"Koranens budskap" is a modern Swedish translation or interpretation of the Koran, first
published in 1998. The translator, Mohammed Knut Bernström, was a Swedish
convert to Islam. According to Swedish Wikipedia, Bernström had been the
Swedish ambassador to Morocco, and became a Muslim after his retirement.
"Koranens budskap" was warmly welcomed by Muslims living in Sweden. Until its publication, they had to put up with K.V. Zettersténs translation from 1917, which includes a critical (read anti-Muslim) introduction and equally critical notes. From a purely stylistic point of view, however, Zettersténs translation is the better one. It captures the sacral, archaic and elliptical style of the Koran better than Bernström's interpretation. But then, Bernström's goal was probably to make a useful translation, one which the believers could actually understand.
"Koranens budskap" is officially approved by the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the closest thing one can get to imprimatur in the Sunni Muslim world. Unsurprisingly, its extended notes are apologetic in character. Thus, we are told that Muhammad didn't confuse Mary and Miriam, that Dhul Qarnayn isn't Alexander the Great but some kind of Arab ruler, that the mention of a "Samaritan" in an sura about pre-Samaritan events isn't anachronistic, etc. Haman's curious presence at Pharaoh's court is explained away by denying that the Koranic Haman is identical to the Biblical character of the same name (who worked for the Persian court about 2000 years later). Apparently, Pharaoh's henchman was a certain Ha-Ammun.
More controversial from a Muslim perspective is the crypto- or pseudo-modernist tendency in the commentary notes. Thus, Muhammad didn't convert any djinns, the tradition about Jesus' doppelganger being crucified is denied (!), the severe hudud punishments are said to be applicable only in a strictly just society (which presumably doesn't exist anywhere at the present time), etc. The commentaries also attempt to deny or downplay any miraculous elements in the Muslim religion.
Somehow, this doesn't sound like really existing Islam, but some kind of more rational or rationalized version for educated Western converts. Indeed, most of the notes are taken from Muhammad Asad's "The Message of the Qur'an", published by Dar al-Andalus in Gibraltar in 1980. Asad was born Leopold Weiss in Austrian Poland and was thus a Western convert. Sometimes, Bernström actually "corrects" Asad, when the latter becomes too modernist and allegorizing!
"Koranens budskap" was warmly welcomed by Muslims living in Sweden. Until its publication, they had to put up with K.V. Zettersténs translation from 1917, which includes a critical (read anti-Muslim) introduction and equally critical notes. From a purely stylistic point of view, however, Zettersténs translation is the better one. It captures the sacral, archaic and elliptical style of the Koran better than Bernström's interpretation. But then, Bernström's goal was probably to make a useful translation, one which the believers could actually understand.
"Koranens budskap" is officially approved by the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the closest thing one can get to imprimatur in the Sunni Muslim world. Unsurprisingly, its extended notes are apologetic in character. Thus, we are told that Muhammad didn't confuse Mary and Miriam, that Dhul Qarnayn isn't Alexander the Great but some kind of Arab ruler, that the mention of a "Samaritan" in an sura about pre-Samaritan events isn't anachronistic, etc. Haman's curious presence at Pharaoh's court is explained away by denying that the Koranic Haman is identical to the Biblical character of the same name (who worked for the Persian court about 2000 years later). Apparently, Pharaoh's henchman was a certain Ha-Ammun.
More controversial from a Muslim perspective is the crypto- or pseudo-modernist tendency in the commentary notes. Thus, Muhammad didn't convert any djinns, the tradition about Jesus' doppelganger being crucified is denied (!), the severe hudud punishments are said to be applicable only in a strictly just society (which presumably doesn't exist anywhere at the present time), etc. The commentaries also attempt to deny or downplay any miraculous elements in the Muslim religion.
Somehow, this doesn't sound like really existing Islam, but some kind of more rational or rationalized version for educated Western converts. Indeed, most of the notes are taken from Muhammad Asad's "The Message of the Qur'an", published by Dar al-Andalus in Gibraltar in 1980. Asad was born Leopold Weiss in Austrian Poland and was thus a Western convert. Sometimes, Bernström actually "corrects" Asad, when the latter becomes too modernist and allegorizing!
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