How readings are prepared

Quran text

Arabic Quran text is reproduced from the Tanzil Project’s verified Uthmani text, without any change to its letters, diacritics, or marks. Before a passage is used, we compare it against a second, independently maintained digital text. Every passage is shown with its surah and ayah number so you can find it in any printed mushaf.

Arabic is always set as live, selectable text with the correct language and direction, never as a decorative image. We do not use Quran text as background texture or ornament.

Translations

A translation is a person’s rendering of the meaning of the Arabic. It is valuable, and it is not the Quran itself. Every English rendering on this site names its translator and edition.

Our current translation is that of Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, first published in 1930. We use it because its text can be republished freely, which allows us to quote it in full and credit it accurately. Its English is deliberately formal and at times archaic (“thee,” “thy,” “Lo!”). Where a different word choice in another translation would help a reader, we may say so, but we do not quote copyrighted translations without permission.

Source, explanation, reflection

Readers deserve to know who is speaking at every point. Our readings distinguish between:

• Source text: the Quran, shown in Arabic with a credited translation and its reference.
• Introductory explanation: plain-language context written by us, kept modest and general.
• Reflection: a personal or practical thought prompted by a passage, labeled as reflection and never presented as its meaning or interpretation.

When a reading applies a verse to a modern situation, such as reading online, we say clearly that the application is ours and note what the verse itself addresses.

Hadith and scholarly views

The first readings do not quote hadith or scholars. When they do in the future, each hadith will be cited to a specific collection with attention to numbering differences between editions, and any authenticity grading will be attributed to the scholar who gave it. We will not describe a view as agreed upon unless that can be shown, and where scholars differ, we will say so.

Checks before publication

Every reading has a responsible author among the organization’s directors. Quran passages can only be placed in a reading from our register of verified Arabic text and translation, so they are never typed or altered by hand, and every reference is shown with its surah and ayah. Translation credits and other sources are listed at the end of each reading.

We do not describe our readings as tafsir, as rulings, or as scholar-reviewed. They are introductory educational material prepared with care.

Scope and limits

These readings are an introduction. They are not a substitute for learning with a qualified teacher, for a full work of Quranic exegesis, or for the guidance of a scholar on questions of practice. Nothing here is a religious ruling, counseling, or legal advice. If a question depends on your own circumstances, please take it to someone qualified to answer it.

Corrections and revisions

If we find an error, we correct it and show the revision date at the end of the reading. Substantive corrections are described in a short note rather than made silently.

Rights

Readings are original work prepared for Allah Initiative, or material that is in the public domain or properly licensed. We do not reproduce other websites’ articles, designs, or images. Typefaces are used under the SIL Open Font License.