CIBF Discusses Advancing Translation in Islamic Studies

The stand of the Muslim Council of Elders at the Cairo International Book Fair hosted its sixth cultural seminar, titled “Islamic Studies and the Movement of Translation: Principles and Prospects.” 

The seminar featured Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad, Professor of Literary Criticism at the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University, and was moderated by Dr. Mohamed Gamal, a researcher at the Office for the Revival of Islamic Heritage at Al-Azhar Headquarters.

At the beginning of the seminar, Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Awad pointed out that following the advent of Islam, Arabs became leaders in thought and culture during an era when other nations were engulfed in ignorance and darkness. He noted that, at certain points in history, other nations sought knowledge and culture from Muslims, which positively influenced the movement of translation. He urged Muslims to reclaim this intellectual and cultural leadership once again.

The professor of literary criticism at Ain Shams University also highlighted the challenges facing the translation of Islamic sciences into other languages, emphasizing two key points. First, he urged governments to adopt and support academic translation initiatives, given their profound impact on the thoughts and cultures of other societies. Second, he encouraged private companies and institutions to contribute to the development of translation as part of their intellectual and social responsibility.

Prof. Awad further encouraged skilled Muslim translators, proficient in both Arabic (as the source language) and the target languages, to invest significant efforts in translating the Glorious Quran into other languages. He emphasized the importance of such work in conveying messages of justice, mercy, peace, and coexistence to non-Muslims.

The Muslim Council of Elders is participating with a dedicated stand at the 56th Cairo International Book Fair, running from January 23 to February 5, 2025. The stand features a wide range of the Council’s distinguished publications and organizes a series of seminars, activities, and events aimed at promoting the values of goodness, love, peace, and coexistence among all humanity.