Some Muslim translators of the Holy Qur'an

[Majestic_Islam]

Assalaamu 'alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

I don't have the authors name for this piece unfortunately. Just one point though in reference to Abdullah Yusuf Ali, from reading his biography (Searching for Solace), I thought that he didn't know much Arabic, but basicly translated from Urdu to English - wallahu 'alam, and Allah Yarhamu - his final years were very sad to read about - as he died with no one caring for him... Khayr inshaAllah

* Please also note that his translation had a few problematic interpretations (not in the translation itself but in the notes which he expounds with below the translation (he gives interpretations when he wasn't qualified to do so). Simply put, I believe that his style is exemplary in the English language and he himself was one of the brightest students in the British empire (scoring in the top 10 in his time from the documents recorded). Allah subhaanahu wa ta'ala will surely reward him for his efforts, along with the Imam Muhammed Marmaduke Pikthall who also has a very lucid translation of the meaning of the Qur'an.

Fi Amanillah

Abu Khadijah

Some Muslim translators of the Holy Qur'an


THE 17th century witnessed the publication of first English translation of the Holy Qur'an, that is, the one published by Alexander Ross in 1649 and in the 18th century only one translation was published; namely, the one by George Sale in 1731. The 19th century witnessed the publication of two translations; namely, those of J.M. Rodwell in 1861 and F.H. Palmer 1880. In the 20th century, there was a growing interest in the studies related to the Qur'an and this led to the emergence of tens of English translations of the meanings of the Qur'an.

The 20th century also witnessed the publication of English translations by Muslims. All of the translations published before 1905 were done by Christians, Jews and Ahmadiyyas. Those translations abounded in distortions and mistakes – unintentionally or intentionally – due to religious bias or for the sake of propaganda.

This made many Muslims translate the meanings of the Qur'an to give an objective picture of Islam and its Holy Book, the Qur'an. Dr. Abdul Hakim Khan was the first Muslim translator to publish a translation of the meanings of the Qur'an entitled Holy Qur'an Translated: With Short Notes. This translation was published in India in 1905.

His translation was followed by tens of translations by other Muslims trying as much as they could to convey some of the grandeur of the Holy Qur'an and the tolerant nature of Islam and Muslims. The most important ones are those done by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall and Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

As for Pickthall, he was the first English Muslim to translate the meanings of the Qur'an into English. In 1930, he published his translation, The Meaning of the Glorious Qur'an: an Explanatory Translation.

Pickthall was a convert to Islam who was not satisfied with previous translations abounding in mistakes and distortions. Due to being the Imam of one of the mosques in England, Pickthall realized the necessity of having an English translation of the meanings of the Qur'an for his sermons and to help his congregation to have a proper understanding of the meanings of the Qur'an.

Pickthall spells out his motive for translating the meanings of the Qur'an in these words, "to try to expound the glorious Qur'an to my people in a manner intelligible to them in their own language at the present day."

To revise his translation, Pickthall resorted to a distinguished Egyptian scholar and a devout Muslim, Dr Muhammad Ahmed Al Ghamrawi. This work was supervised by Mostafa Al Maraghy, Sheikh of Al Azhar. Since its publication, Pickthall's translation has become among the most common ones in the Muslim world.

As for Yusuf Ali's translation, it is regarded as the most popular translation in the Muslim world. Yusuf Ali (1870 - 1953) was born in India and received his education at the University of Bombay, St John College, Cambridge and Lincoln's Inn, London. He worked as a lecturer of Hindustani language and Indian religious manner at the University of London between 1917 and 1919.

His father taught him Arabic when he was of the age of four or five. As a Muslim, he was highly motivated and enthusiastic to present his own translation of the meanings of the Qur'an.

In the preface to the first edition, Yusuf Ali points out that the aim of his translation is to communicate the beauty, uniqueness and inimitability of the Qur'an.

