The Aramaic Quran translation project

The Assyrians are amongst the oldest nations of the world. The ancient civilisation of Assyria oversaw what was amongst the first of the world's great empires. Today, the vast majority of Assyrians are Christians. They no longer have a state of their own, but can be found in large urban communities throughout the Fertile Crescent, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Turkey and North America.

Aramaic is the language of the Assyrians and is the very same language which Jesus son of Mary is believed to have spoken. Like Arabic and Hebrew, Aramaic is a Semitic language written from right to left in its own alphabet – a script which is the precursor to many of the worlds alphabets and writing systems, including Arabic.

At Quran.nu, we intend to provide the first ever Aramaic translation of the (meanings of the) Holy Quran. Our aim in this is clear, to help bring a new nation to the faith of Islam.

Due to its connection to the Prophet Jesus, Aramaic is one of the world's most meticulously studied langauges by modern Christian scholars. We therefore also hope that, with an Aramaic translation of the Quran online, these learned men and women will have further cause to read the Quran. And the Quran tells us that it is the learned Christians who are the more likely to recognise the Words of the Quran as being from God:

وَلَتَجِدَنَّ أَقْرَبَهُمْ مَّوَدَّةً لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ الَّذِينَ قَالُوَاْ إِنَّا نَصَارَى ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ مِنْهُمْ قِسِّيسِينَ وَرُهْبَانًا وَأَنَّهُمْ لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ * وَإِذَا سَمِعُواْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَى أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُواْ مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ * وَمَا لَنَا لاَ نُؤْمِنُ بِاللّهِ وَمَا جَاءنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبَّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ

And you will find the nearest in love to the believers are those who say: "We are Christians." That is because amongst them are (learned, God-fearing) priests and monks, and they are not proud. And when they (who call themselves Christians) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger (Muhammad), you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognised. They say: "Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses. And why should we not believe in Allah and in that which has come to us of the truth? And we wish that our Lord will admit us (in Paradise on the Day of Resurrection) along with the righteous." (Quran, 5:82-4)

All those who strive to help guide individuals to Islam, let alone an entire nation, can hope to receive Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness and admittance into His Wonderful Paradise. If you would like to be counted amongst such people, please get in touch with us via our e-mail address info@quran.nu or, alternatively, click here to make a donation to the project.

وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

And who is better in Speech than the one who invites unto Allah and works righteousness, and says: "I am indeed from the Muslims (those submitting to the Will of the One True God)". (Quran, 41:33)