The Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies presented the translation of the Quran in Lviv

May 02, 2018

The achievements of the scientists of the National University of Ostroh Academy constantly arouse interest not just of the scientific community, and thus they repeatedly become the subject of interesting discussions, cultural and educational events both in Ukraine and abroad. The other day, Mykhailo Yakubovych, well-known Ukrainian orientalist, scientist, Director of the Centre for Islamic Studies of Ostroh Academy, presented the translation of the meanings of the Quran in Ukrainian at Ivan Franko Lviv Literary and Memorial Museum.

It is noteworthy that the event took place precisely at the Museum named after Ivan Franko who is mostly known as a powerful translator and thinker. Moreover, the city, which was chosen for the presentation, has an interesting subtext. According to the translator’s words, the answer should be sought in the polemical Ukrainian literature of the 16th and 17th centuries, in the writings of Ukrainian author, orthodox polemicist Ioanikii Galiatovskyi. Thus, the work "The sky is new, by the new stars created" tells about the reverence for Mary in the Quran. An appropriate quotation is given.

«Oleksandr Lysenetskyi who made the first complete typographical translation of the meanings of the Quran in Ukrainian also lived in Lviv,»  added Mykhailo Yakubovych.

Said Ismahilom, Mufti of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine "UMMA", Murat Suleimanov, Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre in Lviv, Bohdan Tykholoz, Director of Ivan Franko Lviv Literary and Memorial Museum, and the scholars from the University of Mosul, Iraq were the honorary guests at the presentation.

Solomiia Vivchar, Scientific Worker of the Museum, Head of the book stock, served as a moderator of the event. The presented edition is already the fifth in Mykhailo Yakubovych’s translation oeuvre. Each new book differs in the certain semantic, lexical-stylistic, and technical corrections. This is not surprising, since working with such a complex text requires extraordinary attentiveness and diligence.

The first translation of the Quran by Mr. Yakubovych was published in Saudi Arabia, where the text was repeatedly checked by a competent commission composed of numerous scientists. The Ukrainian translation makes it possible to better familiarize with the Islamic tradition and convey to the community the peace-loving essence of Islam.

It is also interesting that despite the five editions of the translations of the Quran, the book was printed only twice in Ukraine.

As already mentioned, the first complete translation of the Quran in Ukrainian was published in Saudi Arabia in 2010. Mykhailo Yakubovych has worked on the text for more than five years. The scholar processed over 40 Commentaries of the Quran and used more than 1000 sources.