First Quran Translator, Interpreter in French
He was also the author of more than 30 other works in the field of Quran interpretation and the history and literature of Morocco in Arabic, French and Spanish.
Allamah Mohamed Ben Checkroun was born in Morocco in 1932. He went to a Quranic school in early childhood and then continue his studies in a religious school, one of whose teachers was his father. He learned the Quran, Fiqh, and Quran interpretation as well as French and Arabic.
He also received formal education at various schools in Marrakech, Rabat, and Paris. Among his many higher education accomplishments was his 1974 doctorate in humanities obtained in France.
In France, the Moroccan scholar was taught under several experts in Arab and Islamic studies, such as Henri Terrasse, Charles Pellat, and Jacques Berque.
Ben Checkroun then began teaching at schools in Morocco and after a while teaching Arabic language, literature and civilization at universities.
He also served in many posts in his country as well as in international organizations, including as Morocco’s education minister, foreign ministry advisor, director of cultural affairs department at the interior ministry, and head of cultural department at UNESCO.
He wrote books in the field of Quran translation and introducing Islam to the West via European languages, especially French.
Among his many writings on education, culture, and of course Islamic studies, Ben Chekroun was perhaps most well-known for his 10-volume translation and interpretation of the Quran into French.
It took him ten years to write the book and his main goal was to counter distorted views in the West about the Quran and Islam.
“Holy Quran Based on Its Different Topics”, “Glossary of Quranic Meanings and Basics”, “An Introduction to Quran and Hadith Studies”, and “Quran Dictionary in Arabic, French and Spanish” are among his other works.
He also wrote a book titled “Worship in Islam and Its Political, Social and Educational Aspects” in French. In this book he seeks to explain Islamic acts of worship from historical, faith and political perspectives to French readers.
