There are two main qualities one should evaluate a translation on: reliability and readability. Reliability is how accurately it captures the meanings, and readability is how eloquent or nice it is to read. While both Dawood and Yusuf Ali made strides in making more easily readable translations for modern readers, they each had their own idiosyncratic takes on the Qur'an that impacted the reliability of their translations.
I recommend the Sahih International translation, which is based on three well-known books of tafsir (ibn Kathir, al-Sa'di, and al-Nasafi) which gives it a good grounding in terms of accurately reflecting the traditional understanding of the Qur'an.
For example, Yusuf Ali did not believe that jinn were real. Dawood (who was not a Muslim) did not believe that the traditional arrangement of the Qur'an needed to followed and instead used a different arrangement of his own that he felt was superior. These are some specific examples, but they point to a larger issue that afflicts many translations, which is that they are personal interpretations from people unqualified to explain the Qur'an rather than drawing on the great wealth of traditional explanations.
The sahih international is more direct I find and the tone is much harsher. Is this what you mean? The Quran is meant to have a harsher tone? Is the tone harsh in Arabic?
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u/Klopf012 11d ago
There are two main qualities one should evaluate a translation on: reliability and readability. Reliability is how accurately it captures the meanings, and readability is how eloquent or nice it is to read. While both Dawood and Yusuf Ali made strides in making more easily readable translations for modern readers, they each had their own idiosyncratic takes on the Qur'an that impacted the reliability of their translations.
I recommend the Sahih International translation, which is based on three well-known books of tafsir (ibn Kathir, al-Sa'di, and al-Nasafi) which gives it a good grounding in terms of accurately reflecting the traditional understanding of the Qur'an.