[Musa]

Some of the Muslim translators of the Qur'aan (1 was a Qadiani and hence non-Muslim). This list comes from Yasir Qadhi's book 'An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'aan', which is available at IISNA and Preston Mosque. The book has a section on Qur'aan Translations and commentaries on them all.

Dr. Muhammad `Abdul-Hakeem Khan (1905)
Mirza Hairat Dehlawi (1912)
Mirza Abul Fadhl (1912)
Mohammed `Ali (Qadiani) (1916)
Hafidh Ghulam Sarwar (1929)
Muhammam Marmaduke Pickthall (1930)
`Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1938)
`Abdul-Majeed Daryabadi (1941)
`Ali Ahmad Khan Julunduri (1962)
Hashim Amir `Ali (1974)
Muhammad Taqi al-Din al-Hilali & Muhammad Muhsin Khan (1977)
Muhammad Asad (1980)
Thomas B. Irving (1985)

[TAS]

Its NOT allowed to read that qadiani moron's translation. It contains many problematic passages, which I think were slyly planted in to cause hurt to the beliefs of Muslims.

I can't remember his name. This is a unified opinion by both sufis and salafis.

If anyone knows his name, point it out to the rest.

EDIT: Just saw (Qadiani) next to that guy's name. Sorry.

[Musa]

It can't be said to be Haraam, but of course it should be avoided by those who have no knowledge.
Other translations, such as Yusuf Ali's and Muhammad Asad's similarly contain gross errors and should best be avoided. However some versions of Yusuf Ali's translation were improved and problematic additions were taken out (such as the version approved of by KSA).

[TAS]

I don't know who told you that. Ive heard BOTH salafi and sufi scholars warning people to stay away from that guy's translation.

[Musa]

Staying away is of course good. Its just that you seemed to say its forbidden (you said it NOT allowed to read it).
If we are doing research and have enough knowledge to beware of it, there is no issue. Heck, I read the Bible, and many worse books.

[TAS]

yah and for good reason... the bible or bhagwad gita are different...

everyone knows its falsehood, if someone has a read of them for comparitive religion purposes, its different.

but when u mix truth and falsehood, its more dangerous than falsehood... an innocent person will think he is learning Islam...

remember.... you can stay away from poison easily

but if the poison is injected into a sweet, then that's worse... an innocent person won't even know its there... even a person who THINKS he knows its there, won't be able to locate where exactly in the baklava the droplets of poison are present!

[Musa]

That's what I'm saying Akhi.
For let's just say, me or you. We would know the errors (we hope!) and as such if we were to read them, possibly to refute or warn against them, or even as a rese4arch, we can't say we are sinning. That's what I meant by not saying that it is not allowed to read them.
As for somebody who has little knowledge, we should strive to make sure they do not read them, rather give them a better translation.

[The Clan]

I was listening to a lecture by Yasir Qadhi the other day and he said that we should not recommend the Yusuf Ali translation because his interpretations of the Ayaat contain grevious errors.

Among his beliefs were that Heaven and Hell are not real places but just figuritive forms of speech and Offensive Jihaad does not exist.

But the above information is only what I heard from Yasir Qadhi.. as far as I know he is truthful

I dont think the error is small though because to disbelieve is Jannah and Jahannum nullifies one of the articles of faith!!

[The Clan]

Anyone who wants to check, the info is on the cd "The Importance of the Quran" by Yasir Qadhi

[Musa]

Fortunately many copies of the translation have been edited.
The Saudi approved version fixed up the major issues with the translation and the footnotes that he added.

[Alhamdulillah]

This list comes from Yasir Qadhi's book 'An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'aan', which is available at IISNA and Preston Mosque.

I asked IISNA about this book some time ago, but they said they didn't have it. Is it available there now?

[Al Baitel 'ateeq]

I asked IISNA about this book some time ago, but they said they didn't have it. Is it available there now?

This book is currently unavailable at iisna.

[Musa]

It is definitely available at Preston Mosque, I saw it there recently.