Interview: Maulana Muhammad Farooq Khan

The Qur'an is Replete with Elegance and Eloquence

MAULANA MUHAMMAD FAROOQ KHAN, an eminent Islamic scholar, poet and writer, was born in 1932 in Karpi village of Sultanpur, UP. He did his Post-Graduation in Hindi literature. He started his career with teaching at Azamgarh. Afterwards he switched over to writing, as he had a knack for it. His first work was translation of the Holy Qur'an into the Hindi language. His compilation of Ahadith (Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) with commentary named Kalaam-e-Nabuwwat in four volumes has been widely acclaimed.

Besides this a number of books on various subjects like Dawah, guidance, personality development and comparative study of religions are to his credit. He writes both in the Hindi and Urdu languages. He has also translated many books from Arabic and Urdu into Hindi. His anthologies of poems Harf-o-Sada and Chitij ke Par have been published in Urdu and Hindi respectively.



Here is excerpts from his talk with MOHAMMAD SHAHABUDDIN


You are known as a writer, poet and translator of the Holy Qur'an. Which subject is of your greatest interest?
Qur'aniyat (Qur'anic science) is the subject of great interest to me. I have rendered the Holy Qur'an into Hindi and Urdu and also translated the Tarjuma-e-Quran with explanatory notes of Maulana Maududi into Hindi.


How did you start your career?
I started my career as a teacher. During that period, I also used to contribute articles to various Urdu magazines like Burhaan, Zindagi-e-Nau and Tajalli on various Islamic subjects. Later, I completely devoted myself to research and writing on different disciplines of Islamic sciences.

How did the idea of translating the Qur'an come to you?
I was teaching at a High school in Azamgarh. Once, Maulana Abdul Hai, a renowned Islamic scholar, set up a bookstall in a conference of the Congress Party. Many non-Muslim customers expressed their desire to buy Hindi translation of the Qur'an. But up till then no translation was published. Maulana Abdul Hai proposed to me to render the Holy Qur'an into Hindi. I got ready with all my heart. Maulana Kausar Yazdani

Nadwi, Maulana Amanullah Islahi and Maulana Sadruddm Islahi also helped me in this great task. Afterwards, the translation was published with short explanatory notes prepared by myself.



How did you find the Qur'an in the course of translation?
From literary point of view, I realised that the language and diction of the Holy Qur'an is closer to poetry than to prose. It is the most influential book I've ever studied. It works at two levels. For a man of letters and learning, the Holy Qur'an is replete with elegance and eloquence. And to a common reader it is simple and lucid.



You have done a comparative study of all the prominent religions. Did you find anything common in different religions of the world?


Yes, one thing that is common to all religions of the world is that they answer the most fundamental craving of man. Man is relentlessly in pursuit of perfection. He wants to attain spiritual peace and success. And this is what every religion claims to provide for him.


What are your engagements these days?

At present, I am compiling sixth volume of Kalaam-e- Nabuwwat. The fifth volume is already in press. It is a subject- wise compilation of Traditions of the Prophet with short notes and commentary.


If the Vedas propound the doctrine of Oneness of God then from where polytheism crept into the Hindu society?
Hindu brethren merely adore the Vedas in name, while they are more attached to the Puranas. which are 18 in number, and other books written later by scholars of Hinduism.


What should be Muslims' attitude to the Hindi language?
Hindi is the national language and a large section of the country speaks it. From Dawah point of view, too. We should learn this language, so that we could properly and intelligibly convey our message. We Muslims should contribute our due to the Hindi language and literature. For the dissemination of Islamic thoughts through the medium of literature there is a literary forum, Idara Adab-e-Islami Hind which mainly uses Urdu only. But we find no such forum for the Hindi literature.

In the Indian context, it is inevitable to form such type of cultural and literary forums for the dissemination of the message of Islam to the Hindi-speaking people. Hindi scholars across the country, who are willing to serve the cause of Islam, should be brought under one banner and encouraged to work. And why only in Hindi, in regional languages also, Islamic thoughts must make their entry in different literary genres like poems, short stories, novels, etc.

What remedy do you suggest for the present malaise of Muslim community?
The foremost thing that I would like to say is that all the Muslims across the globe should have Milli Shaoor (community consciousness). Islam is the natural way of life chosen by God Himself. Its basic principles are crystal clear. Many things of secondary importance in Islam have been left at the discretion of the believer. It gives ample flexibility to its believers in dealing with the affairs of life.

When there is freedom of choice, the differences in viewpoint are quite natural. Giving undue importance to minor issues in religion can lead the community to sectarianism. This is averse to the integrity of any community. Muslims have assignment from Allah to check all types of mischief and injustice. They have been deployed with a universal objective. Diversion from the true objective gives birth to narrow-mindedness. Therefore, they should adopt universal and broadminded approach to all the worldly affairs.


What do you think about the present system of education in Madrasas?
I believe there is an urgent need of reviewing and reconsidering the syllabus of madrasas. It is widely observed that the madrasa students feel themselves inferior to university students. They fall prey to a sense of inferiority and fail to do their religious duties properly. It is not necessary for every madrasa graduate to be a Maulvi (cleric).

Those who are willing to render their services in the religious field as Imams or madrasa teachers can do. It should be left to their own choice to adopt any profession in either religious or general fields. Such educational reforms should be made in madrasas as the students passing out from there may be able to avail all the opportunities being availed by university students.