The Chinese Islamic Association in the city of Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province in eastern China, organized a two-day training course to study the book "Summary of the Interpretation of the Holy Quran," presented by Ma Zhonggang. The course was attended by 80 imams from the province, and Ma Wuyue, the director of the translation office of the Chinese Islamic Association, was invited to give lectures about the book, explaining some excerpts and notes on it. Jin Shulong, the deputy president of the Islamic Association at both the provincial and municipal levels, participated, along with the responsible comrade managing religious affairs at the Office of Civil and Religious Affairs, who delivered a welcoming speech to the attendees.
History of Chinese Translation of the Quran
During the training, Yue reviewed the history of the Chinese translation of the Quran in China, which has spanned nearly two hundred years, during which many Muslim scholars contributed significantly, producing many achievements in translating the words of the Holy Quran and famous interpretations, such as those of Ibn Kathir, Al-Tabari, Al-Jalalayn, and others.
Principles and Objectives of the Translation
He also pointed out the principles, standards, and objectives of the translation work currently being carried out, using a large number of examples to illustrate the importance of the book "Summary of the Interpretation of the Holy Quran" in terms of its preparation and the style of translating excerpts and brief explanations of the noble Quranic verses. He emphasized the necessity of benefiting from the ideas highlighted in the book regarding the importance of studying the Quran and utilizing its clarifications and interpretations in daily life, adhering to Islamic values and ethics, and attempting to connect them with original Chinese culture in a way that does not contradict Islamic traditions.
Suggestions from Trainers
Integration into Sermons and Guidance
The trainers suggested that the Jinan Islamic Association organize, study, and effectively utilize the explanations, excerpts, and notes presented in the book, integrating them into sermons and guidance in mosques. They also recommended incorporating the content of the new translation into communication processes between Chinese Muslims and others, as well as integrating it into daily teaching activities to guide imams in effectively using the new translation. Additionally, they aimed to merge Islamic concepts to promote peace, justice, and tolerance in the daily lives of Chinese Muslims and systematically enhance the Chinese characteristics of Islam in the city of Jinan.
Discussions and Agreement
During the training course, discussions were held on how to benefit from the book "Summary of the Interpretation of the Holy Quran" and fully allow its effective role in guidance, preaching, interpretation, and academic research. The participants agreed that the book represents an important achievement in Islamic scholarly circles, and the publication and distribution of this book will undoubtedly deepen and solidify the localization of Islam in China.
Enhancing Training of Religious Leaders
The meeting participants suggested enhancing the training of religious leaders to help them accurately understand and comprehend the content of the "Summary of the Interpretation of the Holy Quran," and emphasized the necessity of utilizing it as an educational material specifically for Islamic schools. In addition, they recommended integrating interpretation and lectures into religious curricula to guide the majority of Islamic circles and the public toward a clear understanding of religious beliefs and laws, and to implement them correctly. It is essential to deepen the study of the Holy Quran and focus on major theoretical and practical issues such as fundamental teachings, doctrinal concepts, religious rules and rulings, ethics and customs, and transactions, while promoting a healthy climate for Islam in our country.
Importance of the Book
Simplified Explanation and Interpretation
The importance of the book "Summary of the Interpretation of the Holy Quran" lies in its easy and accessible interpretation, which relies on a simplified explanation of the verses of the Holy Quran, through the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) alongside the verses of the Quran. It adopts an explanation of the Quran using both the Quran itself and the noble Hadith, placing the explanations alongside the verses on the same page, relying on simple and easy-to-understand words derived from Chinese culture. The author sought to avoid using uncommon words that might be difficult for readers to understand and concluded the interpretation of each verse with an explanation of its general idea.
Visual Aids for Better Understanding
Additionally, the author took care to use square brackets and colored symbols for some important words and terms to attract the attention of the reader and distinguish them among the lines; this makes it easier for the Chinese Muslim community to understand the text with ease.
About the Author
Ma Zhonggang
As for the author of the book, Ma Zhonggang, he obtained his college diploma in English in 1981. In 1982, he was appointed as a teacher at the Chinese Islamic Institute for Islamic Studies in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in southwestern China, and he currently serves as the vice president of the institute. He has studied the Quran and Hadith for many years, and his work on the book "Summary of the Quran Interpretation" took more than 10 years, starting in 1990 until its final form in early 2004. It was published by the Religious Culture House for the first time in 2005 and was re-published again in 2022. The book consists of 670 pages.
