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Book Review
Errors in Qur’an translations
By A U Asif
Book:
Three Major Errors in Twelve English Translations of the Qur'an
Author: S Ameenul Hasan Rizvi
Publisher: Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, N Delhi-110025, E-mail:
mmipub@nda.vsnl.net.in; pp. 32; Price: Rs 20.00
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Qaseeda Burda is considered the most popular Arabic
poetical seerah of Prophet Mohammed, pubh, penned by Allama Busairi more
than seven centuries ago. It has been rendered into Urdu by about two
dozen men of letters. Among them the most popular and authentic is said to
be the one by Abdullah Hilal Siddiqui, an India-born scholar and income
tax official, now living in Karachi. His "Urdu Qaseeda Burdaa"
is also in verses. Since 1970 its ten editions have been brought out so
far. But the most surprising fact is that the man who has done this great
task is a modern educated intellectual and does not know Arabic. He
proudly disclosed it in a meeting with the reviewer during his recent
visit to India.
This interesting fact is also seen elsewhere. The booklet "Three
Major Errors in Twelve English Translations of the Qur'an" by Sayyid
Ameenul Hasan Rizvi, a lawyer-turned-to-media and intellectualism, under
review, also gives the same impression. He is himself not too well versed
in Arabic. But it is also a fact that he considers the conditions
essential for translating the Qur'an into English to be well versed in
both Arabic and English languages. This is evident from his assertions in
his 6-page "Initial Observations".
However, it is true that due to lack of mastery over both the languages
and also a deep insight into the Qur'an, there have remained some major
errors in the English translations of the Qur'an. One also notices some
errors in the translation of the Qur'an by orientalists arbitrarily, not
by mistakes merely.
The author under whom this reviewer had got an opportunity to serve in
"Radiance Viewsweekly" for 6 years has been pondering over these
important points since his days of editing the weekly. Actually a number
of difficulties led him to think it over and go through various English
translations. One may or may not agree with his findings, but the
strenuous efforts made by an octogenerian, taking interest in
understanding the Qur'an in English in its exact meaning, compels one to
pay attention.
The author has discussed with three verses of the Qur'an common to twelve
translations in English by George Sale; E H Palmer; T J Arberry; Mohammed
Asad; N J Dawood and Mahmud Zayid; Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall; Abdullah
Yusuf Ali; Ahmad Ali; Dr Muhammad Taqiuddin Al-Hilali and Dr Muhammad
Muhsin Khan; Syed Anwar Ali; Maulawi Sher Ali; and T B Irving. Says he:
"Translation of these verses goes quite against as well as distorts
three clear and well known laws laid down in the Qur'an and regarding
which there has been no difference of opinion worth the name ever since
these had been revealed over fourteen hundred years ago." The
translations of the words in question are "fabalaghna ajalahunna"
(2:231 and 65:2), "riba" (2:275-76 and 278; 3:130; 4:161; and
30:39) and "Zina" (17:32 and 24: 2-3).
One hopes the author's efforts would draw the attention of the scholars
and admirers of Qur'an as well as those related with the translation work
of the Qur'an. q
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