The Quran Beheld: An English Translation from the Arabic

by Nuh Ha Mim Keller

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, vague, 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 English of the translation faces the Arabic original, and is preceded by a section setting forth the main themes of the Quran, sura by sura.

A brief biographical section after the main body of the text provides a window on the lives, works, and significance to the historical development of Quranic exegesis of the Imams mentioned in the introduction. The work concludes with a sixty-one-page subject index to help interested readers find and ultimately embody the light, virtues, and divine wisdom of Allah's immortal message to Man.

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NUH HA MIM KELLER was born in eastern Washington State in 1954. He read philosophy at Gonzaga University, the University of Chicago, and UCLA, entered Islam in 1977 at al-Azhar in Cairo, and moved to Jordan in 1980. A scholar of traditional Islamic sciences who studied with sheikhs in Jordan and Syria, he has produced such works as Reliance of the Traveller, Sea Without Shore, and the Chain of Gold edition of Dala’il al-Khayrat. He is a senior fellow at the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought.

Genres: Islam

1392 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Nuh Ha Mim Keller (born 1954) is an American Muslim translator of Islamic books and a specialist in Islamic law, as well as being authorised by Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri as a sheikh in sufism in the Shadhili Order. He is one of the foremost Muslim theologians and experts on Sufism in the West. Keller was born in 1954 in the Northwestern United States. He studied philosophy and Arabic at the University of Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, and the University of California, Los Angeles, located in Los Angeles, California. Keller converted to Islam from Christianity in 1977.

His English translation of Umdat al-Salik (Reliance of the Traveller) was the first Islamic legal work in a European language to receive the certification of Al-Azhar University. This translation has led to this work becoming influential among Western Muslims. In addition to his authorization to be a spiritual guide, Nuh Ha Mim Keller possesses ijazas, or "certificates of authorisation", in Islamic jurisprudence from scholars in Syria and Jordan.

Reviews

[Miroku Nemeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The introduction alone should merit 5 stars.

It's an amazing work from a true scholar who has brought some of the best translations of classic Islamic works into English.

Many passages are beautiful and poetic. Others are too full of archaic language that only obfuscates meaning. For example, the repeated use of the word "viand." Why?

I just was worried that if I left a five star review that someone would think that this is the one translation to depend upon. I was hoping for that. It isn't.

Could Shaikh Nuh write that translation of the meaning? I have no doubt. I wish he would do a translation with tafsir to be printed. I haven't looked at the extensive connected resources online, but I wanted to leave a review of this particular text as it is.

I read about two-thirds of the text collectively with a group of brothers weekly, and I do think that this reflects how we all felt.

But we are very thankful and appreciative of Shaikh Nuh's work and hope that none of this is taken as disrespect, but just honest critique from those who have the utmost respect for Shaikh Nuh's scholarly integrity. I've been reading and using his works for three decades.

[Ptemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the introduction of this work, looks like the author decisively made a case that it is by far the first proper translation of the Quran.

Introduction is free on their website: https://quranbeheldtafsir.com/introdu...

[Ismail Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This translation exhibits a commendable mastery of the English language and expert knowledge of the Quranic sciences.

The arrangement of verses in a succinct, line-by-line format significantly enhances the reader's immersion and rhythm. Personally, I experienced a profound sense of contemplation and introspection as a result of this stylistic choice.

There are numerous other noteworthy aspects of this translation worthy of commendation, with the above example merely serving as a glimpse into its overall excellence.