The Noble Quran with English Translation

Reviewed by: Abdur Raheem Kidwai, Aligarh Muslim University, India

Restu Foundation, Malaysia, has done well to commemorate, after almost 100 years, the Malaysian Mufti Al-Haj Al-Hafiz Ghulam Sarwar’s publication of the English translation of the Qurʾān in 1929. Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, has graciously sponsored the printing and distribution of one million copies of this work in 50 major languages which will facilitate wider dissemination of the message of the Qurʾān across the world.

Datuk Abdul Latiff Mirasa, Restu Foundation Chairman’s ‘Prefatorial Introduction’ acclaims Sarwar’s (1873-1954) Qurʾānic scholarship. Notwithstanding his tribute, his note falls shorts on many counts of editorial research. First, the inexcusable omission of Sarwar’s name as the author of this work on the title page. Equally irksome is his scant information about the publication history of Sarwar’s translation. He refers in passing to the first edition of 1923; in fact, it came out in 1929 (Surrey, Woking Mosque, 377 pages). More importantly, as detailed in my Bibliography of the Translations of the Quran in English: 1649-2002 (Madina, King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, 2007), it was reissued a few times, the latest in 1973 by National Book Foundation, Karachi, Pakistan . However, Mirasa believes ‘the work was never reprinted’ after the 1929 edition. He has aptly identified clarity and use of simple English, free from the then current Latinism as hallmarks of Sarwar’s venture. Also, he has pointed out that Sarwar disapproved of the insertion of annotations on the Qurʾānic text. In the absence of any glossary, those new to the Qurʾān will find it hard to benefit from a translation only, which is not supplemented by explanatory notes . Intriguingly enough, the present editor, Mirasa, has dropped Sarwar’s valuable, extensive note on the Sīrah and the contents of the Qurʾān, which was included in the 1929 edition.