ISTANBUL – Getting a deeper look into the meanings of the holy Qur’an, a Classical Arabic Studies lecturer at Sofia University has reverted to Islam after studying and translating the holy book into the Bulgarian language.
“When I started working, I was looking through the eyes as if it was an ordinary book. Over time I began to understand the Qur’an and with a deeper meaning from texts,” Dr Svetan Teofanov is quoted by World Bulletin.
“My journey defying the Qur’an took too long but at the end of the road, and I have accepted Islam and I am now a Muslim.
“In college, I read the Qur’an interpretation and meaning, but felt their sincerity, while I was completing the actual translation,” he added.
Working in the Classical Arabic department, he worked over the past years on translating Arabic poetry and literature as part of hiss specialization work.
The translation of the Qur’an was requested by a state-owned publishing house.
“Many years ago, on the request of the state-owned publishing house, I began to translate the Holy Qur’an. This was the socialist period. Rather it being service to the Muslims, this was more concerned with assimilation policies in regards to Turkey.
“Shortly after the work began there was the democratic transition in 1989, the state publishing house went bankrupt, the Bulgarian translation of the Holy Qur’an was not published in that year.
“However, I continued to work on the translation of the Holy Qur’an and this is where my life changed. I began to better understand our exalted book and wanted it from my heart,” he said.
“At first, I translated the pagan Arab poetry. I studied medieval Arabic literature. We also have a new book published, called “The Phenomenology of the Prophet” – the book based on the old bible.
“I examined the effect of important religious figures in the Middle East and I have discussed the phenomenon. This was a serious academic study. The book has generated a lot of interest. It was chosen as the best book for the month of October. There is a growing interest in religion, and religious differences”, he said.
Prof. Teofanov has until now several published books as well as publishing as a Qur’an interpretation.
He finished his specialization doctorate at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and a second doctorate at the Moscow Oriental Studies Institute.
The Qur’an is a revelation from God, the creator of the worlds, so He is the original author.
There is only one Qur’an which is in Arabic and many translations of the Qur’an in several languages.
There could be multiple translations by different authors in the same language such as English.
The Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the archangel Gabriel who used to make the Prophet memorize the Qur’an and made him revise it every year in the month of Ramadan, the fasting month.