I have been thinking a lot lately regarding translations of classical Islamic works, be it books, notes, extracts or explanations (sharh), scholastic essays and thesis etc. There seems an ocean of knowledge contained within the pages that have witnessed the inks of the scholars past and present.

A lot of these pearls and jewels are unaccessible to the majority of Muslims living in the West due to the language barrier as these Islamic works tend to be in the Arabic language and many of the sources are also in that language.

One thing I have been extremely happy to see in the past few years is the sudden turn towards translations and making knowledge that was once only available to those who knew Arabic open to the world at large, in English and indeed in various other languages.

This might be a slightly interactive post, but what works would you like to see translated?

Is there a particular book/series of books that you’ve recently seen translated?

One I recently saw in the bookshop was Imaam al-Waaqidi’s ‘Futooh ash-Shaam’ – The Islamic Conquest of Syria. Amazing piece of work, translated by Sulayman al-Kindi & published by Taha Publishers, UK (now available in most Islamic bookshops)

Another is: You can be the Happiest Woman in the World by Dr. ‘Aa’idh al-Qarni, author of the bestseller ‘Don’t be Sad’, translated by sister Huda al-Khattab (this is almost like a follow-up of ‘Don’t be Sad’ especially for the sisters – great book Mashaa’Allah). Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House

A selection of Imam Ibn al-Kathir’s ‘al-Bidaayah wa Nihaayah’ was translated by Faisal Shafiq and compiled into: Book of the End – Great Trials and Tribulations, published by Dar-us-Salaam.

So… have you seen any new translations recently?

Or is there a particular book you would like to see translated?