A faithful rendering of the ‘Holy Quran’ … in English

Syed Mohammed Salim is a man on a mission. He has taken on the mammoth task of spreading the message of the Holy Quran ... in English.

In fact, Salim, executive director of Manas Foundation (an India-based Islamic research organisation), from Kerala, which is spearheading the project, is elated that the Al Qur’an Encyclopaedia (project) is ready to be published.

“Right now, the scrutiny of the encyclopaedia’s text is being done by the religious authority of Saudi Arabia. After their approval, it will be published in India. Soon after it will be distributed in India and all over the Gulf,” says Salim.

Al Qur’an Encyclopaedia, authored by Riyadh-based Sheikh Abu Anas Sidheeque M. A. Veliankode, is a faithful rendering of the holy book, supplemented by useful notes on historical, geographical and eschatological issues, particularly with illuminating discussions on comparative religion and modern scientific facts revealed in the Holy Quran and Hadith.

Sheikh Abu Anas Sidheeque is also the director and chairman of the board of editors and research of the project. A multi-lingual Islamic scholar, preacher and religious scholar, he is also an author and translator of many Islamic reference books in Arabic and English published worldwide.

The massive encyclopaedia will have the quintessence of 33 Arabic tafsirs (exegesis) of ancient, medieval and contemporary Arabic classics. Apart from 313 major reference books in English, Arabic and Urdu that have been researched, 33 scholars of Islam have shared their inputs to put together the encyclopaedia.

“Over a dozen muftis (interpreters of Islamic law) have been consulted. Thirty-three world class Islamic libraries and universities have been visited and referred to for this project,” says Salim, the man behind the project, who is in Oman to spread awareness about the book. The encyclopaedia has also been compared to 33 Quran translations and commentaries of both old and contemporary versions in English. “It consists of facts and figures of each Surah, including the occasion and cause behind the revelation, its virtues and significance, transliteration of the verse, meaning of the verse, meaning of the verse in simple and lucid language and a word by word lexicography of the verse,” says Salim.

There will also be explanatory notes and commentary of each verse with reference to the Quran and Hadith (traditions and sayings of the Prophet, pbuh) in addition to commentaries of various Quranic scholars, rules of Islamic jurisprudence and Quranic stories of nations, prophets and civilisations, among other things.

Salim also said that the encyclopaedia will be available in two editions: abridged version and full text edition.

Explaining why he saw the need for a Quran encyclopaedia in English, Salim says: “We are keen to disseminate the message of the Holy Quran to as many communities as possible and help Muslims and non-Muslims to understand it. It has also been felt that the image of Islam as portrayed and projected in the West is tainted with prejudices. Furthermore, the available writings, mainly by orientalists and Islamophobic authors reflect a colonial outlook. Our Al Qur’an Encyclopaedia is a humble attempt to project Quran and Islam free from all historical, religious and political bias.”

“Our project also aims to tap the teenage Muslims of all ethnic, social, economic and cultural backgrounds, who are almost completely oblivious to the importance and usefulness of the Holy Quran as well as for born Muslims living in a stable society who gave no thought to the book of guidance revealed from Allah,” Salim adds. Salim is confident that those who subscribe to this project and go through the series will have a much better understanding of the ideals and aspirations of Islam.

Salim holds the distinction of being the chief translator of Egyptian scholar activist Sayyid Qutub’s masterpiece Fee Dhilalil Qur’an (In the Shade of Quran) in Malayalam.

About this project, Salim says: “The effort is not commercial. We intend free marketing with the help of kind sponsors. We will be distributing it worldwide through embassies, consulates, foreign ministries and individual booksellers, particularly in the AGCC region.”

Salim wants all those who love Quran to be involved in the project. “We seek support from Arabs and non-Arabs who love Quran in spreading the message of Quran. We look for financial, moral and material support to print as it is being printed in bulk quantities and will be distributed free of cost,” he says.

“Islam aims at creating and supporting a society whose material and spiritual aspects are balanced. This is a society of God-fearing men and women based on social justice and service to humanity. Our aim is to provide high quality information to all those who wish to study Quran,” says Salim.

“Publishing an accurate, sensitive, well-annotated English translation of Quran is a timely move and our aim,” he stresses. Salim can be reached on 96509046 (Oman), 9446488832 (India) and email: manasfoundation@gmail.com.

From: Times of Oman.com