Quran Translations Reached Non-Muslims and Muslims outside Arab World Very Late
By S.
Arshad, New Age Islam
21 June
2021
Lack of
Translations of Quran and Comprehensive Exegetic Literature about Islam Caused
Setback to Islam
Main
Points:
1. Quran’s translations were available to the
outside world very late.
2. Europeans started translating Quran before
Muslims to refute its message.
3. Translation of Quran was done in Persian
only in the 10th century.
4. Translation of Quran was done in Urdu in
1780s.
5. Book of fatwas Fatawa Alamgiri was compiled
in India before the translation of Quran.
----
The holy
Quran was revealed to the prophet of Islam in the 7th century. But its
translations in non-Arab languages were available only after the 11th century.
The first translation of the Quran in any non-Arab language was in Turkish in
the 11th century. The first translation of the Quran in any European languages
was in Latin done in 1143 by Robert Ketenensis. He did the translation of the Quran
only with the purpose of refuting it and not for promoting it. So he did wrong
and misleading translations of words and verses. Later translations of the
Quran in other European languages were inspired by the translation done by
Ketenensis. Indeed earlier in the 9th century, translation of the Quran was
done in Greek language.
Though the
famous Sahabi Hadhrat Salman Farsi r.a. had translated Surah Fatiha in Persian
in the 7th century and Islam had reached Persia during the rule of Banu
Umaiyah, translation of the Quran was first done in the 10th century.
A correct
literal translation in Latin was done by Louis Maracci in 1698 but that was
done only for the purpose of refutation of the Quran.
The first
French translation of the Quran by a Muslim was done in 1959. This shows how
late Muslims realised the importance of translation of the Quran in other
languages.
In India
though the Muslims reached very early and the first mosque ---Cheramam mosque
--- was built in India during the life of prophet of Islam, Islam became
dominant force in India in the 11th century with the establishment of Ghori
dynasty in India in 1173. Bakhtiyar Khilji conquered Bihar and Bengal in
1199-1200 and also established madrasa system in Bengal but the Quran and
hadith were made available in Indian languages only during the rule of Mughal
ruler Mohammad Shah Rangila from 1738-39. Islamic scholar Shah Waliullah first
translated the Quran in Persian language --the official language and the
language of the elite in India in 1739. Interestingly Fatawa Alamgiri compiled
during the rule of Aurangzeb was available in India before the translation of
the Quran in India. This is perhaps the reason Indian Muslims attach more
importance to fatwas than to the teachings of Quran and Hadith.
Shah Waliullah
faced fatwas of Kufr by contemporary ulema for translating the Quran in
Persian. He was also attacked by some Muslims outside a mosque but he survived.
Shah Waliullah had learnt Quran and Hadith from Islamic scholars of Quran and
Hadith in Makkah and Madina. Therefore he popularised Quran and hadith among
Indian Muslims. Prior to that Indian Muslims were not also fully aware of
hadiths and many proverbs and popular sayings would be passed on as hadith.
Shah Waliullah and his son Shah Abdul Aziz promoted true hadiths among Indian
Muslims. Shah Waliullah's son Shah Abdul Qadir translated the Quran in Urdu in
1826, that is, during the East India Company's rule. But since translating and
reading the Quran in Persian or Urdu, or in any Indian language for that matter
was considered a sin by general Indian ulema, Muslims remained unaware of the
true contents of the Quran for long though the Muslims were in government since
the 12th century in India. Leave aside propagating the teachings of the Quran
among non-Muslims, even common Muslims were not aware of the teachings of Quran
and hadith. Muslims knew or understood Islam from selective literature
published in Urdu and Persian by prominent Islamic scholars or through oral
lectures delivered by Maulvis in madrasas.
The
translations of the Quran in Indian languages like Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati,
and Tamil etc. were available only in the late 19th century. Ironically, the
first Bengali translation of the Quran was done not by a Muslim but a Brahmo
Samaj missionary Girish Chandra Sen in 1886. Though two Muslims had attempted
Bengali translation of the Quran before him but their translations had remained
incomplete.
The first
English translation in India was done by Dr Abul Fazl of India in 1910. He also
studied the Quran in its chronological order for research purposes.
All these
accounts of translations of the Quran clearly show that though the Muslims
conquered a large part of the world during the initial 2-3 centuries, they did
not know the importance of translation in the spread of Islamic knowledge.
Secondly the accuracy or sanctity of the message of the Quran was so deeply
embedded in the Muslim psyche that they considered translating the Quran in
other languages a sin. This mindset became a big obstacle in the spread of
Quranic message in non-Muslim societies. The Europeans knew the importance of
translation and so they translated the Quran before Muslims did to refute its
contents before it reached their community. A correct translation of the Quran
was done in Latin in as late as 1698 and that also by a Latin translator only
from Catholic point of view. Muslims did not translate the Quran into Latin or
other European languages to clear the doubts and confusion created about Quran
and Islam by these erroneous translations done by Christian missionaries.
Ignorance
of the true teachings of the Quran and Hadiths were at the root of many
unIslamic customs and rites among the Muslims of India. It was only in the 20th
century that a comprehensive study of Quran was available in the most languages
of the world.
It is clear
from these accounts that Muslim rulers did not contribute much to the spread of
Islam but individual efforts were instrumental in the spread of religious
knowledge in India. Therefore, the hypothesis that Islam has spread under the
shadow of sword proves wrong. Islam spread in India due to the peaceful efforts
of Sufis. The learning and teaching of the Quran is still discouraged in India.
Memorising the Quran without understanding its meaning is encouraged by
religious institutions. Ignorance of Quranic teachings has led to sectarian
beliefs among Muslim masses. In most Muslim households, the Quran is read
without understanding its meaning only for Sawab and not for receiving
guidance. The Muslim community has become largely detached from the Quran
practically. The verses of Quran are recited only during sickness or death or
in Chehlum and Chaliswan or during Ramadan for Sawab or for worldly
benefits. Compilation of some selected Surahs called Pakistani Panjsurah or Solah
surah are available. Surahs for repayment of debts, for recovery from
illness, for victory over enemies, for warding off magic or evil spirits, for
victory in court cases, for marriage etc. are compiled in these collections and
Muslims recite only those Surahs for worldly benefits. The Quran is seldom read
or studied for acquiring the knowledge of Deen though God has clearly said that
He has made Quran easy to understand for those who seek knowledge
Wa Laqad Yassarnal Qur'ana Lizzikr Fahal Mim
Muddakar (Al Qamar:
17)
In short,
lack of translations of the Quran in world languages and unavailability of
comprehensive introductory or exegetic literature on Islam for more than one
thousand years from the advent of Islam caused a huge setback in the spread of
true information about Islam among non-Muslims. Even today there is no
systematic or organised effort for the dissemination of Islamic knowledge in
the world. The vacuum is therefore exploited by sectarian and extremist
individuals and organisations to spread their violent and sectarian ideology
among Muslims.
------
Sohail
Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/quran-non-muslim-arab/d/124996
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism