No abstract

The translation of Holy Qur’ān in any language especially English requires optimum level of expertise, composure, in-depth knowledge of literature and diction for an author along with several other competencies. Such an English Translation (selected Surahs) attempt has been produced by Thomas Cleary in modern times. Cleary translated 39 selected Surahs and their handful verses from Qur’ān in the light of six aims of message of Qur’ān narrated by Imām Ghazālī (Jawahir Al-Qur’ān). The translation is produced with the purpose of providing short and easy passage for NonMuslim reader to understand the crux of message of Qur’ān. The circumstances of Arab society, life of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and Revelation of Qur’ān have been discussed to enlighten the reader aboutback ground and history of Islam and Qur’ān. Cleary’s elaboration for Surah Selection based on divisions of Surah into jewels & pearls by Imām Ghazālī has been methodically analyzed. The Poetic diction and rich vocabulary make this translation more powerful and a recommended reading. The brief review conducted in this study not only reviews all sections of the book but also unveils a critical analysis of some of the short comings and lapses in this translation i-e, use of Complex Diction, Arabic vocabulary, Brief Verses Selection from within Surahs and References from controversial Oriental Qur’ān Translations.

The orientalist movement has played a pivotal role in raising criticism against revelation, Surah arrangement, writing style (orthography) and pronunciation (recitation) of Holy Quran. The Oriental scholars who mostly belonged to radical/religious Jew-Christian back ground, theorized that basic source of creation of Quran was Torah and Biblical verses. These oriental scholars also insisted in their writings that Quran went under multiple evolutionary changes and many changes took place in this Holy book to be in the shape in which it exists today. The orientalist scholars’ accusations on Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) regarding divinastion, Hallucination and self-creation of Ayah/Surahs are also an important part of oriental literature. This study provides brief but comprehensive overview of above mentioned oriental scholars literary conspiracy and criticism on Quran text and also challenges them with logical response to prove that Quran is a word of God revealed upon the last Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H).