Tasnif Style Guide — Page 118
118 TAŞNİF STYLE GUIDE Intention & Sincerity It ought to be remembered that our publications and translations are done so with the sole purpose of advancing the mission of the Promised Messiah and of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Therefore, such literature that aims to spiritually and morally transform its readers demands its translators and reviewers to seek the assis- tance of Almighty Allah to articulate the words with the greatest eloquence and impact, while remaining faithful to the text. It is narrated that when Hadrat Maulavi Sher Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, a renowned companion of the Promised Messiah, would work on his English translation of the Holy Quran, he would begin by offering two rak'at of optional prayer to seek God's assistance. It is also narrated that the pages of his manuscript would often have the words astaghfirullāh (meaning, I seek refuge with Allah) written repeatedly on them by his own hand. Faithful to the Tone & Text An effective translator does not indiscriminately pick any word from the dictionary without first contemplating over the tone it conveys. A dictionary gives a number of synonyms or meanings for a single Urdu or Arabic word from which the translator may select the appropriate one. Often, translators provide a commentary or summary of what they feel the author is saying. However, translators must remember