ICSFP
Pickthall travelled to several Muslim countries, including Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt Arabia and India. These experiences were instrumental in cultivating his growing sympathy with the ordinary Muslim, at the same time he grew to despite the arrogant attitudes of European expatriate communities towards Muslim society and culture.
Pickthall made the declaration of his faith in Islam in 1917 at the end of a lecture Islam and progress given to the Muslim Literary Society in London, he declared his faith in such a moving manner that, according to one witness, the audience felt that they had lived through, during that short hour, the most remarkable period in their life.
Soon he was awarded the position of leadership in the small Muslim community of Britain. He was Imam of the London Mosque (then in Notting Hill) by 1919 and his sermons were published and edited in the main organ of British Muslims, The Islamic Review. Throughout this period Pickthall struggle to free the Magazine from Qadiyani elements at that time.
Pickthall moved to India in 1920, accepting the role as editor for the Bombay Chronicle. In 1927, Pickthall gained the editorship of the academic journal, Islamic Culture. Between 1928-30 Pickthall was given the task of producing a holistic interpretation of the Quran in English.
The Quran cannot be translated. That is the belief of all the Muslims including, Pickthall. It is only an attempt to present the meaning of the Quran and its linguistic charm in English. It can never take the place of the Quran in Arabic nor is it meant to do so.
His translation, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, the first English translation of the Quran by an Englishman who is a Muslim, was first published in 1930. Pickthall was supported in this effort by His Highness, the Nizam of Hyderabad, the ruler of Deccan and the richest man in the world, who was busy turning his capital into an oasis of culture and art. At the time Hyderabad resembled a surviving fragment of Moghul brilliance.
Although there are many books on his credit, Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall today is remembered as a great translator of the Quran. He set the standard for other translators to follow. The fact that a practicing English holiest would convert to Islam and become a renowned translator of the holiest Muslim texts is itself exceptional.
The Call of the Time
At a time when attacks on Islam have become a matter of routine, it was considered necessary to introduce widely the message of Islam that Quran represents so that people may get a true picture of Islam. For this purpose, to address the non-Muslims in their own language, Pickthall’s translation of the Quran was selected.
ICSFP (International Committee for the Support of the Final Prophet) made a committee that revised the whole translation, simplified the style according to modern usage, and replaced words like thou, thy, thine, hast, etc., with their counterparts in use today. Some amendments were also made where considered necessary to reproduce the nearest possible meanings of the Arabic verses. Moreover, the translation of the verse was grouped together subject wise to promote the understanding of the message. To distinguish this translation, after the changes it got through, it is produced by the name The Quran Translated.
It can be said that now this translation is free from the errors as regard the faith of Ahle-Sunnat wal-Jamaat, and the language. It has been printed in Italy on French Bible according to the European standard to give it a familiar look. It is hope that it will produce beneficial in the great cause.
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