Publishing the translation of the Qur’an

Question

Assalam Alaikum

Three things to find out about printing of Quran:

* Is it permissible to print /write Quran in English text along with Arabic for those who can not recite the Quran in Arabic?

* Should we copy the words/sentences as is from Quran or adopt an appropriate method of writing which is in line with Arabic grammar?

* Can Aayat of Quran be numbered in English?

Answer

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

The answers to your queries may be found below:

  1. Publishing  the Qur’an with transliteration in non-arabic text is not permissible because it is not possible to convey the correct pronunciation in any other language. Rather, writing in any other language will cause change to the words of the Qur’an which is a grave sin. Therefore, the Qur’an should be written only in Arabic.
  2.  There has been a consensus of the ummah on the current script of the Qur’an and that it will remain as is. The companions from the time of Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) never objected to the script of the Qur’an. Thus, it would not be permissible to change the script of the Qur’an for any reason.
  3.  The verses of the Qur’an should be numbered in Arabic since it is the language of the Qur’an and that is also the way the verses have been numbered until now despite people of the ummah being from different backgrounds and languages. Thus, changing the method now would also be going against the consensus of the ummah.

والله اعلم

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

Mohammad Jafari

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani