) 433 102. Striving for More (Al-Takathur) 434 103. The Declining Day (Al-(cid:2)Asr) 435 104. The Backbiter (Al-Humaza) 436 105. The Elephant (Al-Fil) 437 106. Quraysh (Quraysh) 438 107. Common Kindnesses (Al-Ma(cid:2)un) 439 108. Abundance (Al-Kawthar) 440 109. The Disbelievers (Al-Kafirun) 441 110. Help (Al-Nasr) 442 111. Palm Fibre (Al-Masad) 443 112. Purity [of Faith] (Al-Ikhlas) 444 113. Daybreak (Al-Falaq) 445 114. People (Al-Nas) 446 Index 447 INTRODUCTION The Qur(cid:1)an is the supreme authority in Islam. It is the funda- mental and paramount source of the creed, rituals, ethics, and laws of the Islamic religion. It is the book that ‘differentiates’ between right and wrong, so that nowadays, when the Muslim world is dealing with such universal issues as globalization, the environ- ment, combating terrorism and drugs, issues of medical ethics, and feminism, evidence to support the various arguments is sought in the Qur(cid:1)an. This supreme status stems from the belief that the Qur(cid:1)an is the word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad via the archangel Gabriel, and intended for all times and all places. The Qur(cid:1)an was the starting point for all the Islamic sciences: Arabic grammar was developed to serve the Qur(cid:1)an, the study of Arabic phonetics was pursued in order to determine the exact pro- nunciation of Qur(cid:1)anic words, the science of Arabic rhetoric was developed in order to describe the features of the inimitable style of the Qur(cid:1)an, the art of Arabic calligraphy was cultivated through writing down the Qur(cid:1)an, the Qur(cid:1)an is the basis of Islamic law and theology; indeed, as the celebrated fifteenth-century scholar and author Suyuti said, ‘Everything is based on the Qur(cid:1)an’. The entire religious life of the Muslim world is built around the text of the Qur(cid:1)an. As a consequence of the Qur(cid:1)an, the Arabic language moved far beyond the Arabian peninsula, deeply penetrating many other languages within the Muslim lands––Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian, and others. The first sura (or section) of the Qur(cid:1)an, al-Fatiha, which is an essential part of the ritual prayers, is learned and read in Arabic by Muslims in all parts of the world, and many other verses and phrases in Arabic are also incorporated into the lives of non-Arabic-speaking Muslims. Muslim children start to learn portions of the Qur(cid:1)an by heart in their normal schooling: the tradition of learning the entire Qur(cid:1)an by heart started during the lifetime of the Prophet and continues to the present day. A person attaining this distinction becomes known as a hafiz, and this is still a prerequisite for admission to certain religious schools in Muslim countries. Nowadays the Qur(cid:1)an is recited a number of times daily on the radio and television in the Muslim