Meanwhile we began the translation of Qur’an dar Islam ...

Meanwhile we began the translation of Qur’an dar Islam , as soon as the publication of Shi’ite Islam in both 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 Allamah’s busy programme and our own crowded schedule. Over half of the work was translated when our library - and with 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 Husayn 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’ite scholars, he pursued more advanced studies in Najaf and then returned in Tabriz.

But in 1945, following the Soviet occupation of Azerbaijan, he came to Qum, where he settled until his death in 1982. From this centre of Shi’ite 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 journey 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 Qum.

The circle in Tehran, which included not only such well-known scholars as Murtadha Mutahhari, but also (during the fall season) Henry Corbin, and occasionally other Western scholars of Islam, helped to spread the influence of the Allamah’s teachings further, and soon he became recognized as one of the majour intellectual figures of Shi’ism, at once master of the religious sciences (especially Qur’anic commentary) Islamic philosophy and gnosis (‘irfan).

Despite eye-problems which continued to hamper his activities to the very end, Allamah Tabataba’i was an extremely prolific author. In addition to teaching throughout the week and training countless students, he wrote nearly every day, important books and articles continued to flow from his pen.