The Simplified Qur’an

At the end of this book there is an unidentified quotation in Arabic from the Qur’an (in fact, Surah Ya Sin 36: 17) as a kind of seal or coda. It is not translated but concerns the duty of al-balagh al-mubin (clear communication). Balaghah became the name of the science of communication using rhetorical devices. The Qur’an itself is meant to be a clear communication. It tells the Prophet (Q. 4: 63): God knows well what is in the hearts of these people, so ignore what they say, instruct them, and speak to them about themselves using penetrating words [qawlan balighan]. The Qur’an uses the verb bayan and its various derivatives, especially mubin, many times. In Surah al-Rahman (Q. 55: 3-4), Allah first creates human beings, then teaches them al-bayan. The Prophet is called nadhirun mubin ‘a clear warner’ (e.g. Q. 51: 50–1). All this means that the quest for simple, clear language to convey the Qur’an’s message is never-ending. According to the Preface by Dr. Maaz A. Warsi MBBS, Professor Alkaf’s language is intended mainly for ‘the student community’. It is intended to be a ‘simple, common and easy to read and understand English’, and in order to simplify it further it has ‘mostly avoided the details found in other Tafaaseer that are meant for scholars, intellectuals and researchers.’ By way of experiment I read part of Professor Alkaf’s translation of Surah al-Falaq to my top-of-herclass granddaughter aged ten (admittedly over a poor Skype link) as follows: 1. (O Muhammad) say: I take refuge with the Master and Performer of all splitting and cracking operations. Her comment was: ‘It sounds a bit complicated’.