Sidi Masud and Shaykh Abdal Hakim have done it again with a great series on the famous Quranic translator M. Marmaduke Pickthall.

He was always a bit of a mystery to me. Very early on the non-Arabic sounding name gave me a bit of a cloud of doubt in reading his translation, I had ignorantly pegged him as an orientalist.

Reading his life story is quite amazing and his speeches are quite compelling. He seemed to recognize the problems with the Muslims community and nationalism at a critical time. Amazing, just an amazing person.

Seeker asked me in the comments to: The reflecting on 9/11 post, what I remember in regards to the Madison Square Garden event.

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf as I recall was on before Bilal Philips, but it’s been a few years. If he was on after he did not address Philips at all and stuck to his speech. Few paid attention to the Bilal Philips speech, it was over the phone and pumped into the room only over the speaker system.

When he began naming names and openly saying he had issues with the Reliance the crowd tuned out even more. It actually became hard to hear Philips over the crowds murmerings (not necessarily against Philips, but the usual children and friendly talk that occurs during certain Muslim events).

The moderator and Imam Zaid Shakir both spoke out ‘generally’ against takfir and disunity after the Philips speech. Imam Zaid did name Philips (with respect) and said he disagreed with him over the Reliance. I don’t recall Shaykh Hamza mentioning these issues at all (and I would have remembered), which is also why I think he went on before Bilal Philips.

I recall looking at Shaykh Hamza’s face during the Philips speech as I was highly interested to see his reaction but he was staring straight down.

Anyone else that was there can feel free to add their version to the comments.

Izzy Mo had an entry about Muhummad Ali and one of his works on hadith.

I just want to share these thoughts of mine on the subject.

Muhummad Ali completed what is known as one of the best translations of the Quran (recognized and praised by both Yusuf Ali, and Marmaduke Pickthall).

Yusuf Ali said:
“It’s a scholarly work, and is equipped with adequate explanatory
matter in the notes and the Preface, and a fairly full index. But the
English of the Text is decidedly weak, and is not likely to appeal to
those who know no Arabic.” (ref: http://members.tripod.com/iaislam/Quran/translations.htm)

Obviously, Yusuf Ali also had to build a case for his own translation which was completed a decade or more after Muhummad Ali’s. Others have held that it is not the English that is weak, but the fact that the English is accurate to the Arabic.
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Received an email that Shaykh Haddad has recently completed a new book. I couldn’t find it in any of the online stores that I usually would expect to find his work at. Shaykh Haddad was -the- means by which Allah guided me away from the ranks of the Salafiyya and I have an enormous amount of respect for him. I will be glad to be one of the first owners of this book. If the contact information below is accurate, that should be soon, Inshahallah.

“I would like to announce Warid Press from singapore have released “The Prophet’s Isra’Miraj” book by Shaykh Alawi Maliki translated by Dr Gibril Fouad Haddad. For those who are keen to distribute and buy the books pls email me or call Ustaz Salleh at this hp no: +65 90473307 or +65
97983542 (For Bro Nadeem) or email us at warid_distribution@yahoo.com.sg”

A review of the book:
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I made this collage from some photos I found scattered throughout the web. I’m proud to have met Shaykh Nazim in my lifetime.

View image

I think this is extremely accurate and demonstrates the centered feelings of moderate, traditional Muslims:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/programmes/thought/documents/t20040505.shtml

Real Audio is available here.

Great pictures of the Shaykh over at andalus. When I met him a few years back he looked a bit frailer and never has liked getting his picture taken. Besides these are some great pictures, I only wish I had such skills.

Literally one of the great thinkers and speakers of our time.

Article on his recent tour of Europe at the BBC.