The Noble Quran with Transliteration in Roman Script - English (17x24)

The Noble Quran with Transliteration in Roman Script prints the Arabic text of the Quran, a Roman script transliteration and the English translation side by side on every page. It is made for readers who want to recite the Quran in Arabic before they can read Arabic letters: you read the sound in English letters, check the meaning next to it, and see the original Arabic in the same line of sight. The translation is the Noble Quran by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. This Darussalam edition is a 17x24 cm hardcover of 752 pages, available in two paper options: Premium Paper (Shamwa) and Normal Paper.

Arabic, transliteration and English on one page

Each page is set in three columns. The English translation is on the left, the transliteration in the middle and the Arabic on the right. Every verse carries the same number in all three columns, so if you lose your place in the Arabic you can find it again from the English or the transliteration. Surah openings are marked in all three columns, with the surah name in English, in Roman letters and in Arabic, and the page header shows the surah and the part (juz) you are reading.

How the Roman script transliteration reads

The transliteration spells out the Arabic in plain English letters so it can be read aloud without learning a special system of symbols. Long vowels are shown by doubling letters, as in "Yaaa 'ayyuhal-lazeena 'aamanoo" (O you who believe), and joined words are linked with hyphens, as in "Bismil-laahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem". Apostrophes mark sounds such as the Arabic hamza and 'ayn, which have no English letter of their own. This makes the text easy to pick up for a first reading, and it is why many English speakers call this edition the Quran in Roman English or the romanized Quran.

The Hilali and Muhsin Khan English translation

The English column carries the full Noble Quran translation by Dr. Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhsin Khan, a widely read English translation of the meanings of the Quran. Short explanations are added in brackets inside the translation, so the reader understands a word or reference in context without leaving the page. These explanations draw on the tafsir of At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir and on Sahih Al-Bukhari.

Premium Paper (Shamwa) or Normal Paper

This Quran with transliteration comes in two versions. Both contain the same Arabic text, Roman script transliteration and Hilali and Muhsin Khan English translation in the same three-column layout. The difference is the paper. Premium Paper, known as Shamwa, is the higher grade paper, a good choice for a Quran you will read every day or give as a gift. Normal Paper is the lower-priced option for students, classes and anyone buying more than one copy. Choose your paper from the options above before adding the book to your cart.

Why read the Quran with transliteration

For a new Muslim or an English-speaking reader, the first months of reciting the Quran can feel out of reach. Transliteration closes that gap. You can recite Surah Al-Fatihah and the short surahs you need for prayer, follow the imam during Taraweeh in Ramadan, or read a surah with your children, all while you are still learning the Arabic letters.

It also works as a check. Readers who have started learning Arabic can recite from the Arabic column and glance across at the transliteration when they are unsure of a word, then read the English to understand what they have just recited.

Getting the most from this edition

• Start with the short surahs of the last part, read them from the transliteration, and listen to a qualified reciter to hear the sounds English letters cannot fully show.
• Read the English translation of each verse after you recite it, so the meaning stays attached to the words.
• Move your eyes to the Arabic column as you learn the letters, until the transliteration becomes a back-up rather than your main text.
• Pair it with a teacher or a tajweed class. Transliteration shows you the words, and a teacher corrects how you pronounce them.

The Noble Quran with Transliteration: details

Who this Quran in Roman script is for

• New Muslims who want to recite the Quran in Arabic from the start.
• English-speaking Muslims in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf who were never taught to read Arabic script.
• Parents teaching children short surahs and duas at home.
• Students learning Arabic who want the sound and meaning of each verse beside the original.
• Anyone who wants to follow the recitation in the masjid with the meaning in front of them.

More Quran translations and study books

• For the meaning of every Arabic word, see Study the Noble Quran Word for Word.
• For the same Hilali and Muhsin Khan translation without transliteration, see The Noble Quran in English (17x24) or Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Quran.
• Ready to read from the Arabic alone? See the Mushaf Madinah (Arabic script) or the 16 Line Tajweed Quran with colour-coded tajweed.
• To learn the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) alongside the Quran, read The Sealed Nectar.

Browse more in the Quran collection, our Quran translations and our books for new Muslims.

Quran with transliteration: frequently asked questions

What is the Noble Quran with Transliteration in Roman Script?

It is a Darussalam edition of the Quran that prints three things side by side on every page: the Arabic text, a transliteration of the Arabic in Roman (English) letters, and the English translation by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. It lets readers who cannot yet read Arabic script follow the recitation and the meaning at the same time.

How is each page laid out?

Each page is divided into three columns. The English translation sits on the left, the Roman script transliteration in the middle and the Arabic text on the right. Every verse carries the same number in all three columns, so you can move across the page from the meaning to the sound to the original Arabic without losing your place. The page header shows the surah name in English and Arabic and the part (juz) number.

Which English translation is used?

The translation is the Noble Quran by Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, published by Darussalam. Short explanations in brackets are added within the translation, drawing on the tafsir of At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir and on Sahih Al-Bukhari.

Can I learn to recite the Quran correctly from transliteration alone?

Transliteration is a helpful bridge, but some Arabic sounds have no exact match in English letters, so it cannot replace learning from a teacher. Use this edition to start reciting and to check your reading while you learn the Arabic letters and tajweed alongside it. Over time the Arabic column becomes the one you read from.

Who is this Quran with transliteration best for?

New Muslims, English-speaking children and adults who have not yet learned to read Arabic, parents helping children with memorising short surahs, and anyone who wants to follow the recitation in the masjid or during Taraweeh with both the sound and the meaning in front of them.

What size is it and how many pages does it have?

It is a 17x24 cm hardcover of 752 pages. The larger page size gives each of the three columns enough room to stay readable.

What is the difference between Premium Paper (Shamwa) and Normal Paper?

Both versions have the same contents and the same three-column layout of Arabic, transliteration and English. Premium Paper, called Shamwa, is the higher grade paper. Normal Paper is the lower-priced option. Pick the one you want from the paper options on this page.

Is there a Quran with word by word meaning as well?

Yes. If you want the meaning of each Arabic word rather than the full verse, see Study the Noble Quran Word for Word, a 3 volume set that gives the English meaning under every Arabic word.