Toward Islamic English

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1982 book by Ismail al-Faruqi


Toward Islamic English (1982) is a book by Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi that examines the adaptation of the English language to better convey Islamic concepts, terminology, and meanings. As part of the Islamization of Knowledge initiative, it critiques distortions in transliteration and translation of Arabic-Islamic terms into English, proposing standardized methods to preserve their original meanings. The book serves as a guide for researchers, authors, and scholars interested in Islamic literature, culture, and civilization. Al-Faruqi argues that integrating Qur'anic Arabic into English enhances precision and protects English-speaking Muslims from the influence of materialism, utilitarianism, skepticism, and hedonism. It advocates for linguistic accuracy in religious, academic, and cultural discourse.

Table of Contents

# Section Subsections
1 What is Islamic English?
  • Who Are the Muslim Users of the English Language?
  • The Nature of the Distortion
    • Distortion through Transliteration
    • Distortion through Translation
2 The Needed Rectification in Transliteration
  • Transliteration of Letters
    • Consonants
    • Vowels
  • Transliteration of Words
    • General Remarks
    • Specific Rules
3 The Needed Rectification in Translation
  • General Rules
  • List of Islamic Words/Concepts
  • List of Terms/Expressions Relevant to the Islamic Sciences
  • List of Islamic Devotional and Social Terms/Expressions