Shah Rafi-ud-Din was one of the most respected Islamic scholars of the Indian subcontinent and is remembered especially for his historic role in making the message of the Holy Quran accessible to common people. He was the son of the... Read More
Shah Rafi-ud-Din was one of the most respected Islamic scholars of the Indian subcontinent and is remembered especially for his historic role in making the message of the Holy Quran accessible to common people. He was the son of the famous scholar Shah Waliullah Dehlawi, who himself worked tirelessly to spread Quranic knowledge and revive Islamic learning in the region. At a time when most translations and religious texts were available in Arabic and Persian, ordinary Muslims who spoke Urdu found it difficult to understand the Quran directly. Shah Rafi-ud-Din recognized this gap and took on the important task of translating the Quran into Urdu.
His translation is considered one of the earliest and most influential Urdu translations of the Holy Quran. Unlike later interpretative translations, his work focused on providing a clear, direct, and word-by-word style that preserved the structure and meaning of the original Arabic as much as possible. This made it easier for readers to connect with the Quran’s message while still appreciating the original wording.
The impact of his work was far-reaching. It helped spread Quranic understanding among the masses, strengthened religious education, and laid the foundation for future Urdu translations by other scholars. Today, many Islamic educational institutions and scholars acknowledge Shah Rafi-ud-Din’s translation as a milestone in the history of Quranic studies in South Asia.
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