The Koran

I have long been looking for an audio version of the Quran. This is the first that I have found that was easily available and not divided into so many parts as to make it too expensive. This is N. J. Dawood's 1956 translation published in Penguin Classics with the Suras in the correct order. The reader is very clear, sober and rather monotone in his presentation. I wish that there were a way to navigate more easily and find particular Suras. The translation is in modern English prose with no real attempt at poetic quality, but the power of the Quran's language comes through. I found myself grateful for a solid presentation of this very important work.

the narration is basiscly what I was expecting, bu there are times that the translation doesn't completely change all Arabic word into english. for me that is okay becaus I have studied a little Arabic. If you want to hear the words of the Koran this is an okay translation. I wish though that they would have placed more breaks in the translation. The reason is that you cannot listen to it all at once and one time I bumped my ipod back to start of book 1 and had to fast forward 5 hours.

For anyone who would like to know, this is the Penguin Classics translated by N.J. Dawood

This is a well read and well presented ENGLISH version of a very dense text, so if anyone out there wants to get a handle on the Koran; then here is an excellent starting point.

Listening to this work showed me some deep differences between God as portrayed in Judaism and Christianity and God as portrayed in Islam. It was very informative.

Yes, unfortunately it wasn't quite possible though.

Mr. Sand gives a good reading of the text, giving the it the solemnity it deserves most of the time. However, it seems like he gets tired as he reads on, speeding up and losing his composure. The sample of his reading on Audible is representative of him at his best. In any case this is a deal for the price.

nobody should criticize any religion before reading there book.
i was amazingly surprise.
people have a really wrong opinion of islam.
i've red it and loved it

If you have no other choice for readings of the Quran, this will do, but keep a copy of Yusuf Ali or Muhammed Shakir's translations on hand for parts that sound bizzarre. Abdullah Yusuf Ali translations are free at Islamic information centers and larger Masjids.

Narrator has an Irish accent, so the mood of the reading sounds like you're taking part in a political party meeting for some strange Islamic offshoot of the IRA. The tone is very serious, since much of this book is a continuous repeat of what happens to "unbelievers".

There are a number of things that are just wrongly translated in a manner that is misleading to Western culture. There are a couple of passages that talk about being waited on by "virgin boys" in heaven - This is a mistranslation. The two other translations I have say young boys or youth (cherubs?). "Virgin boys" obviously has a sexual connotation, the correct translation does not. There's also passages that describe "beating" your wife if she will not lay with you -- this is also a mistranslation. There's yet another passage that mentions not to take Christains and Jews as your friend. This is also a mistranslation.

***NOTE TO AUDIBLE*** Audible.com has two blockbuster readings of the bible (Zondervan KJV and "The Word of Promise" NKJV). It's about time they step up to those same standards and bring us some quality readings of the Quran in either the Yusuf Ali or Muhammed Shakir translations - which modern muslims agree to be more correct. Though most muslims I speak to say it's very difficult to translate Arabic meanings to English ones. Much is dependent on context and much can be misunderstood without clear guidance.

So listen, but listen with caution - and with someone near who can answer questions. It is against Islam to lie about the contents of the Quran, so true muslims should be able to answer your questions as close to the truth as you can possibly get - without learning Arabic

Listening to The Koran has given me a whole new insight into world events and history.

Alex Sand is the best lecture reader around

Yes, I will listen to it again. It is important to me as one of at least 3 books of scripture that I study regarding God's interaction with mankind through prophets.

I am very pleased with the many portions of the Koran which not only sustain Biblical teachings, but also sustain Biblical prophets by name. In some cases there are accounts which are not within the bible which were obviously lost or not included within the Bible. I think our Christian and Jewish portion of the world has much to learn about the similarities of the 2 books of scripture, divine calling of prophets at God's beckon and not our own. A thorough study of the Bible, The Koran, and The Book of Mormon shed much light and understanding on many misunderstandings and could help asway grievances.

The narration is not read quite as smoothly as I would like, but in sort of a sing song like tone and verse with some words cut off quite curtly. The reading is also kind of fast which makes it more difficult to follow. I would like it a bit slower and the tone more like a book.

The teachings about the forbidding of homosexuality, adultery, Moses, Mary, Noah, Joseph, and Jesus were especially moving. The many references to repentance were quite surprising.

The inordinate amount of references stating that God has no Son nor Begotten Son is troubling. Why this was included in the holy book despite the references to Jesus' prophethood, teachings, and divinity it seems is troubling. While the Koran did not seem to specifically say that Jesus is not God's Son, it simply claimed that at no time has God had or begotten a Son. It does of course refer to Jesus as Mary's son and speaks toward her holiness. What I think occurred is that during the 120 years or so from the time that Mohammed received the revelations within the Cave of Qumran from Gabriel, he not knowing how to read nor write, these revelations were kept by voice scribe recitation memory until written down into "The Book". It is my proposal that those who wrote down the book changed some of Mohammed's teachings, since a mention of God's Son would have put them within some sort of jurisdiction or affiliation with the Christian world which at that time was directed by the Papacy. I think this evaluation is very possible and explains a great deal about what very well indeed may have been attempts by ruling clerics after Mohammed's death to gain power and control over Islam and make it a separate people instead of a more universal path to know God and the Savior Jesus Christ and all the combination of prophets, Mohammed included.

I am glad that Audible offered it, and I am glad to have it. I would like for the King Fahd Translation to be offered as well.

It helped me understand my own religion better.

I didn't really like it, per se but it wasn't horrible. It was a bit slow and some continuous bad pronunciation. How do you pronounce scourge?

It made me realize why I could never be Muslim, no disrespect to those that are but many parts of the text describe the exact opposite of my own beliefs. However, it is a must read for anyone interested in religions and I would think, every Muslim.