1. English Translations of the Holy Quran in the Sub-Continent

Ashfaq Ahmed

Abstract

Islam being the religion of approximately one-fifth of mankind, the message of the Holy Quran assumes universal importance. Given the vast diversity of social and cultural outlook among the followers of Islam, English translations and commentaries of the Holy Quran play a fundamental role in decoding the Qur’ānic message to the non-Arab reader.

Arabic, the language of the Holy Quran, known as one of the most eloquent languages, has a singular advantage over other languages in explaining the spirit of the Holy Qur’ān. That is why the early years of Muslim history do not show any translation of the Holy Qur’ān.

However, when the Muslims power declined, and most of the Muslim world, came under colonial rule the imperialists sought to perpetuate their supremacy by depriving the Muslims of their legacy. This led to English translations of the Holy Qur’ān sponsored by the colonial powers. In an attempt to thwart these conspiracies and to convey the true message of Islam to the English speaking people, the Muslim scholars of the time came up with their own English translations of the Holy Qur’ān. Since then a large number of English translations and commentaries of the Holy Qur’ān have appeared in print. The Scholars in the Sub-continent like Daryabadi, Yusuf Ali, and Muhammad Asad etc. played a key role in translating the meaning of the Holy Qur’ān. A Survey of these scholarly works pointing out the maltranslation of Qadianies is here.