This is one of the most lyrical and beautiful translation of Quranic verses that I have ever seen. She includes all the most famous parts of the Qur'an.
In my book, Sacred Words of Wisdom, I compare different translation of sacred texts. The three translations I cited for Islam are: 1.The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an, Abdullah Yusuf-Ali (Arabic/English, the most widely read English translation) 2. The Light of Dawn,Daily Readings from the Holy Qur'an, Camille Adams Helminski, and 3."The Generous Qur'an" in Approaching the Qur'an, the Early Revelations introduced and translated by Michael Sells - the one that caused a huge stir when it was required summer reading for Freshman entering.......
Here is one important verse from the Qur'an in each translation. Sura 84.16-22 and 84.16-20 Al Inshiqaq (The Rending Asunder) In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
When the Sky is Rent asunder,
And hearkens to (The Command of) its Lord - And it must needs (Do so) -
And when the Earth Is flattened out,
And casts forth What is within it And becomes (clean) empty,
And hearkens to (The Command of) its Lord - And it must needs (Do so) - (then will come Home the full Reality).
O thou man! Verily thou art ever Toiling on towards thy Lord - Painfully toiling - but thou Shalt meet Him.
So do I call To witness the ruddy glow Of Sunset;
The Night and its Homing;
And the Moon In her Fulness.
Ye shall surely travel From state to state.
What then is the matter With them, that they Believe not? -
And when the Qur'an Is read to them, they Fall not prostrate
But on the contrary The Unbelievers reject (it). (The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an, Abdullah Yusuf-Ali)
Sura 84.16-22 and 84.16-20 The Splitting Asunder ('Al-'Inshiqaqq) When the sky is split apart in obedience to its Sustainer - and it must - And when the earth is leveled, and cast forth what is within it, and becomes utterly empty, in obedience to its Sustainer - and it must - O human beings! Truly, you are laboring towards your Sustainer, painfully struggling, but then you shall meet Him/Her.
So I call to witness the rosy glow of sunset, the night and its progression, and the moon as it grows in fulness; surely, you shall travel from state to stage. What then is the matter with them that they do not have faith in the unfolding? (The Light of Dawn, Daily Readings from the Holy Qur'an, Camille Adams Helminski)
Sura 84.16-22 and 84.16-20 The Splitting In the Name of God the Compassionate the Caring
When the heaven splits attentive to the lord and made true When the earth is unfolded and pours forth what is in it and is emptied attentive to the lord and made true O human being toward your lord you are toiling, weary You will find him
I swear by the glow of sunset By the night and what it enfolds By the moon when she is full Horizon on horizon you will rise And what is with them that they do not believe And when the Qur'an is recited for them Do not touch their heads to the ground In prayer ("The Generous Qur'an" in Approaching the Qur'an, the Early Revelations introduced and translated by Michael Sells)
Reviews: The Holy Qu'ran provides spiritual inspiration and guidance to millions of people around the world. In its essence, it is a book that challenges us to become fully human and conscious of God. This inspiring collection of 365 essential verses can be used as daily meditations or turn-to-any-page readings that reveal the depth and complexity of the sacred text. This fresh, lyrical, and gender-inclusive translation will appeal to anyone interested in the unfolding of Spirit, whether or not they are committed to the path of Islam.
"This anthology will give many non-Muslims a helpful insight into the riches of the Koran and the Islamic tradition." -- Karen Armstrong, author of A History of God
"The Light of Dawn will help many people to be introduced to the meaning of the sacred text." -- Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University
"Camille Helminski's fresh translations strip time away for English-language readers, bringing us face to face with Meaning. Even the occasional browsers will be struck by the clarity and insight of this Message." -- Michael Wolfe, author of One Thousand Roads to Mecca.
