A Short History of the Abdullah Yusuf Ali Quran Translation
The Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation, first published in the 1930s, remains one of the most widely read English translations of the Quran nearly a century later.
Who translated it
Abdullah Yusuf Ali was a British-Indian Islamic scholar who produced his English translation along with extensive explanatory commentary, aiming to make the text accessible to English-speaking readers.
Why it became so widely used
Its combination of formal, dignified English phrasing and detailed accompanying notes made it a standard reference for decades, particularly in English-speaking Muslim communities.
Its style today
Modern readers sometimes notice its more classical, slightly archaic English phrasing compared to newer translations — a reflection of when it was written, not an inaccuracy in the translation itself.
Is the Yusuf Ali translation still commonly used today?
Yes — despite being nearly a century old, it remains one of the most printed and referenced English Quran translations, alongside a number of newer alternatives.
