How are we supposed to understand the meaning of the Quran when we have limited ourselves to its Arabic recitation alone? So how can a beginner study the message of the Quran? Should he/ she start off with the Noble Quran translation? This blog hopes to answer all these questions.
If the religion of Islam is compared with other religions, then surely the religion of Islam will emerge as a complete guide for an insightful and conscious one. Verily the religion of Islam is the religion of nature. That is why every human being finds peace by following the commands of Islam. If you want to see its manifestation, then look at the innovations which have been added in Islam onward. These innovations destroy the beauty of Islam and they do not have the pleasure of goodness. Of course these innovations are not part of nature on which the teachings of Islam are based.
The Noble Quran is a gift from Allah to mankind without which we would have been lost in this world. It’s why turning towards the Noble Quran’s translation is so important for non-Arabic speakers. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
ولقد يسرنا القرآن للذكر فهل من مدكر
And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?
(القمر: 17)
The Quran has been sent down for the ultimate guidance of humanity. Allah has made the meaning of the Noble Quran easy to understand so that it could serve as a guide to humans. We have the Noble Quran’s translation and tafsirs as our resources, leaving us no excuse for being unaware of the message of the Quran. He even challenged all the people of the world to prove it incomprehensible as it’s mentioned in the above Ayah. Without any doubt, the duty of spreading the teachings of the Quran has a great degree to Allah. Therefore the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
خَيْرُكُمْ مَن تَعَلَّمَ القُرْآنَ وعَلَّمَهُ
“The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”
(صحيح البخاري: 5027)
Allah also admires the people who recite, teach and learn the meaning of the Noble Quran as He says:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ یَتۡلُونَ كِتَـٰبَ ٱللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ سِرࣰّا وَعَلَانِیَةࣰ یَرۡجُونَ تِجَـٰرَةࣰ لَّن تَبُورَ
Surely those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and donate from what We have provided for them—secretly and openly—˹can˺ hope for an exchange that will never fail
(فاطر: 29)
He also says:
الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَـٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
Those We have given the Book follow it as it should be followed. It is they who ˹truly˺ believe in it. As for those who reject it, it is they who are the losers.
(البقرة: 121)
Seeking the knowledge and meaning of the Noble Quran is obligatory to all Muslims. The message of the Holy Quran is universal meaning it’s applicable for people of all ages, colors, races and cultures. Hence, there is a great need to spread the message of the Quran all over the world which is only possible through the Noble Quran’s translation and comprehension of the words and message of the Quran.
Islam gives importance to the learning of the Quran as it is a complete code of conduct. Islam attaches great importance to knowledge, learning and education on a whole. When the Quran was revealed, its first word was “اقرأ” (Iqra), which means to read. The Noble Quran is a deep ocean of knowledge and learning that guides us till our last breath. That’s why the interpretation of the meaning and the Noble Quran’s translation has been greatly stressed. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
The Noble Quran is revealed upon the Last Messenger Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for the betterment of the entire Ummah and is the key to paradise and salvation.
The Holy Quran are the words of Allah Almighty himself. We should learn the Holy Quran and a good place to start off with is the Noble Quran’s translation. Understanding the Quran has a number of benefits:
- The Holy Quran is a source of guidance for all of mankind.
- Reading or learning the meaning of the Noble Quran will help you find direction in your life and Allah Almighty has promised mankind that the effect of reading and understanding the Quran is to: “take mankind from the depths of darkness to light” (إبراهيم: 1) and “guides them to the ways of peace” (المائدة: 16)
- The Holy Quran will intercede on the Day of Judgment. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “Read the Quran, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its companions.” (صحيح مسلم: 804)
- The Quran and its teachings are the key to success in this life and the hereafter.
- Within its pages, it contains the solutions to all problems making it important to study the Noble Quran’s translation and interpretation.
- Reciting the Quran has a calming effect on the soul and is known to have a number of physical benefits.
- If someone has ever thought about the purpose of his/her existence then just open the Holy Quran. The Quran can fill a void in your life that you may not have known even existed. Many verses of the Noble Quran speak about the origins of the existence of human beings and the creation of the Universe. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “He created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed.” (الملك: 2)
We should learn about our religion Islam from the meaning of the Noble Quran as it is pure, and the unchanged message from Allah Almighty, nothing has been added, removed, nor changed from it and nor will it ever be altered. In the Holy Quran Allah Almighty says: “And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.” (الأنعام: 115)
Recitation of the Quran or even just reading the Quran’s translation is a beautiful and calming act and when done properly the reciter may feel he is engaging in direct conversation with Allah himself. The example of which can be seen in the form of the way Prophet ﷺ read the Quran: “And when He (Prophet) recited the verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, He glorified Him, the Great, and when He recited the verses that mention supplication, He supplicated, and when He recited the Verses that mention seeking Refuge of the Rabb He sought (His) refuge” (صحیح مسلم: 772).
