“I have listened to its Urdu translation many times”: What non-Arabs have said about the Quran

This article is part of the special column “Here, We Open the Qur’an Together, and Love Shines Through”, originally written in Arabic, on Raseef22.

The Qur’anic text holds a unique beauty and grace for Muslims, though they differ in their appreciation of it. Each individual experiences the beauty of the Qur’an in their own way. The closer one is to the Arabic language and culture, the greater their ability to savor its verses and enjoy their elegance.

But it is not just Arabs who appreciate the Quran’s beauty and allure. There are non-Arabs who also find themselves captivated by its beauty in their own way—some are drawn to its rhythmic flow, others find joy in the blessings it describes, and for some, its beauty serves as a refuge and a source of solace, helping them overcome life's monotony and rekindle hope.

A relationship of love

"I don’t like sharing my personal impressions of the Qur’an,” American-Canadian writer and academic Laury Silvers tells Raseef22. “I have done so in the past, and Alhamdulillah, but I don’t like to do it now."

She explains, "The reason is that I have a profound love for the Qur’anic text, a special relationship of love, and I prefer not to discuss my thoughts on it publicly. I only share them with a few close friends."

 "I remember once praying with someone, and with us was another person—an atheist who did not speak or understand Arabic. After we finished, he told us that he was captivated by the beauty of the Quran’s rhythm.. It is unparalleled, and I enjoy it every time I recite it."

The beauty of the Qur’anic rhythm

Regarding the perception of beauty in Qur’anic verses, Russian researcher in Sanskrit studies, Nikolai Suvorov (who converted to Islam and took the name Jibril), tells Raseef22: "The Prophet, peace be upon him (PBUH), said that Allah is beautiful and loves beauty. The Qur’an’s words are beautiful, and no one can imitate them. I can never say that I have grown tired of reciting its verses or listening to them, even though I have read and heard them many times."

Suvorov shares a personal memory, "I remember once praying with someone, and with us was another person—an atheist who did not speak or understand Arabic. After we finished, he told us that he was captivated by the beauty of the Quran’s rhythm."

He adds, "I want to say that the Qur’anic rhythm is unparalleled, and I enjoy it every time I recite it."

It is not just Arabs who appreciate the Quran’s beauty and allure. There are non-Arabs who also find themselves captivated by its beauty in their own way—some are drawn to its rhythmic flow, others find joy in the blessings it describes, and for some, its beauty serves as a refuge and a source of solace, helping them overcome life's monotony and rekindle hope.

An Indian researcher with a PhD in political science from Freie Universität Berlin (who preferred not to mention her name) said, "I deeply enjoy listening to Qur’anic recitations recited with musical maqams." She added, "I love Surah Ar-Rahman, and I have listened to its Urdu translation many times on YouTube. It is absolutely mesmerizing."

Verses that bring hope to my soul

When asked if there are specific verses in the Qur’an that he enjoys, Suvorov said, "It is difficult for me to single out particular verses because all Qur’anic verses are the perfect words of Allah." He continued, "However, I love Surah Al-Mutaffifin, which includes verses about justice, as well as the verses in Surah Al-Isra’ that instruct people to weigh with the most precise balance."

He added, "The verses from Surah Al-Mutaffifin, such as: “{The virtuous are certainly bound for ’Illiyûn1 ˹in elevated Gardens˺ (18) and what will make you realize what ’Illiyûn is? (19)}”

And also: “{Surely the virtuous will be in bliss, (22) ˹seated˺ on ˹canopied˺ couches, gazing around. (23) You will recognize on their faces the glow of delight. (24) They will be given a drink of sealed, pure nectar, (25) whose last sip will smell like musk. So let whoever aspires to this strive ˹diligently˺.}”

And the final verses of the same surah: “{But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers, (34) as they sit on ˹canopied˺ couches, looking on. (35) ˹The believers will be asked,˺ “Have the disbelievers ˹not˺ been paid back for what they used to do?” (36).}”

He concludes, “Honestly, all the verses from Surah Al-Mutaffifin fill my soul with hope and give me certainty that the suffering of this world will come to an end, and in the Hereafter, every person will receive what they truly deserve."

Pleasing to my ears and soothing to my soul

“I love Surah Al-Fatiha in its entirety,” Kazakh doctoral researcher and Muslim, Ayim Tliberkin, tells Raseef22. “To me, this is one of the most significant surahs in the Qur’an. It is highly regarded by many, recited multiple times a day, and what I particularly love about it is its simplicity while carrying profoundly deep meanings."

“All the verses from Surah Al-Mutaffifin fill my soul with hope and give me certainty that the suffering of this world will come to an end, and in the Hereafter, every person will receive what they truly deserve."

She added, "I also love the rhythm of the Qur’an when it is recited—it is pleasing to my ears and soothes my soul."

Regarding his personal experience with appreciating the beauty of Qur’anic verses, Nigerian academic and Arabic literature specialist, Suleiman al-Afanjun, tells Raseef22, "I perceive the beauty of Qur’anic verses by contemplating them, especially during recitation. I also find myself deeply immersed in this beauty when listening to specific reciters, such as al-Sudais and Abdul Basit Abdul Samad."

The beauty of tanween in the endings of Surah Al-Isra’ verses

When asked if he finds beauty in specific verses, Suleiman al-Afanjun said, "All Qur’anic verses are beautiful, but I find the verses that end with nominal tanween particularly beautiful when recited, such as the verses of Surah Al-Isra’. I receive them with joy when I listen to them. I cannot really explain the reason behind this, but I feel immense pleasure when I hear their recitation."

