Book launch: The Qur’an A Verse Translation

On Tuesday 5th March the Muslim Institute teamed up with publishers W. W. Norton & Company to host Bruce Lawrence and M.A.R. Habib for the London launch of their new ground-breaking publication The Qur’an: A Verse Translation.
The event, open to Muslim Institute fellows and the public, took place in the beautiful surroundings of the library at Conway Hall, central London. The chair, Farhana Mayer, engaged the two authors in an introductory conversation, interspersed by readings from their new translation. This gave the audience a fascinating insight into their 10 year endeavour to render the Qur’an into verse.
The conversation was followed by an audience Q&A that made for a wide-ranging and deep engagement with the speakers and their newly wrought text.
M.A.R. Habib is a Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University. Among his many books is a volume of poetry, Shades of Islam: Poems for a New Century (2010). He lives in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Bruce B. Lawrence is the Marcus Family Humanities Professor of Religion Emeritus at Duke University and adjunct professor at the Alliance of Civilizations Institute, Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of sixteen books about Islam, including The Koran in English: A Biography (2017). He lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Farhana Mayer is a published author in her field of Qur’anic Hermeneutics. Her latest publication An Introduction to Qur’anic Ecology and Resonances with Laudato Si’ (Laudato Si’ Research Institute | Randeree Charitable Trust, 2023) compares Qur’anic principles applicable to integral ecology with the themes of Pope Francis’ ecological epistle Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. Her earlier publications include: Spiritual Gems: The Mystical Qur'an Commentary Ascribed to Ja`far al-Sadiq (Louisville, Fons Vitae, 2011) and Anthology of Qur’anic Commentaries: On the Nature of the Divine with F. Hamza and S. Rizvi (Oxford, Oxford University Press | Institute of Ismaili Studies, 2008). Her recent research at Oxford University explores a Qur’anic perspective on the qualitative and ontological relationship between God and humankind. Farhana was formerly a lecturer in Sufism at SOAS (2010-2012) and also at the Institute of Ismaili Studies (in Sufism and Qur’anic Exegesis), where she headed the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (2012-2015). She has a long-standing involvement in interfaith dialogue and promoting understanding and cooperation.
www.musliminstitute.org

[@tanweerimam221]

Extremely inspiring. Professor Habib knows that I am a legally blind person. It was a great coincidence that I just finished "listening" to tafseer of Surah Noor by Dr. Israr Ahmed this morning. When Professor Habib recited from Surah Noor followed by his and Professor Bruce's English translation, I had such a great feeling which I cannot describe in words. I look forward to an audio version of this book which people like me, who cannot read due to their visual impairment, would be able to benefit from this book by listening to its contents. It is indeed a great accomplishment of these two Muslim scholars. May Allah SWT reward them for their efforts in this world and the hereafter.

[@rafeyhabib8067]

Thanks so much for your kind comments.

[@shazanomar4033]

Is Prof Bruce Muslim?

[@tanweerimam221]

@@shazanomar4033 Even if Professor Laurence is not Muslim, I still respect him for his contribution to Professor Habib's book. This is absolutely an unique way to bring Muslims and non Muslims closer to Qur'an. I hope, I answred your question.

[@shazanomar4033]

@@tanweerimam221 I think he is Muslim as he mentioned his wife is Arab. Wallahualam

[@yousufshariff7769]

Thank you Profeasor Habib and Prof Bruce for your impeccable work on translating Qur'an in the most simple manner while maintaining the Arabic eloquence.
JazakAllahu khairan

[@TubeTV2]

Thank you, Professor Habib and Lawrence, for your work. I find it the most accessible English translation of the Holy Quran. I was able to get an early copy and finished reading it today. ✨✨✨

[@batubaru2445]

Amazing! Would you recommend me buying this?

[@JosephTurkot]

Really enjoyed listening to this Professor!

[@rafeyhabib8067]

Thanks, Joe.

[@jivanselbi3657]

thankyou all for htis great lecture-explanatory talk.. great effort has been put for English speakers to understand/grasp the meaning of the Holy Quran.. its worth it, may you be rewarded abundantly

[@amariosakwe8834]

I don't know what it is but there is something extremely soothing about this professor's voice. Interesting talk in deed.

[@diahiskandarbinmohamadjani7674]

Hope I can find this book in Malaysia.

[@admiralpure]

Perhaps, it may be no exaggeration to state that the Qur’an is the most oft-recited but least understood of books.

[@hassanmirza2392]

Correct 💯 that is why Qur'an translations are needed.

[@hanssolos3699]

if ALLAH (SWT) is explicit in Quraan, we must accept it and not be an apologist just to soften the tone.

[@hanssolos3699]

may ALLAH SWT forgive me but they sound like apologists to me.
I will be more comfortable if the translators are specialists keeping true to the tone and meaning and not apologizing for most of it.

[@zainiabdullah621]

Surprisingly, Prof Habib (so much so for a professor) cannot even pronounce "Al'llah" in the proper Arabic linguistically !
He's just like the present King Of Jordan speaking Arabic with the English accent !

[@hanssolos3699]

Ouch!!!
but its true. If u cant pronounce it correctly, its very questionable for a man of his qualification.

[@saliksayyar9793]

Arabic recitation was sing song and not inspiring

[@batubaru2445]

Your comment was not inspiring