The Holy Quran English Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall

Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 work, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, is a highly respected English rendering of the Holy Qur’an. As the first English translation by a Muslim native speaker, it holds a unique historical and religious significance. Pickthall was clear that his work was an “explanatory translation” and not the inimitable Arabic scripture itself, reflecting the traditional Muslim view that the Qur’an cannot be perfectly translated. The translation is known for its fidelity to the original Arabic text and its use of elegant, though somewhat archaic, English diction. It remains one of the most popular and widely used English translations for Muslims worldwide, serving as an important bridge to understanding the message of Islam.