Muslims and the Wider Society

THE ISSUE OF KUFR AND KAFIR Abdul Majid Daryabadi (1892-1977), in his English translation of the Quran, translated Qul ya ayyuhalkafirun as follows: Say thou: O ye infidels! (109:1) In reality, it is this type of carelessness on the part of Muslim scholars and leaders that has led to severe tension between Hindus and Muslims in India, and the effects continue to appear in various unpleasant forms. The same mistake was also made by Urdu and Persian translators of the Quran. Many translations of the Quran have been published, but with the exception of one translator (Shah Abdul Qadir), all translators adopted a careless approach in this matter. Some translations of Qul ya ayyuhal-kafirun are reproduced here: Shah Waliullah: Bago ae kafiraan (Say, O infidels). Shah Rafi‘uddin: Keh ae kafiro (Say, O infidels). Ashraf Ali Thanvi: Aap in kafiron se keh dijiye (Tell them, O infidels). Abul A‘la Maududi: Keh do ke ae kafiro (Say, O infidels). Amin Ahsan Islahi: Keh do, ae kafiro (Say, O infidels).