The Clear Quran for Kids : Surah 1, and 49-114 (Dr. Mustafa Khattab) Ages 7 to 12+ (Grades 2 to 5+)
Description
ISBN: 978-1949505221
Author: Dr. Mustafa Khattab
Publisher: Furqaan Institute of Quranic Education (2021)
Pages: 356 Binding: Hardcover
Description from the publisher:
Letter from the Author --
Many Muslim families in the West are keen on getting their children to memorize the Quran in Arabic, the original language of revelation. However, most Muslims don’t speak or understand Arabic, making it challenging for many young Muslims to connect with the Quran and understand its message.
Recently, I came across a copy of the Quran for children with the Arabic text on one page and the English meaning on the other. To my surprise, the English text was none other than Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s 1934 original translation, written in a dense, archaic style—which is difficult for even college graduates to understand, let alone a 7-year-old!
Al-ḥamdu-lillah, my original translation, The Clear Quran® Series (2015), has been well-received, and many Islamic schools in North America are using it for grade 5 and up. Now is the time to produce an easier translation for younger students.
"What makes this translation unique is that it has been edited by kids, for kids. I have worked diligently with a team of students (mostly grade 2-5) to identify difficult words and replace them with easier ones that carry the same meaning. As for the words we couldn't replace, they are explained in the glossary, along with the Arabic terms used in this book. With the help of qualified Islamic and public school teachers and professional editors, we made sure that the translation is accurate and accessible."
Why only Surahs 49 to 114?Based on an authentic ḥadith recorded by Imam Aḥmad, the Prophet ﷺ said that the Quran is made up of four sections:
1. Aṭ-Ṭiwal الطِّوَال (the long surahs), which—according to many scholars—include Al-Baqarah (2) to At-Tawbah (9).2. Al-Mi’un الْمِئُون (the surahs of about 100 verses), which include Yunus (10) to Al-Qaṣaṣ (28).3. Al-Mathani الْمَثَانِي (the surahs less than 100 verses), which include Al-’Ankabut (29) to Al-Fatḥ (48).4. Al-Mufaṣṣal الْمُفَصَّل(the short surahs), which include Al-Ḥujurat (49) to An-Nas (114) as well as Al-Fatiḥah (1).
This volume covers the 4th section, Al-Mufaṣṣal. The other three sections will be covered in separate volumes, InShaaAllah.
Moreover, most people—including myself—are visual learners. Growing up as a student at Al-Azhar, I used to sum up complex lessons (from fiqh and poetry to sirah and history) into simple drawings to help me recall the general ideas of those lessons. It worked! And I believe we can use the same technique with Quranic translations intended for young learners, following the opinion that decent illustrations are permissible for educational purposes. Keeping in line with our traditional Islamic values, no prophet or companion of Prophet Muḥammad (S) is depicted in any of the illustrations within this book.
The purpose of this translation is to make it easy for students to understand the Quran, and appreciate its message and relevance to our daily lives. Each surah is divided into themes, so students know exactly where to start and where to stop when studying or memorizing passages.
While we appreciate past efforts to translate the Quran for kids, we must acknowledge that times have changed, and so have our children’s scopes of learning, challenges, and aspirations. This current work is a tool that enables teachers and parents to explain passages and surahs in a simple way that helps children learn, love, and live the message of the Quran.
May Allah accept this effort.
Mustafa KhattabMississauga, Canada2019
