Tuesday 9 Ramadan 1445 - 19 March 2024
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Giving the kuffaar a translation of the meanings of the Qur’aan

Question

I am trying to convert some Christians and "Free thinkers" into Islam and they seem to be interested in knowing what is in the Qur'an. They have both read the Bible and they believe it is Holy, but with contradictions. I, however told them that the Qur'an unlike the Bible has no contradictions  in it and that it contains all the information about this World and the hearafter that they need to know. They are however yet to believe.As a method of proving this, I was going to buy them each a copy of the Holy Qur'an translated by Muhammad Asad. They have promised to read it and tell me what they think. Do you think this is a good idea?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

A translation of the meanings of the Qur’aan is not considered to be Qur’aan, and it does not have the same status in all aspects. Rather it is like a tafseer (commentary, exegesis) of the Qur’aan in Arabic, which explains the meanings and assists in understanding. On this basis, it is permissible  to give the kuffaar a translation of the meanings of the Qur’aan, without the Arabic text, and it is permissible for them to touch a tafseer in Arabic.

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 4/133)

On this basis, it is permissible for you to give them this translation. May Allaah help us and you to call people to His way in a good manner. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

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Source: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid