SRINAGAR: The KA Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies at Aligarh Muslim University has published a major scholarly volume examining the work of noted Qur’anic studies scholar Prof Abdur Raheem Kidwai, whose research on English translations of the Qur’an has influenced academic discourse for more than three decades.
Titled _Abdur Raheem Kidwai’s Critique on English Translations of the Qur’an (1649–2024): Critical Perspectives_ , the book has been edited by Dr Aadil Hussain Malik, who recently completed his PhD in Islamic Studies from AMU.
The volume provides a comprehensive assessment of Prof. Kidwai’s scholarship and his contribution to the development of a rigorous framework for evaluating English translations of the Qur’an. Born in 1956, Prof. Kidwai is internationally recognised for his extensive work on Qur’anic translation studies and comparative analyses of English renderings of the Islamic scripture.
Comprising 11 chapters arranged under four thematic sections, the publication traces the history of English translations of the Qur’an from 1649 to 2024 and examines major developments in the field through the lens of Kidwai’s evaluative methodology.
The volume brings together contributions from established scholars and emerging researchers from India and abroad. The essays explore a range of topics, including translation theory, the contribution of South Asian scholarship to Qur’anic studies, comparative assessments of translations produced by Arab scholars, and contemporary issues such as gender, hermeneutics and the digital dissemination of religious texts.
According to the contributors, the chapters address questions of linguistic accuracy, theological sensitivity and the challenges involved in conveying the Qur’anic message across different cultural and linguistic contexts.
“This volume documents Prof. Kidwai’s scholarly legacy, aims to stimulate further research, and offers a comprehensive assessment of one of the field’s most influential voices,” said Dr. Malik.
Academics associated with the project said the publication is expected to serve as an important reference work for students and researchers engaged in Qur’anic studies, translation studies and Islamic thought.
The book marks a significant addition to the growing body of scholarship on Qur’anic translation and highlights the continuing relevance of Prof. Kidwai’s work in shaping contemporary discussions on the interpretation and transmission of Islamic texts in English.
