Danish translation of Irfan-ul-Quran: ‘Den Strålende Koran’

The Holy Quran

The Holy Quran has spiritual and religious significance for Muslims, and it is considered to be an important text for those of the Muslim faith living in European countries. The Holy Quran provides guidance on how to live a good life and it is considered to be the foundation of Islamic beliefs and practices. Additionally, the Holy Quran's teachings on justice, compassion, and equality are considered to be universal values that are relevant to people of all cultures and backgrounds.

In terms of social and political importance, the Holy Quran has been a source of inspiration for many Muslim thinkers and leaders throughout history, and continues to be so today.

Additionally, the Holy Quran can also be seen as an important cultural text for European countries with large Muslim populations, as it provides insight into the beliefs and practices of these communities.

The Holy Quran provides guidance on a wide range of topics that are relevant to daily life. Some of the things that can be learned from the Holy Quran include:

1. The importance of moral values such as honesty, integrity, and compassion.
2. The importance of treating others with kindness and respect, regardless of their background or beliefs.
3. The importance of taking personal responsibility for one's actions and striving to do good deeds.
4. The importance of maintaining a strong connection to God through prayer and reflection.
5. The importance of treating the environment with care and respect.
6. The importance of family and community, and the responsibilities that come with those relationships.
7. The importance of seeking knowledge and education.
8. The importance of social justice, and the obligation to speak up against oppression and injustice.
9. The importance of self-control, self-discipline, and self-reflection to improve oneself.
10. The importance of forgiveness and mercy, both in terms of seeking forgiveness from God and in terms of extending forgiveness to others.

It's important to note that these are general principles that can be derived from the Holy Quran and their application may vary according to the interpretation and understanding of the text, thus we have to focus on enhancing the understanding of the text.

Irfan-ul-Quran

Irfan-ul-Quran is a term that refers to the knowledge and understanding of the Holy Quran that comes from deep contemplation and reflection. It is considered a higher level of understanding and interpretation of the Holy Quran. The word "Irfan" is an Arabic word that comes from the root word "rif'a" which means to know, to understand and to be familiar with something.

This is the name Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri chose for his Urdu translation of the Holy Quran, which started back in 1990. In just 40 days of spiritual retreat, he translated 8 juz (parts) of the Holy Quran, but throughout the 90’s he primarily focused on conveying an understanding of Islam that is based on the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and was engaged in promoting peace and interfaith harmony, as well as working towards building a more inclusive and harmonious society. On July 20, 2005, Shaykh-ul-Islam completed the translation of the remaining juz during his stay in Canada. The translation in Urdu was published in its entirety in the sacred month of Ramadan 1426 AH.

Irfan-ul-Quran is considered to be a way of understanding the Holy Quran that goes beyond the literal meaning of the text, and instead focuses on the spiritual and moral messages that are contained within it. It is considered to be an important aspect of Islamic spiritual development and brings one closer to Almighty Allah.

Irfan-ul-Quran has a significant role in providing a deeper understanding of the Holy Quran and its teachings for Muslims around the world. It also helps to promote a more profound and meaningful connection to the faith and its practices.

Translation of Irfan-ul-Quran

Irfan-ul-Quran has already been translated into English, Norwegian, Finnish, Hindi, Sindhi, Greek, Bengali, Kashmiri and Pashto.

Translating the Holy Quran into the Danish language is important for several reasons:

1. It allows people who do not understand Arabic to read and understand the text. This is particularly important for Danish-speaking Muslims who may not have been exposed to the Arabic language or culture.
2. It enables a deeper understanding of the Holy Quran's teachings and message as the cultural and linguistic context of the translation can provide additional insight and understanding.
3. It allows for the Holy Quran to be more accessible to a wider range of people, including those who may not have been exposed to Arabic language or culture.
4. It allows Danish-speaking Muslims to connect with their faith in a language that they understand and feel comfortable with.
5. It can also provide a way for non-Muslims to learn about Islam and the Holy Quran in a language that they understand, which may help to promote better understanding and tolerance between different communities.

The first Muslims in Denmark came as a small number of immigrants in the 1960s and 1970s, mostly from Turkey and Pakistan. However, the number of Muslims in Denmark began to grow significantly in the 1980s and 1990s with the arrival of refugees and immigrants from countries such as Somalia, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Lebanon. This trend of immigration continues to this day, and the Muslim population in Denmark has grown to comprise around 5-6% of the total population according to the latest census.

Minhaj-ul-Quran International Denmark (MQI DK)

Minhaj-ul-Quran International Denmark focuses on promoting an understanding of Islam that is based on the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and it also aims to promote peace and interfaith harmony.

In Denmark, since its foundation in 1987, Minhaj-ul-Quran has played a significant role in providing religious education, guidance and support for the Muslims living in the country. It has also played a major role in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding, and working towards building a more inclusive and harmonious society. The organization provides a platform for Muslims to connect and engage with their community, and participate in various social and cultural activities.

MQI DK initiated translation of the Irfan-ul-Quran to Danish in 2013 under the leadership of Syed Mahmood Shah Al-Azhari, who has been supporting this cause throughout the whole process from initiation, guidance, proofreading, financial support, printing and distribution.

Dr. Nadeem-Asim Mohammad was given this important task. He holds a PhD in Neuroscience from University of Copenhagen and has been involved in the pharmaceutical industry for the last 16 years and currently headhunted as Country Medical Manager in one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Denmark. He has been participating in islamic education at MQI DK for the last 25 years and currently one of the most well renowned teachers at Dars-e-Nizami education in Copenhagen.

The translation work was strengthened by the involvement of brothers Ustadh Mohammad Hamza Yousaf (MSc Global Health) and Ustadh Mohammad Hassan Yousaf (Medical Student), who are students of Shahdat-ul-Aaliya at Minhaj University Lahore through the affiliation of Minhaj School of Islamic Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark. They spent 3 years in proofreading the whole translation and their contribution has been very significant in achieving the goal.

The translation was completed in its entirety in the sacred month of Ramadan 1443 AH.

During the last 6 years current leadership of MQI DK has been supervising the difficult process of ensuring quality of the translation as well as building the administrative network for distribution of ‘Den Strålende Koran’. We aim to utilize our different forums, Local Executive Councils and broad network amongst Muslim Community to ensure that this translation reaches every home and every corner of the society.

May Allah Almighty accept this great service of conveying the teachings of the Holy Quran, a precious treasure of wisdom and knowledge, to every nook and corner of the world.

Article written by Dr. Urfan Zahoor Ahmed, president MQI DK