Muhammad Ali Jauhar’s praise of our English Translation of the Quran [by Maulana Muhammad Ali]

My Dear Mirza Yaqub Beg,

I have to commence this letter with profuse apologies for being so late in acknowledging your most precious gifts … Need I assure you that you could not have sent to us anything more acceptable than the beautiful copies of the Holy Quran rendered into English by my learned and revered namesake, Maulana Muhammad Ali. I had read the specimen pages in the Islamic Review, that welcome reminder of our dear brave Khwaja [Kamal-ud-Din]’s mission in Europe, and I was anxiously awaiting the announcement that copies could be had in India, or even in England. When the Indian papers first published the announcement so anxiously and eagerly awaited, I asked Shaukat to write at once to you to send us two copies per V.P.P. [value payable post, i.e., subscription money paid at the time of receiving the post via the postal service]. He was just about to write to you when on a Friday the two copies, so elegantly printed and bound, reached us. I took them to the Mosque to show them not only to Shaukat but also to other Musalmans [Muslims] here, and I can assure you they gave us all a pleasure that nothing could equal. I would have written to thank you for the rich gift that very day, but, as you had asked me to express my opinion also on this great achievement, I put off even thanking you. However, I have been once more laid up with fever since then, and if I wait till I have read the translation and the notes through, you may have to wait very long. …

Nevertheless, I feel I must express the opinion formed from an examination of the outward form of the publication, the beautiful printing, the excellent India paper, and the sumptuous limp green Morocco binding, and the several exquisite tughras [ornamental calligraphy in gold], all indicating the love and affection that those who undertook this great task feel for the greatest Book of all ages and climes. I pride myself on being a bit of a connoisseur in these matters, as you perhaps know, and of course I have the greatest possible love and affection for the Great Book, and so naturally I examined this edition with critical and jealous eyes. You will therefore be glad to know that I am amply satisfied! This is no empty compliment; but a very jealous man’s verdict of the love and affection shown by another for what he himself loves so ardently and dearly. …

As for the contents, I have gone through the Preface, and here and there through some introductory notes pre-facing the various chapters and footnotes, and have, of course, glanced through the sectional headings and the index, and greatly admire the general arrangement. As for the English rendering, I am impressed so far as I have read with the simplicity and precision and the adherence to the text which indicate the reverence due to God’s own Word from a true believer. … the great thing is that the great task has been accomplished, and there now exists in at least one European language a rendering of the Holy Quran done by a true believer … by one who believes every word of the Book to be God’s own, every word to be true and full of light, every word consistent with what has gone before and comes after, every word capable of easy interpretation …

Well, this English rendering of the Holy Quran, … is a preparation for the tremendous change that will come upon the world after this war …

If you see Maulvi Mohammad Ali thank him for me as a Moslem who feels proud of his devoted and fruitful labours, and shares with him the privilege of at least the most beloved of names in the entire world. If you write to my stalwart Khwaja send him my kisses for his shaggy old beard. My best salams to you and also Shaukat’s.

Yours very sincerely and gratefully,
Mohammad Ali.