Malaysian Ministry: Translations of Quran Must Have Original Arabic Text

TEHRAN (IQNA) - A compilation of Quranic verses published in English and Malay as part of the “Let’s Read The Quran” campaign was banned in Malaysia because romanized and translated versions of the Quran are not allowed in the country unless the original text in Arabic is included, the Home Ministry said.

The ministry’s publications and Quranic text control and printing division secretary Hashimah Nik Jaafar said the authorities had in the past seized many such publications.

Businessman Anas Zubedy, a moderation activist in Malaysia, recently launched the campaign with his friends to get more people to understand Islam.

He explained that the books were merely translations of Quranic verses for the convenience of those who do not understand Arabic.

"Our objective is to encourage more people to understand the Quran in their own language, so that its message can be spread more widely and effectively all around the country,” he said, appealing to the authorities to lift the ban.

Anas said he was willing to meet the ministry’s Al-Quran Licensing and Printing Control Board chairman Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria to discuss the best way to continue the campaign without falling foul of the law.

He said he welcomed advice and suggestions from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the ministry so that the material used would comply with regulations set by authorities.

"We believe the campaign is a noble initiative that seeks to raise awareness about the universal message of the Quran.”

Harussani had said that while translations of the Quran helped people understand the meaning of the holy book, they would not bring spiritual reward to those who read them.

Source: The Star