The First Quranic Translation in Pushto: an Analytical Study

Abstract

The Holy Quran is the last divine book that was revealed as the sacred heart of the last Holy Prophet  Muhammad (PBUH). This book is the list of past books revealed on different  Prophets for the guidance of particular territories and nations but the Holy Quran is meant for the whole human and everlasting having a universal message of God and guidance. With the expansion of Islam other than Arabs,   the utility of Quranic translation was felt direfully.  Consequently, the scholars of Islam worked for this purpose. Subsequently in the  Sub-Continent Pak-o-Hind, first of all, Shah Wali Ullah Mohadas Dehlvi, an eminent scholar translated the Quran from Arabic to Persian. However, he was criticized by the other Muslims but he did not care for it. Although it was a new initiation in Islam it was felt to be very necessary and fruitful for Non-Arabic people to learn the lessons of the Quran easily. It was a good start to Quranic translation in the Sub-continent. Later on, the Quran was translated into different local languages. Therefore, Quran was also translated into Pashto first time. Syed  Rukan-e-Aalam is the pioneer of the Pashto Translation of the Holy Quran.   During the 18th century, Molana Rukn-e-Aalam, a follower of Syed Ghulam Qadir Shah Batalvi translated Quran into Pashto. King Ahmad Shah Abdali was also a fan and follower of Gulam Qadir Shah Batalvi and sought his prayers. Syed Gulam Qadir Shah Batalvi was a unique scholar and saint of said period {2} Ehsanullah khan Danish wrote that Molana Rukn-ud -Din famed as Rukn-e-Aalam was head of his family tree trile named as mian family belonging to Moza Musa adjacent Hazarkhani city near Peshawar, His shrine is in the graveyard famous as 'Haji Mian Sahib' appellation of his younger brother Haji Qutah-ud-Din. He was a sincere and true follower of Hazrat Ghulam Qadri Shah 

Batalvi. A Historian Elphinstone wrote that king Ahmad shah Abdoli when came to Punjab he must visit Lahore and Batala to say Salam {3} Then Governer Lahore was his follower and used to go to Batala often king Ahmad shah Abdali was also his dedicated follower and stated that he had visited seston to Dakhan but has not seen any piceous and saint-like Hazrat Ghulam Qadri shah Batalvi having appellation'' Ghulam''. At certain times he requested to pray while attaching an invasion to other countries for victory and won the battles of the war. Syed Ghulam Qadri shah Batalvi wrote many books and Ramzul Eshaq is the most famous book many scholars wrote its explanation in different languages.{4}