Five Muslim scholars from Western are translating the Qur’an into the Luhya language.
They are Harun Musa, Ramadan Sebwa, Ramadhan Ndege, Ismail Were and Yusuf Malala. Must said he got the idea to translate the Qur’an when he was in prison in December 2014 after he was accused of sympathising with al Shabaab. “I felt there was a loophole in Islam, people don’t understand this noble religion because its Holy book is written in Arabic language and that is when I felt a push to translate the book into the native language of the people of Western Kenya,” Musa said.
He said the Qur’an will be translated into the Wanga and Marama dialects of the Luhya language because the two are neutral and easily understood among the 18 sub-tribes. Speaking during the launch of the translation at Mumias Jamia Mosque on Sunday, the scholars said the book is not well understood by the majority of Muslims because it is written in Arabic.
The ceremony was attended by Kakamega county kadhi Shaban Abu Issah, Bungoma Kadhi Kassim Ratori, Mumias Jamia Mosque Imam Hamza Ismail and Mumias Muslim Community chairman Ismail Muchelule. “The intention to translate the Holy Qur’an into Luhya language is to make both Muslims and non-Muslims from the Luhya community understand its contents and know what Islam stands for,” Issah said.
“Once they are able to read the Qur’an in their own language, they will understand what Islam stands for. The religion has been attributed to criminal activities and perceived by some people who don’t understand it as horrible when it merely stands for peace. Isaac urged scholars all over the world to translate the Qur’an into languages best understood by their communities. Musa urged youth not to fall into the trap laid by enemies of Islam.