The Message of the Qur'an

The Message of the Qur'an: The Full Account of the Revealed Arabic Text Accompanied by Parallel Transliteration. (Hardcover)
Comment by a reader:-
This has to be, for me, the finest translation I have come across. Asad's translation is careful to explain WHY he has chosen to translate a word as this rather than as that and puts many references into their historical context.
Comparing to other translations, at least this sort of information allows you to make your own mind up.
I read this cover to cover and not long after, converted. That is how inspiring and powerful I found this text. There are several occasions where Asad has gone beyond the translation and explained the logic of a particular statement in the Qur'an (why men are permitted 4 wives but women not permitted 4 husbands, for example) allowing the reader to actively engage with the Qur'an message.. but what i like most is that he goes beyond the translation but only in the footnotes, not in the actual text (not putting words into God's mouth, as it were)
I found reading this to be inspiring, an eye opener and my first big step into what Islam really is about. The Message of the Quran: The Full Account of the Revealed Arabic Text Accompanied by Parallel Transliteration