While we were translating and editing Ski 'ilea Islam...

While we were translating and editing Ski 'ilea Islam, 'Allamah Tabaiaba'i terminated Qur'an dar Islam; on his advice, it was decided to have this also published in Persian as soon as possible. This work, likewise, became instantly popular and, like Shi'ah dar Islam, has gone into numerous editions besides being translated into other Islamic languages.

Meanwhile, we began the translation of Qur'an dar lsl?m soon as the publication of Ski 'it Islam in both its English and American editions was accomplished.

Many sessions were spent with the 'Allamah over various questions of translation, and the work progressed slowly because of both the 'All amah's busy program and our own crowded schedule Over half of the work was translated when our library - and with it the manuscript of the translation - was lost during the events of 1979 It is, therefore, particularly gratifying finally to see the appearance of the translation of this work in English and the realization of the goal, which was intended from the beginning.

The author of this book, 'Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Hussein Tabataba'i - may God shower His blessings upon his soul - was one of the great masters of the traditional sciences in Iran during this century. 2 He was born in 1903 into a distinguished family of scholars in Tabriz, where he also carried out his earliest religious studies. Like many Shi'ites scholars, he pursued more advanced studies in Najaf and then returned to Tabriz.

But in 1945, following the Soviet occupation of Azerbaijan, he came to Qom, where he settled until his death in 1982. From this center of Shi'ites learning the light of his knowledge and presence began to disseminate, and continued to spread, among students not only of that city but also throughout Iran, and even beyond.

From the 1950s onward, his journeys to Tehran became a weekly or bi-weekly event, and he taught and conducted intellectual discussions with a small group of students, of which we had the honour of being one. This activity complemented his teaching activities in Qom.