He then elaborated, mentioning the nominal tanween in the endings of the following verses from Surah Al-Isra’:

{'وَمَن أَرَادَ ٱلأٓخِرَةَ وَسَعَىٰ لَهَا سَعيَهَا وَهُوَ مُؤمِن فَأُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ سَعيُهُم مَّشكُورٗا (19) كُلّا نُّمِدُّ هَٰٓؤُلَآءِ وَهَٰٓؤُلَآءِ مِن عَطَآءِ رَبِّكَ وَمَا كَانَ عَطَآءُ رَبِّكَ مَحظُورًا (20) ٱنظُر كَيفَ فَضَّلنَا بَعضَهُم عَلَىٰ بَعضٖ وَلَلأٓخِرَةُ أَكبَرُ دَرَجَٰتٖ وَأَكبَرُ تَفضِيلا (21) لَّا تَجعَل مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَقعُدَ مَذمُوما مَّخذُولا (22) ۞وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلوَٰلِدَينِ إِحسَٰنًا إِمَّا يَبلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوۡ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفّٖ وَلَا تَنهَرهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَولا كَرِيما (23) وَٱخفِض لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرا (24) رَّبُّكُم أَعلَمُ بِمَا فِي نُفُوسِكُم إِن تَكُونُواْ صَٰلِحِينَ فَإِنَّهُۥ كَانَ لِلأَوَّٰبِينَ غَفُورا (25) وَءَاتِ ذَا ٱلقُربَىٰ حَقَّهُۥ وَٱلۡمِسكِينَ وَٱبنَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ وَلَا تُبَذِّر تَبذِيرًا (26)'.}

“{But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it accordingly, and is a ˹true˺ believer, it is they whose striving will be appreciated. (19) We provide both the former and the latter from the bounty of your Lord. And the bounty of your Lord can never be withheld. (20) See how We have favoured some over others ˹in this life˺, but the Hereafter is certainly far greater in rank and in favour.. (21) Do not set up any other god with Allah, or you will end up condemned, abandoned. (22) For your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And honour your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, never say to them ˹even˺ ‘ugh’ [so much as, ‘uff], nor yell at them. Rather, address them respectfully. (23) And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.” (24) Your Lord knows best what is within yourselves. If you are righteous, He is certainly All-Forgiving to those who ˹constantly˺ turn to Him. (25)Give to close relatives their due, as well as the poor and ˹needy˺ travellers. And do not spend wastefully. (26)”}

The beauty of speaking about Allah’s blessings

Muhammad Afzal, an Indian Muslim who works as a financial director in Saudi Arabia, informs Raseef22: "It is by God’s grace that He has given us the Qur’an, which guides us in the right direction and teaches us how to live our lives. I thank Allah, the Almighty, for this blessing."

"The Qur’an is the word of Allah, and thus, it is at the highest level of eloquence in Arabic, to the point where no human can produce a single verse like it. The beauty of the Qur’an lies in its meaning."

He continued, "This is why I deeply enjoy the beauty of the verses in Surah Ar-Rahman, as they highlight the blessings and bounties that Allah has bestowed upon us."

He then cited some of these verses:

“{He laid out the earth for all beings. (10) In it are fruit, palm trees with date stalks. (11) And grain with huska and scented plants. (12) So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (13)}”

The beauty of the Qur’an dispels life's monotony and inspires hope

Aisha Kar, a Turkish academic and lecturer at Istanbul Medeniyet University, informed Raseef22, "Arabic is not my native language, but since I have studied it, I can understand it to some extent. I constantly check the meanings of words to ensure my understanding is accurate. I can even appreciate the beauty of the Qur’an through the recitations of famous Qur’anic reciters such as Al-Sudais, Mishary Rashid, and others."

Each person perceives the beauty of Quranic verses in their own way. The closer one is to the Arabic language and culture, the better they can appreciate and enjoy the beauty of the Quranic verses.

She added, "In reality, what delights me the most is understanding the meanings of the verses as I read them. Even if the meanings I grasp are related to fundamental aspects of the religion, the ability to comprehend them brings me joy."

Kar specifically admires verse 48 of Surah Al-Ahzab:

“{Do not yield to the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Overlook their annoyances, and put your trust in Allah. For Allah is sufficient as a Trustee of Affairs.}”

She continued, “Verses that instill hope in the soul of the believer have a profound impact on me."

Another Turkish academic, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Raseef22, "There is no single Qur’anic verse that is superior to another, as all its verses are magnificent. However, certain verses affect me depending on my mood. When I feel bored at work, I love listening to the verse:

‘{And that each person will only have the [good] for which he strives.}’ (Surah An-Najm, 39)

And also the verse:

‘{Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, "Are those who know equal to those who do not know?" Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.}’ (Surah Az-Zumar, 9)"

She explains, "The Qur’an is the word of God, and thus, it is at the highest level of eloquence in Arabic, to the point where no human can produce a single verse like it. The beauty of the Qur’an lies in its meaning."

She further clarified, "Because the Qur’an is Allah’s message to humanity, its linguistic beauty and style, while extraordinary, should not be the sole focus. It would not be right to overlook its meanings and merely assess it as a literary text, like a story. Likewise, it should not be recited in musical maqams."