Cave of Hira: where Revelation of the Holy Quran started
Scores of English translations of the Holy Quran are now available online. Translations into several languages, including English and Urdu, by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community are also available online in Alislam.org.
Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times, has collected a large number of verses on the theme of human compassion: Two Hundred Verses about Compassionate Living in the Quran.
We believe that one of the best translations, in English, especially for the Western readers is one by Sir Zafrulla Khan.
We have benefited the most from the translations of Muhammad Abdel Haleem, which was published by Oxford University, A. J. Arberry and Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan. We are making Khan’s translation available online here: Quran Translation by Sir Zafrulla Khan. For the Arabic text of the Quran we recommend this website.
Few chapters are available along with the Arabic text:
Sura Fatihah
Sura Baqra (v1 – v 100)
The whole of the Arabic text of the Quran is available online here in PDF file: Quran Arabic Text.
Encyclopaedia Britannica states about Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan:
“Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan was a Pakistani politician, diplomat, and international jurist, known particularly for his representation of Pakistan at the United Nations (UN).
The son of the leading attorney of his native city, Zafrulla Khan studied at Government College in Lahore and received his LL.B. from King’s College, London University, in 1914. He practiced law in Sialkot and Lahore, became a member of the Punjab Legislative Council in 1926, and was a delegate in 1930, 1931, and 1932 to the Round Table Conferences on Indian reforms in London. In 1931–32 he was president of the All-India Muslim League (later the Muslim League), and he sat on the British viceroy’s executive council as its Muslim member from 1935 to 1941. He led the Indian delegation to the League of Nations in 1939, and from 1941 to 1947 he served as a judge of the Federal Court of India.
Prior to the partition of India in 1947, Zafrulla Khan presented the Muslim League’s view of the future boundaries of Pakistan to Sir Cyril Radcliffe, the man designated to decide the boundaries between India and Pakistan. Upon the independence of Pakistan, Zafrulla Khan became the new country’s minister of foreign affairs and served concurrently as leader of Pakistan’s delegation to the UN (1947–54). From 1954 to 1961 he served as a member of the International Court of Justice at The Hague. He again represented Pakistan at the UN in 1961–64 and served as president of the UN General Assembly in 1962–63. Returning to the International Court of Justice in 1964, he served as the court’s president from 1970 to 1973.
He was knighted in 1935. He is the author of Islam: Its Meaning for Modern Man (1962) and wrote a translation of the Qur’an (1970).”
A New Commentary of the Holy Quran Emphasizing Compassion, Justice and Human Rights Launched https://t.co/AHTev2hfQo via @wordpressdotcom
— TheMuslimTimes (@TheMuslimTimes2) July 17, 2017
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Qur'an, Quran
Dear Shah Sb,
I am very much proud and happy of your expertise services.Thank you very much for pretty, fruitful and knowledgeable posting. May Almighty Allah Bless you a peaceful, happy, healthy and wealthy life. amen
Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan – An Exceptionally Blessed Being
For sure, He is one of those lucky laureates whose life became a sign in fulfillment of the prophecies of Hadhrat Masihe Maud a.s.
Interestingly a historical phenomenon is that anyone who (even) spent a little time in close proximity with Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – I r.a.; turned out to be a Quraan Lover. And those luckier ones who learnt Quraan from him, turned out to be teaching the Quraan to the whole world – Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – II r.a.
A smaller example (comparatively) that I saw in my adolescent days was of Syed Amjad Ali Shah Sahib (Ameer Sialkot 1970s). What an articulated recital, what a command of grammar; what a logical perspective and what a wholesome view of the Holy Teachings, he had. Shah Sahib always attributed (all that) to the lessons taught by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – I r.a.
Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan still had a unique chance of attending those sessions in 1911 and (all historical accounts agree that) Sheikh Muhamamd Taimur Sahib was one of the shiny students in Qadian who regularly took lessons from Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – I r.a.
But everybody is not equally lucky; despite all the learning Sheikh Sahib had; he first revolted hostile to Hadhrat Musleh Maud r.a. (despite being the custodian and courier of the First Will of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – I r.a.) and joined with Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib to form Anjuman Ishaate Islam, Lahore (Lahori Jamaat) and then (as is quoted) negated the religion to become an atheist.
His scholarship was however, of great valour and stance. He was one of the pioneers of Peshawar University; probably the first Vice Chancellor. He lived in Sialkot for few years after his retirement; well dressed, religion-less and self contained. This always sounds to me like the other side of a wall.
An Interesting news was published on February 13, 2012 that the Provincial Minister for Higher Education Qazi Muhammad Asad Inaugurated Sheikh Muhamamd Taimur Academic Block at University of Peshawar.
