“Russian Orientalists’ Role in Quran Translation” Discussed in Cairo
According to Al-Youm Al-Sabi’ website, Riham Tariq Al-Faqi, professor of Damanhour University in Egypt, presented a lecture in the program investigating the role of Russian orientalists in translation of the Holy Quran.
She noted that translation of Quran is difficult and stressed the shortcomings of translations in fully conveying the concepts of the Divine verses.
Discussing the translation of the Quran in Russia, she said that most of Quranic studies in Russia have been affected by the school of orientalists who were advised by Muslim scholars to refer to Hadith and historical sources for providing correct interpretation of Quranic concepts.
Quran translations by the orientalists have been well received in the Russian Muslim communities, she added.
The academic figure said that the first translation of the Holy Quran into Russian was done in 1716 but not from Arabic.
The Quran was translated from Arabic into Russian for the first time in 1878, she said.
Also addressing the forum, Muhammad Al-Baridi, Professor of Sfax University in Tunisia, presented a lecture titled “The Holy Quran in Oriental Studies”.
Natalia Shevskaya, member of Moscow State Institute of International Relations, in her lecture discussed the studies of Russian orientalists in Arabic language and literature.
The second international forum on “Russian Orientalists and Arabic Culture” began on September 29. It was organized by the Documents Center of Cairo, Egypt.
