Perhaps most surprising is the fact that Oxford published the translation when they already have a perfectly good translation in print, i.e., A. There is no silliness of trying to say this "isn't really" the Qur?an, which is, after all, totally apparent to anyone when the title is in English and it is called a translation. First off, I praise the title: The Qur?an: A New Translation. It is opportune, then, to be able to compare this translation to that of M. The Arabic is produced in a clean and easy-to-read typeface (although small) and appears to follow the Cairo text in all its details.
Some minimal notes are provided to the text, mainly to gloss words there is also a basic index of topics and a very brief (four pages) introduction plus an index of surahs, which includes their Meccan/Medinan status. Their aim was to be as faithful to the Arabic text as possible, to correct the errors of earlier translations (while profiting from their insights) and to use simple, readable English idiom. Fakhry himself is, of course, known better for his work in Islamic philosophy, but he provides no particular explanation of what brought him to this project other than stating that it started as a joint effort with the late Mahmud Zayid who was a professor of History and Archaeology at the American University of Beirut. Majid Fakhry's An Interpretation of the Qur'an comes with the impressive stamp of approval from al-Azhar. So, it is with some surprise and, indeed, pleasure that these two new translations must be greeted. And it is an audacious act for anyone to take on, given the number of translations which already exist and the constant nagging question concerning whether there is a market (and thus a publisher) for a new version. For the translator, such a project can only be brought to fruition after years of work, consideration, consultation, editing, and revision. The appearance of a new Qur'an translation in English must be recognized as a special event. Published on H-Mideast-Medieval (December, 2004) Reviewed by Andrew Rippin (Department of History, University of Victoria) New York: New York University Press, 2002.
An Interpretation of the Qur'an: English Translation of the Meanings.