The four story building with a basement has been constructed at a cost of two hundred and fifty eight million rupees and comprises of sixty class rooms, a conference hall and one library each for the fourteen University departments that has ( will be) shifted here.
http://www.upesh.edu.pk/news.php?news_id=1017
Anyways; Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – III r.u., had repeatedly expressed his grand desire to publish and present Quraan to the world, but with the following specialities:-
1. In such a BINDING that opens right to left and reads from right to left; while the verses and chapters’ sequence remains unchanged from its original.
Those who know the printing industry of Pakistan (in those days) will also agree that convincing the lithographers to compose and render rotary plates in that order was like “impossible”.
Syed Abdul Hayee Sahib (late) is worth a lot of praise and prayers for accomplishing the task in a way that Hudhur r.u. had wished.
2. With a translation in Modern English Diction for an easier understanding by the general readers.
Allah Almighty graciously enabled Chaudhry Sir Muhammad ZafarUllah Khan Sahib r.a. for this exalted service.
The first print of the translation was (1970s) also distributed to the major hotel chains around the world and was retained in every guest room.
Allah Almighty may please retain all of us in His Intense protection, always. Amen.
Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan – An Exceptionally Blessed Being – Part 2
A Practicing Soofi:-
People usually think and talk highly of the elevated stature of Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafarulla Khan Sahib r.a. and that is most often related to his worldly accomplishments, the offices he held and the associations he kept with global dignitaries – BUT – little is listened being said about his “Spirituality”.
Let me say, “He was a Practicing soofi” – and I really mean him a “True Soofi” because Hadhrat Mashie Maud a.s. very lovingly call his follower(s) as : SALIK : and a salik in soofi terminology is the one who seeks the truth and puts in serious personal effort to live righteously and selflessly in perfect accordance with the Quraanic Commandments.
There is plenty of evidence to this effect in the life of Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Sahib r.a.
Just for those, who may have an interest, here are a few hints:-
Articles written by:-
Her Highness Princess Abida Sultan Sahiba of Bhopal (the honourable mother of Shehr Yar Khan Sahib – ex Foreign Secretary and Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board); how Chaudhry Sahib was respected by her family and other leaders of the time for his simple ways of life.
Dr. Javed Iqbal Sahib (the noble son of Allama Sir Dr. Muhammad Iqbal) – ex Chief Justice of Lahore High Court and Pakistan’s delegate to the UN; how was he “mentored” by Chaudhry Sahib and why his father chose Chaudhry Sahib to be a trustee for his inheritance.
Syed Afzal Haider Sahib – (sone of Syed Muhammad Hussain Shah Sahib and a nephew of Hakim Ahmed Shuja Pasha Sahib) – ex Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and a Judge of the Federal Shariah Court; as how righteous Chaudhry Sahib was considered by his father and rest of his elders.
Saqib Zeervi Sahib merhoom; in the course of his discussions.
Chaudhry Sahib r.a. used to recite Darood Sharif by few thousand times a day during his office hours.
Chaudhry Sahib r.a. described himself so many a times as “standing as a servant (an orderly)” in the presence of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih – II r.a.
Most of it has been published by monthly Khalid (amongst others) in its special print at the demise of Chaudhry Sahib r.a.
As of today; there are two other personalities alive and “yet as fresh as always” who know of Chaudhry Sahib from a personal point of view; as a child and also as a friend in the later days:-
Syed Babar Ali Sahib of Packages Lahore (son of Sir Maratab Ali Sahib and brother of Syed Amjad Ali – ex foreign minister of Pakistan; who called himself a disciple of Chaudhry Sahib).
Shah Sahib has extensive memories of the days when Chaudhry Sahib stayed at their house to prepare for the Boundary Commission Case and also as his father’s close friend and as a mentor of him and his brothers.
Syed Babar Ali and his family are committed Shias but are enough humane to have such human relationship with personage like Chaudhry Sahib.
Shah Sahib was the proud printer of Tehdise Nemat (Packages Ltd).
Syed Hasanat Ahmad Sahib (Toronto) is the son of Begum Shafi Sahiba and the youngest brother of Dr. Barakat Ahmad Sahib ICS – know as ZafarUllah Khan of Bharat.
Begum Shafi Sahiba is one of the pioneer journalists in British India and an editor of great stance, who brilliantly advocated for All India Muslim League; and for whose attendance, Quaide Azam is said to have (un-precedently) delayed his press conference.
Being Ahmadi, Begum Shafi Sahiba wore burqa and always took Syed Hasanat Ahmad Sahib (aged 12) to the press conferences and meetings to be her translator and spokesperson.
Chaudhry Sahib r.a. had close family ties with Dr. Shafi Sahib; then Begum Shafi Sahiba and Dr. Barakat Ahmad Sahib.
Syed Hasanat Ahmad Sahib is the last living witness of those accounts and days.
May be Zia H. Shah can arrange for extensive interviews with Syed Babar Ali Sahib and Syed Hasanat Ahmad Sahib !!
Allah may very kindly grant us the resource and the privilege. Amen.