Dr. Musharraf Hussain is a UK-based religious scholar, educationalist, interfaith activist and communicator of Islam’s faith and practice, best known for The Majestic Qur’an: A Plain English Translation. He was appointed director of the Karimia Institute, Nottingham in 1997, where he is currently Chief Executive and Chief Imam.  The Institute’s wide-ranging work reflects his commitments and concerns: it is a hub for educational projects, youth activities, charity work, radio broadcasting, community wellbeing projects and services, new Muslims support, mosque services and the promotion of active citizenship.

Dr.  Musharraf grew up in Halifax, where his parents settled from Pakistan in 1966 when he was an eight-year-old.  He memorised the Qur’an, learnt tajweed and basic Qur’anic Arabic in early years. He has a B.Sc. from the University of Aston, where he also obtained a doctorate in biochemistry. He was subsequently a research scientist at the Nottingham Trent University. In 1991 he received an ijaza in hadith from the Darul uloom Muhammadia Ghausia.  He studied under the guidance of Justice Pir Muhammad Karam Shah. He then completed a B.A. course at the Al-Azhar, Cairo.

Of The Majestic Qur’an: A Plain English Translation Dr. Musharraf notes,

My purposes in translating the meanings of the Majestic Qur’an was to provide English readers with a translation in plain English so that they experience and feel the Qur’an is speaking to them. To accomplish this, I have used section headings and contemporary English terms that highlight the Qur’an’s relevance to today’s context. I also appreciate that there is ample scope for differences of opinion when translating the meanings of the Qur’an.

In the Muslim World Book Review, it has been commended for “making the Qur’an more accessible and comprehensible to general readers. Moreover, his use of simple English also facilitates a better understanding for lay readers. Hussain’s concern to relate the Qur’anic guidance to our times and everyday life situations is laudable. Through his side headings and footnotes, he has been successful in highlighting the relevance of several Qur’anic statements in today’s context.” [MWBR, 39:2, 2019].

His most recent publication is a paperback, English-only version, The Majestic Qur’an, Guidance and Good news for the Mindful . It offers a different mode to study – as Dr. Musharraf remarks, “no need to park your thinking brain to one side. Its an irony that when we start reading Qur’an in Arabic, because we don’t understand it, we approach it without wit and intelligence. The paperback encourages us to read it intelligently.”

Dr. Musharraf was awarded an honorary doctorate from Staffordshire University in 1995 and an OBE for services to community relations in 2009.

Links:

The Majestic Qur’an: A Plain English Translation https://www.majesticquran.co.uk/

Karimia Institute https://www.karimia.com/

Publisher: Invitation Publishing Ltd. 512-514 Berridge Road West, Nottingham, NG7 5JU