A New English Translation, Commentary of Quran Published
Titled “The Quran; A New English Translation and Commentary”, the book has been translated and penned by Foroutan, a teacher at Islamic seminaries, and revised by Seyyed Hossein Marashi, a university and seminary lecturer.
The six-volume book has been published by Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi in Lebanon.
In an interview with IQNA, Iranian scholar Foroutan said that the work contains an accurate yet eloquent translation of the Quran in the English language.
Other than the translation, he maintained, an exegesis has been provided for each verse which provides readers with brief, beneficial information that helps them better understand the concepts of verses.
“This work is suitable for those who are after understanding the meaning and [reading] a simple exegesis of the Quran in English,” Foroutan said.
The most valid works of Tafseer have been used for providing complimentary commentary for each verse, he stressed.
He pointed to the need for establishing an interactive mechanism to contact people across the world who are more than keen on receiving religious knowledge. Foroutan referred to verse 90 of Surah Al-An’am which reads “We had guided the Prophets. (Muhammad), follow their guidance and say (to the people), “I do not ask any reward for what I have preached to you. It is my duty to awaken the world,” noting that the new translation seeks to achieve this aim.
The book aims to introduce Quranic concepts to readers using simple language, he said, hoping that such works could promote Quranic thinking in society.
Asked why he embarked on translating the Quran given that there were several English translations available, Foroutan acknowledged that there are suitable translations of the Holy Book in English “but they lack two features of fluidness and accuracy and are often hard to understand for the public.”
Furthermore, the aim of translators has not been simplifying the process of understanding the Quran for the young generation according to international conditions, he said, noting that the sole act of translation cannot help English readers much as it will raise questions in their minds. “In the commentary part, we have answered the possible questions,” he said.
The Quran has always enjoyed a great potential for attracting those who are interested in truth, however, people’s lack of familiarity with the Arabic language combined with the high level of Quranic concepts has led to the establishment of a poor relationship between non-Muslims and the Quran, he said.
“Recognizing this problem and understanding international circumstances, we started an extensive scientific work on explaining Quranic teachings,” Foroutan said, adding that the work has been completed with the help of some English-speaking lecturers and authors.
