Woman writes English translation of Quran

CHICAGO – One of the first English translations of the Quran written by a Muslim woman is expected to hit bookstores next week.\nLaleh Bakhtiar’s translation is already creating a buzz online and with Islamic scholars who criticize the 68-year-old Chicago woman’s interpretations and formal Arabic training.\nBakhtiar, an Iranian-American, was Catholic before she converted to Islam. She doesn’t speak fluent modern Arabic but took three years of Quranic Arabic. She has written or translated about 25 books on Islam.\n“This translation of the Quran is a culmination of 45 years of learning,” Bakhtiar said.\nBakhtiar relied heavily on dictionaries for a word-by-word translation method, something which has elicited sharp comments on Web sites in the Arab world and bothers some Islamic scholars.\nIslamic law professor Khaled Abou El Fadl at the University of California at Los Angeles said that Bahktiar’s three years of Arabic study aren’t enough and that her reputation is as an editor, not a scholar.\nBut others say Bakhtiar’s work is being criticized because she’s a woman.\n“Anytime you have a change like this coming from within the community, especially coming from a woman, you’re undoubtedly going to ruffle some feathers,” said Daisy Khan, the executive director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement.\nMany are calling Bakhtiar’s work a feminist translation, pointing specifically to a controversial passage about how a husband is allowed to treat his wife who has strayed. Scholars have debated the word “daraba” to mean “beat.” Bakhtiar said the word translates more closely to “go away.”\nThe Quran was translated into English in the 1930s. There are more than 20 translations. But since most Muslims learn to read the Quran in Arabic, English versions are considered supplementary, and there isn’t an authority on the translation.\nBahktiar, who doesn’t consider herself a feminist, thinks the reaction the book is getting is premature.\n“Hello! Let’s look at this fairly,” she said. “Why raise this before you’ve even seen it? Could you mind waiting?”\nA first printing of her book is expected to be available at large bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders next week. Bakhtiar is also recording an audio version.