For those who cannot find the PDF, search for "Alessandro Bausani, L'Islam: una religione" or "Bausani, Persia religiosa" to understand his methodological framework, which is essential for interpreting his translation of the Quran.
Bausani's translation of the Quran is significant for several reasons:
: Bausani, a polyglot who spoke over 30 languages, aimed for a translation that respected the unique "inimitable" style of the original Arabic while remaining readable in Italian.
Bausani's masterwork was first published in 1955 by Sansoni in Florence. Running to around 780 pages, it presented the Italian public with a Quran that was, and often still is, considered the finest translation available. Bausani Il Corano.pdf
Even in an age of digital information, Bausani’s Il Corano stands as a monument of careful, passionate, and profound scholarship—a true "point of reference" for anyone, believer or scholar, seeking to engage seriously with the Holy Book of Islam.
Alessandro Bausani’s 1955 translation of the Qur'an is widely recognized as the most authoritative and influential Italian version, balancing rigorous scholarship with literary quality. The work, often published by BUR, is esteemed for its historical-critical approach, extensive commentary, and objective treatment of complex theological concepts. Discover the 2022 updated edition at Il Corano. Edizione aggiornata 2022 - Amazon.it
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To understand the value of , one must first understand the man behind the translation. Alessandro Bausani (1921-1988) was an Italian historian of religion, linguist, and author. He was a full professor at the Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" and the Istituto Universitario Orientale di Napoli.
Bausani’s work has had a lasting impact on how the Italian-speaking world perceives Islam. By presenting the Qur'an as a living document of profound literary and spiritual value, he helped foster a more nuanced dialogue between the Mediterranean’s Christian and Islamic traditions. For contemporary students and scholars, the PDF versions of his work serve as an essential resource, offering a window into a mid-20th-century scholarly tradition that sought universality through specific, meticulous study.
What truly sets Bausani’s work apart is its extensive scholarly apparatus. The lengthy introduction—nearly eighty pages—provides a comprehensive entry point for the reader, covering the historical, geographical, and theological contexts of the revelations. It details the difference between the earlier, shorter "Meccan" surahs, which focus on the core tenets of faith, and the later "Medinan" surahs, which address the laws, social order, and communal life of the nascent Islamic community. His commentary, rich with footnotes and explanations, draws on traditional Islamic exegesis and modern scholarship, helping to clarify complex theological and legal matters. Running to around 780 pages, it presented the
Most PDF seekers are not just looking for text; they are looking for the footnotes . Bausani’s translation contains hundreds of philological annotations. He explains, for example, why a specific Arabic root could mean "clear light" in one context but "burning thorn bush" in another. He refuses to smooth over the Quran’s textual difficulties; instead, he highlights them.
Bausani rejected the common practice of paraphrasing the Quran into elegant, flowing Italian prose. He argued that the Quran is not ordinary literature; it is recited text (Qur’an literally means "recitation"). Therefore, he attempted to preserve the saj' (rhymed prose) and the abrupt stylistic shifts (known as iltifāt ) that characterize the original Arabic. This makes a vital resource for linguists studying the syntax of divine speech in Italian.