In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

A best and most fluent translation/interpretation of Quran.

The holy Quran, That magnificent, unrivalled treasure of literature and knowledge, contains the words of God bestowed upon mankind as an everlasting treasure that -if adhered to, will guide him through all the ups and downs of history. It is –as Imam Ali (God’s greetings to him) said, “Beautiful in appearance and profound in substance” and is meant to guide mankind to the roads of prosperity in this world and the hereafter. It is in Arabic, a language that due to its versatility and vast treasure of words and terms provides the author with all he or she needs to convey.

For more than fifteen centuries, this scripture has challenged mankind, especially the Arabs themselves –who have been prolific in the art of literature both in poem and prose, to offer something close to even a chapter (surah) of it –some of which comprise just a few verses, and they have failed. Some claimants who have attempted to do so –individually or in groups, have miserably failed and what they have produced has become object of ridicule.

So, how can it be translated? How can one try to convey the meanings and the multilevel contents thereof to another language in a perfect manner? It is an enormous challenge that borders impossible. Apart from being well versed in Arabic, one has to have a good grasp of the host language. Most important is the knowledge of the contents of Quran itself. Its complexity makes the knowledgeable wonder how deep they can delve into it  and then how to translate a verse and thence convey whatever is understood without sacrificing all what God has put below the surface. What is the greatest help are the words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his infallible successors who have guided mankind through sermons, pieces of advice and prayers.

Then, what is the best way to translate/ interpret it? Some have conservatively opted to do a word by word translation and that has sometimes rendered it impossible to understand and it is up to the reader to interpret the verses. It depends on the interpreters’ philosophy about Quran. If Quran is just for reciting and thereby reaping rewards, then the above mentioned approach somehow meets the readers’ needs; but if it is regarded as a creation of guidance for the readers, then it has to be legible.

Ayatullah Muhammad Ali Salehghaffari, the author of this translation/ interpretation of Quran, is a believer in the second philosophy. In the present book, he intends to –without embroiling the readers in complex arguments, approach the essence of the verses and convey such brilliant teachings to the readers. With the grace of God, and through years of research into the teachings of the infallible household of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he has attempted to familiarize the readers with the contents of Quran in an easiest way.

As a translator of his work into English, I have found it the best and simplest way to come close to understanding Quran as much as possible.