By TCN News,
Aligarh: Professor Bruce B. Lawrence, Duke University, USA, delivering a lecture on “Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s Translation of the Quran – An 80 Year Retrospective”, said that his lifetime dedication to the Holy Quran has to be honoured whenever his name is cited or his work quoted. Pervading and guiding his labour is the larger spirit of Quranic inclusivism, and despite the array of critiques – some major, some quibbling – that have been brought against him, it is due to this same generosity of purpose that his translation still excites many readers, scholars and believers from numerous perspectives.
The lecture was organized by the K. A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at Z. H. College of Engineering and Technology. AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah presided over the lecture.
Lecture on Holy Qur’an by Prof. B. Lawrence
Prof. Lawrence mentioned that in the huge North American market, the modified Yusuf Ali’s translation established its pre-eminent position when Amana Publications reprinted the original edition in 1977, re-titling it as “The Meaning of the Holy Quran”. He said ninety percent Muslim students, whether from Middle East or from the Subcontinent, reads the English translation of the Holy Quran by Yusuf Ali.
Prof. A. A. Nizami, Director, K. A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies in his welcome address said that Prof. Lawrence has spent twenty years working on Mysticism, especially, Chishtis, that resulted in his very popular book “Morals from the Heart”, a translation of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia’s conversations. His major research interest included comparative study of region and Indo-Pakistan Sufism. He had authored a book, “Islam beyond Violence: Religion in Cyber Space” and over 200 articles.
AMU Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. (Retd.) S. Ahmad Ali said that he felt that holy Quran could not be completely translated. He said he had studies four translations of the Holy Quran and every translation had its own interpretation. Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation is approved by the Saudi Arabia.
Brig. Ali urged the students to read Yusuf Ali’s translation as the translation was an eye opener to all.
In his presidential remarks, AMU Vice Chancellor, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Zameer Uddin Shah said he had read many translations of the Holy Quran when he was only sixteen. He congratulated Prof. Lawrence on delivering such an informative and elaborative lecture on the Holy Quran.
Dr. F. S. Sherani, proposed a vote of thanks.