U.S. publisher to print English version of Quran

SAN FRANCISCO — An American publisher has signed a deal with a top Islamic scholar to publish a rare English translation of the Quran, complete with the most extensive commentary ever published on the Muslim holy book. HarperSanFrancisco, known for books tackling contemporary themes in modern religion, expects the project to take three years, according to Religion BookLine, an electronic newsletter from Publishers Weekly magazine.

The matter is sensitive because Muslims hold that the Quran’s text was given directly in Arabic from Allah to the prophet Mohammed. The pure revelation, therefore, cannot be translated without ceasing to be the actual Quran. Only the meaning can be translated. The most popular translation of the Quran’s meaning at this point is from Abdullah Yusuf Ali, who was born in 1872 and completed the work in 1937. Ali’s version is being distributed free of charge by the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations. A team of four general editors and 28 contributing editors will deliver the new translation and commentary, according to Publishers Weekly.