Meaning of the Magnificent Quran

Regrettably this new English translation does not have much to recommend itself as a substantial contribution to the growing body of English translations of the Qur’an. One of its redeeming, rather unique, features is its thematic categorisation of the Qur’anic text into 365 “Lessons”. This arrangement is aimed at helping the readers ‘learn the Qur’an in one year by reading one Lesson every day’. (p. iii) This highly arbitrary, subjective exercise, however, does not do justice to the multi-layered Qur’anic text. The problem is aggravated further by Chaudhary’s unimaginativeness in some instances. For example, the following Lesson headings do not bring out the intended message of the Qur’an, nor do these offer any help or guidance to the readers: “Trial, The Trust, Slaughter of (sic) Cow, Causes of Setback, the Delude (sic).” Equally strange is Chaudhary’s failure to identify any Lesson in as many as 24 Surahs, from Surah 90 to 114. Likewise, it is hard to endorse his judgement that Surah ‘Abasa contains only this Lesson: “The Prophet Admonished”. Some of the Lessons suggested by him appear only in their Arabic terminology, as for example, “Iddah, Qiblah, Jizyah and Zihar”, which English-speaking readers may find some of them difficult to decipher. Furthermore, some of the Lesson headings are marred by faulty syntax and usage and will not be comprehended by the readers. The instances in point are: “Doom on Pharaoh, A beast will speak, conduct of Affairs in consultation and The Split of the Moon”. (pp. vii-xiv)