Hermeneutical Contribution of Ahmad Raza Khan’s Kanzul Iman to South Asian Quranic Translation

Fazi Gulzar

doi:10.21009/JSQ.22.2.07

Authors

Fazi Gulzar University of Kashmir, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21009/JSQ.22.2.07

Keywords:

Ahmad Raza Khan, Kanzul Iman, Quranic Translation, Sunni Orthodoxy, Urdu Exegesis

Abstract

This study presents a critical analysis of Kanzul Iman (Treasure of Faith), a 1911 Urdu translation of the Qur'an by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, which stands as a pivotal pillar of the Islamic scholarly tradition in South Asia. The research aims to evaluate Kanzul Iman based on its linguistic precision, theological coherence, and spiritual sublimity, while examining how the work upholds orthodox Sunni hermeneutics despite its accessibility to Urdu-speaking audiences. Employing qualitative methods including textual analysis, historical contextualization, and a review of academic reception, the study dissects the translation's structural framework and interpretive approach. The findings demonstrate that Kanzul Iman successfully bridges classical Islamic scholarship with accessible local-language expression, safeguarding Sunni orthodoxy against early 20th-century theological shifts without compromising textual clarity or reverence for the Qur'an. These findings derive from qualitative textual analysis and do not reflect a quantitative corpus-linguistic verification of lexical equivalence between the Arabic source and Urdu target texts, nor do they include an empirical study of reader reception. The study’s primary contribution lies in offering profound insights into Qur'anic exegesis and South Asian Islamic thought by affirming the enduring relevance of Kanzul Iman in modern Muslim discourse and serving as a model of how vernacular translations can sustainably preserve the integrity of religious dogma.

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