Hello… I’ve been trying to learn about Islaam for a number of years now and have still not been able to finish my learning to the point of actually becoming a Muslim. I am asking for advice on this.
I like and beleive what I know about Islaam so far. The “extremists” worry me but I do realize that they are the exception and arent “good” Muslims. Anyway, what I want to do is UNDERSTAND the Koran in its entirety before I commit. I think that this is necessary and important. I understand that I need to hear it in Arabic and it is very lovely to hear. But I want understanding too.
The problem is that although I am educated and I dont think I’m too dim-witted, I try to read translations of the Koran and I just can’t understand. I read and re-read and never got past more than 40 pages or so. A relative of my husband’s said she would loan me a really really good, easy to understand translation but that was more than 3 years ago. With 3 babies, I guess my attention span is about shot so I need something simple.
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*Originally posted by Mamaof3: *
Hello... I've been trying to learn about Islaam for a number of years now and have still not been able to finish my learning to the point of actually becoming a Muslim. I am asking for advice on this.
I like and beleive what I know about Islaam so far. The "extremists" worry me but I do realize that they are the exception and arent "good" Muslims. Anyway, what I want to do is UNDERSTAND the Koran in its entirety before I commit. I think that this is necessary and important. I understand that I need to hear it in Arabic and it is very lovely to hear. But I want understanding too.
The problem is that although I am educated and I dont think I'm too dim-witted, I try to read translations of the Koran and I just can't understand. I read and re-read and never got past more than 40 pages or so. A relative of my husband's said she would loan me a really really good, easy to understand translation but that was more than 3 years ago. With 3 babies, I guess my attention span is about shot so I need something simple.
Any suggestions? Thanks much!
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Dear, Please try your nearest book shop ask for English Koran, translated by N.J. Dawood. you would find it good. One thing, don't ever bother with reading Hadith.....
Allah guides who He wills. As a Muslim, I would advise you to avail the Holy Quran with the simplest and easy to understand English. According to my knowledge the** “Noble Quran” **has the easiest to understand translation. It is translated by Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Taqi Hilali. If you would like, you can PM me and I would be more than happy to send you one copy.
Btw, without Hadith and Sunnah (sayings and the personal example of the Prophet Muhammad :saw: )it is not easy to understand Quran’s applicability.
This is what the Noble Quran’s cover looks like…
[thumb=H]images17338_6371569.JPG[/thumb]
One of my Arabic-speaking friends saw a translation of the Quran and was shocked at the style of the language. The old sounding English makes a simple text unnecessarily difficult to read. Try to find a translation that is in more modern English.
Could you give an example of a place where you feel lost?
One of my Arabic-speaking friends saw a translation of the Quran and was shocked at the style of the language.
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That means nothing, unless he/she was also well-versed in English. I've seen Arabs butcher their own language... they wouldn't know an Alif from a Meem... for a brief period i was learning some Arabic from an Arab journalist and his knowledge of grammar was pathetic...
Thank you! Gupguppy, I have bookmarked the website that you gave and see how I do! And if that doesnt get thru my thick head, I'll pm you Islamabad. Thank you for that offer! I think its mostly the old-style english that gets me all confused but then again since I had my boys its just hard to concentrate on anything, even the newspaper. Having babies thickens the skull I guess.
I found a very good website which has online quran translation in urdu and english in mp3 format which u can also download for future reference. Here it is.. online quran
Dear Mamo, I do not want to divert your attention. But if you have any chance, read Gita of Hindus!
You can read translation in any language of any publication. You will need a very little understanding of the historical context, that’s all. I will not ask you to look for proper contexts, interpretation, definitions, so and so. I will not ask you to find some good Hindu for explanations. You can just read it as it is written.
I assure you that you will not face any labyrinths confusion in Gita as you find now while going thru Quran.
go to http://www.reciter.org/
click on Reciter(upper middle of the page.). You can get online translation of the Quraan in english and other languages also.
It’s wonderful to hear you’re considering Islam, may Allaah guide you towards it and make your faith firm, Ameen.
When reading it concentrate and read the Qur’aan with a humble approach and an open mind without giving priority to your own personal whims and fancies and the brainwashing we have received from our environment/society and God willing you will see His Light.
Read it with an explanation, a Tafseer (e.g. Tafsir Ibn Kathir) that will explain the verses, these will usually provide Ahadeeth and give you a background to the verses.
And remember no matter how good a translation is it can never match the splendour, beauty and perfection of the literal words of Allaah so it’s a good idea to read more than one translation.
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*Originally posted by Mamaof3: *
Any suggestions? Thanks much!
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I think you should go to your local mosque and talk to an Alim or scholar. When you read a translation of the Quran- you wont be able to understand it that well.You might misinterpret the actual meaning.
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*Originally posted by Mem Saab: *
hindus :bog off:
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Mem saab, specially for you to remember that an organized religion is like organized crime; it preys on peoples' weaknesses, generates huge profits for its operators, and is almost impossible to eradicate.
Can some tell me why the word of God depends so much on human explanations, interpretations and definitions.
Once I asked a Muslim friend from Pakistan how to understand Quran. He answered to meet some good Muslim.
I again asked how I could confirm if the Muslim I meet is a good one or bad one. Frankly I am still waiting for reply.
Dear Sher, thanks for your post, ‘an organized religion is like an organized crime’, you have told me something new.
Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of 10 things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these 10 things he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry for ever and ever until the end of time...but he loves you."
