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ABSTRACT
Mohammad Abdul Hakim Khan (MAHK) has been all along hailed as the first Muslim English translator of the meanings of the Qur'an. This article explores the circumstantial as well as textual evidence to determine the fact whether MAHK was really the first Muslim who translated the meanings of the Qur'an into English truly. This article brings to the fore, as a result of this exploration, what has gone unnoticed all along, for more than a century, in the Qur'anic scholarship that MAHK who has been considered as the first Muslim English translator of the meanings of the Qur'an actually happens to be the first Qadiyani translator. Unlike other Qadiyani translators who underscore their Qadiyani credentials MAHK, however, provides no clue whatsoever about his dogmatic presuppositions. On textual scrutiny it emerges that despite his craftiness in suppressing outwardly his adherence to Qadianism, his elucidation of the meanings of the Qur'an is vitiated by unmistakable Qadiyani colouring. It is indeed inexplicable how for more than a century MAHK's work, abounding in Qadiyani contents and other serious blemishes, escaped critical scrutiny. It, nonetheless, deserves the unenviable distinction of being the first Qadiyani English translation of the meanings of the Qur'an. Notwithstanding, that in the last years of his life, according to some reports, MAHK had recanted his belief in Qadyanism and reverted to Islam, nonetheless, his English translation abounds Qadiyani beliefs.
Introduction
Notwithstanding the appearance of more than thirty five complete English translations of the meanings of the Qur'an since 1905 by Muslim scholars,1 and their large scale circulation worldwide, especially among the diasporic Muslim community in the West,2 not much authentic information is on record about these translators, especially the earlier ones. Before the publication of the two definitive English translations by Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall (1292-1355/1875-1936) in 19303 and 'Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali (1289- 1373/1872-1953) between 1934-1937,4 there existed early English translations by Mohammad Abdul Hakim Khan (fl. c. 1900s) published in 1905,5 Mirza Abul Fadl (1282-1376/1865-1956) published in 1911-126 and Mirza Hairat Dehlavi (d. 1348/1929) published in 1916,7 followed by the appearance of the translation of the Qadiyani writer Muhammad Ali (1874-1951) published in 1917,8 which is generally recognized as the first Qadiyani translation.
Ironically enough, Mohammad Abdul Hakim Khan (MAHK) has been all...