The first recitation of the Quran by an American woman is now available for online download this Ramadan. The reader, Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar, who last year became the first American woman to translate the Quran into English, is a retired University of Chicago lecturer. She has written, translated or edited more than 15 books during her academic career.

The audio is divided into 30 parts so that one part may be listened to each day of Ramadan. Given the hectic demands of work and home, Muslims now have the option of downloading and listening to her inclusive translation, which is available on iTunes, wherever they may be.

Dr. Bakhtiar’s translation of the Quran differs from existing English translations in several ways. This translation is considered more inclusive and reflects Dr. Bahktiar's interest in modern and inclusive language, including the use of "God" instead of "Allah" throughout the text. Most significantly, the Arabic "daraba," which has traditionally been translated into English as "to beat," has been reverted to the verb "to go away," an alternate meaning for the word, according to Dr. Bakhtiar.

In an announcement by the publisher, Dr. Bakhtiar acknowledges that "today women are making strides within, and beyond, their faiths," and says "there is certainly room within this beautiful faith to add to the diverse array of voices that have helped to increase and improve our understanding of the Prophet's message. My hope is that this recitation will add to that beautiful and diverse array."

Posted on September 4, 2008