Learn the Quran, as it’s regular reciters will be led to Paradise.
If you want to be among the ones who are best in the eyes of Allah then teach the meaning of the Noble Quran to others and learn it too. As a beginner studying the Noble Quran’s translation along with its recitation is a good start. In a hadith, our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “The best of you are the ones who learn the Quran and teach it to others.” (صحیح البخاري: 5027)
When a Muslim recites the Quran, it affects the heart and purifies it by cleaning it from all spiritual impurities. Reading the Noble Quran’s translation is even better as it helps to understand the meaning of the words of the Quran. Allah Almighty says in the Quran: “O mankind! There hath come to you an admonition from your Lord and a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts and for those who believe in Guidance and Mercy.” (يونس: 57)
This worldly life does not end at death. There is a life after death (hereafter) that will be forever. The Holy Quran will teach you about the hereafter and you can read all about the privileges and the beauty of paradise that Allah Almighty has promised the believers.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “And when a surah is revealed, some of them ask “which of you did this increase him in Iman?”. As for the ones who believe, it increased them in Iman and they rejoiced.” (التوبة: 124)
The English language has been deprived of an accurate Noble Quran translation and interpretation. Although sufficient work has been done in this regard yet the Noble Quran’s translation and interpretation that was free from bias of sect and in accordance with the salaf was missing. It was difficult to find such an example, especially one that presented the interpretation in a very simple and pleasing manner so that people of all ages could benefit from it equally.
So, with the great blessings of Allah, Darussalam was able to fill this gap. By the grace of Allah, under the supervision of two senior scholars Dr. Taqiuddin Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, a very beautiful and brilliant interpretation was completed in the English language. The responsibility to the ummah to help them understand the meaning of the Noble Quran and the message of Allah in the English language was fulfilled. May Allah help us all to act upon it.
Initially, those who learn the Quran find it difficult to translate. As well as translating verbatim, its true interpretation is not realized until it is translated fluently. In order to link the meaning of the two words, it is necessary to give a brief explanation along with them so that the common reader can easily understand the will of Allah. This work is possible when the Noble Quran’s translation has been done word to word separately.
For this, Darussalam made a great effort and published the Quran containing the same characteristics with the title Study the Noble Quran Word for Word in the English language. This Quran is a modern way of learning the Quran’s translation.
The nature of this Quran is that every Quranic word is in the box and in the sub-box there is an easy translation of that word. Translation carries the characteristics of the grammatical rules which allows the readers to learn Arabic grammar as well.
This splendid work is one of the great emanate efforts of Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan who was born in 1927 and is a Pashtun author known for his English translations of Sahih al-Bukhari and the Quran, titled The Noble Quran, which he completed along with Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali.
He had most of his education in Kandahar city of Afghanistan, then he continued his education till he gained a Degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Punjab, Lahore. Then he worked in the University Hospital in Lahore, after that he travelled to England and stayed there for about four years, where he received the Diploma of Chest Diseases from the University of Wales. Then he worked in the Ministry of Health, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He came during the period of late King Abdul Aziz A’l-i-Saud. He stayed in the Ministry of Health for about 15 years, most of that period was in At-Ta’if, where he worked as the Director of El-Sadad Hospital for the Chest Diseases, then he moved to Al-Madinah, where he worked as a Chief of the Department of Chest Diseases in the King’s Hospital. Then lastly, he worked as the Director of the Islamic University Clinic, Al-Madinah.
His most famous works are The Noble Quran and the Summarized Sahih Bukhari.
The characteristics of this Noble Quran are as below:
- It is a Word-for-Word Noble Quran translation in English.
- Authentic translation in accordance with Arabic grammar.
- Includes word to word and idiomatic translations. Brief explanations of the verses have also been included.
- The most important feature of this Quran is that it is a multicolour translation which is most helpful to understand the meanings of the compound words.
- The language of this Quran is very simple and easy but also according to the Arabic grammar rules.
Want to buy the Quran? This version of the Quran is available at Darussalam stores and can be bought online by clicking here.
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