My Muslim friends have always told me that unless you can read the Quran in Arabic you'll never "get it," meaning that you'll never truly grasp the beauty of it. What they're getting at is that by reading it in English (or probably any other translation) you won't pick up the poetry. This is a key point, and not simply because a lot of the beauty will be lost - and also because the Arabic world has a long, proud poetic tradition. It's also true because the beauty and majesty of the poetry is part of the miracle. As Muslims we accept that Muhammad was, at best unlettered, but also essentially illiterate. why would we assume that he was an educated man? It certainly doesn't mean that he wasn't intelligent, but rather that he never received much schooling. Plus, he was a man, an extraordinary man, but also only a man. I think this view is more difficult to reconcile in Christianity because Jesus is considered the son of God, something that we don't believe. It's not that Jesus isn't revered in Islam because he certainly is, and I would definitely propose that the average Muslim is more likely to follow Jesus's name with "peace be upon him" (or PBUH) than the average Christian would to do so; although probably less likely than the average Christian is to follow his name with a profanity (not being holier than thou here, because when I'm in a temper I'm certainly quite guilty of that more frequently than I would like to think). So, for Muslims, the power and the sophistication of the poetry coming from an unlettered merchant can only be seen as miraculous.
With all of this in mind, I'll share some of surah 55, sometimes referred to as "The Merciful," keeping in mind that Muslims don't normally refer to the titles because there is not complete agreement on them. This is especially true when you're writing it out. You'd never write something like John 3:16, but rather simply 2:156. Now, having said that, I remember asking a previous Imam a question about a Quranic verse and I said the number, and he asked for the name. I would argue that this surah provides the surest feel of how the poetic flow, even translated into English:
"He laid the earth for His creatures, with all its fruits and blossom-bearing palm, chaff-covered grain and scented herbs. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
He created man from potter's clay, and the jinn from smokeless fire. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
He has let loose the two oceans: they meet one another. Yet between them stands a barrier which they cannot overrun. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Pearls and corals come from both. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
His are the ships that sail like mountains upon the ocean. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
All that lives on earth is doomed to die. But the face of your Lord will abide for ever, in all its majesty and glory. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
All who dwell in heaven and earth entreat Him. Each day some mighty task engages Him. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Mankind and jinn, We shall surely find the time to judge you! Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Mankind and jinn, if you have power to penetrate the confines of heaven and earth, then penetrate them! But this you shall not do except with Our own authority. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Flames of fire shall be lashed at you, and molten brass. There shall be none to help you. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
When the sky split asunder, and reddens like a rose or stained leather (which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?", on that day neither man nor jinnee will be asked about his sins. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?"
With all of this in mind, I'll share some of surah 55, sometimes referred to as "The Merciful," keeping in mind that Muslims don't normally refer to the titles because there is not complete agreement on them. This is especially true when you're writing it out. You'd never write something like John 3:16, but rather simply 2:156. Now, having said that, I remember asking a previous Imam a question about a Quranic verse and I said the number, and he asked for the name. I would argue that this surah provides the surest feel of how the poetic flow, even translated into English:
"He laid the earth for His creatures, with all its fruits and blossom-bearing palm, chaff-covered grain and scented herbs. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
He created man from potter's clay, and the jinn from smokeless fire. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
He has let loose the two oceans: they meet one another. Yet between them stands a barrier which they cannot overrun. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Pearls and corals come from both. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
His are the ships that sail like mountains upon the ocean. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
All that lives on earth is doomed to die. But the face of your Lord will abide for ever, in all its majesty and glory. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
All who dwell in heaven and earth entreat Him. Each day some mighty task engages Him. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Mankind and jinn, We shall surely find the time to judge you! Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Mankind and jinn, if you have power to penetrate the confines of heaven and earth, then penetrate them! But this you shall not do except with Our own authority. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
Flames of fire shall be lashed at you, and molten brass. There shall be none to help you. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?
When the sky split asunder, and reddens like a rose or stained leather (which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?", on that day neither man nor jinnee will be asked about his sins. Which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?"
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