Dr. T.B. Irving passes away | SoundVision.com

Dr. T.B. Irving passes away

Our brother, Dr. T.B. Irving has passed away. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun. To Allah we belong and to Him we return.

Dr. Irving was once a fixture at Muslim conventions. This author, professor, and translator of the first American English translation of the Quran who accepted Islam over 50 years ago passed away peacefully on the morning of September 24, 2002 in his Mississippi home. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Few Muslim publications or media know about his death or published anything about his condition while he was sick. We need to remember our scholars. We need to be there for them with our concern, our Dua and our good wishes, especially in the last moments of their lives.

The state of this translator of the Quran can remind us of Yusuf Ali, another Muslim whose translation of the Quran into English is world renown.

Yusuf Ali did not need money to take care of himself. But when he passed away on a cold London night about 50 years ago, he was sick and alone. The Muslim community only came to know later about his death.

Some background on Dr. Irving

It was Muslim "stubbornness" which eventually led the Canadian Quran translator and writer Thomas Ballantyne (T.B.) Irving to Islam.

"I remember especially a missionary returned from India stating how the 'Mohometans' (Muslims) were so obdurate in adhering to their religion; that was my first encounter with Islam, and it roused an unconscious admiration in me for their steadfastness to their faith and a desire to know more about these 'wicked' people," he recounted in the book "Islam: Our Choice", a collection of interviews with Muslims who have converted to the faith.

T.B. Irving later became one of these "obdurate" people, choosing the name Al Hajj Ta'lim Ali Abu Nasr.

Born in Preston, Ontario in 1914, this professor, writer, translator and activist is best known for his translation of the Quran entitled, The Quran: First American Version (1985).The work is an attempt to make the English translation of the Quran more readable to an audience not used to the old style of English common in most translations.

Irving was particularly concerned about making the Quran accessible to Muslim youth in North America.

"A new generation of English-speaking Muslims has grown up in North America which must use our scripture differently than their fathers would have done. Their thinking roots have become distinct on a new continent without the familiar use of our holy tongue, and a great difference has developed between their customs and their ancestral faith," he wrote in the introduction of his translation, entitled, The Qur'an: The Noble Reading.

The cover of the 1993 edition of this translation features a photograph of the dome of the Great Umayyad Mosque of Cordoba, Spain. This provides a hint at another passion of his: Muslim Spain.

Irving was considered a leading expert on the Arab-Islamic period in Spanish history, especially with his book Falcon of Spain. This was a study of Spain under Muslim rule, with a special emphasis on the Umayyad ruler AbdurRahman I, who Irving considered a "great statesman".

Irving's other books in English include: Growing Up In Islam; The Quran: Basic Teachings, which he co-authored with Dr. Khurshid Ahmad and Muhammad Manazir Ahsan; Had You Been Born a Muslim; Religion and Social Responsibility; Tide of Islam; Islam Resurgent; Islam in its Essence; Polished Jade; Stories of Kalil and Dimna; The Mayas Own Words, as well as various articles on Central American Literature.

In Spanish, Irving wrote Cautiverio Babilónico en Andalusía,

Nacido como Musulmán, and El Poema de José

In addition, he wrote a number of other articles and essays published in various journals.

Irving learned and taught at a diverse list of universities from across the continent, including McGill University in Montreal, Canada, Princeton University in New Jersey, University of San Carlos in Guatemala, University of Minneapolis, and the University of Tennessee, from which he retired as a professor of Spanish and Arabic in 1980.

Following retirement, he served as the dean of the American Islamic College in Chicago between 1981-1986. It was during his time there that he published his translation of the Quran.

His service to Islam as a writer was noticed by the Pakistani government, who rewarded him the Sitara-e-Imtiaz award (Star of Excellence) for service to Islam in 1983.

Dr. Irving's last years

Dr. Irving's son, Nicholas, moved from Guatemala to take care of his father. While Dr. Irving did not need monetary or medical help, he would have appreciated hearing from Muslims, especially those who benefited from his work as a writer and scholar.

Although he could not talk and could only eat with the help of a feeding machine, he was conscious.

I visited him last year, while he was in a nursing home. Standing next to his bed, I felt each time I said Shahadah (the Islamic declaration of faith), he moved as though he was trying to respond to it.

May Allah forgive him and grant him Paradise for his contributions to humanity.

Comments

Alsalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu Lah Wa Barakatuhu.we knew Dr. Irving thru his famous work, the translation of the meanings of the Holy Qu'ran to the English language, and its commentary...In reality, and after the well study of this version, we found it unique in the precision of the translation.We know late about his passing away, and in this sad occasion we send you, in the name of Bureau of Arabic and Islamic researches our deep condoleances and we are sure that Dr. Irving is always alive thru his works...In comemorating his memory, we are willing to print the translation of the Holy Quran which was done by the late Dr. Irving with cooperation with Dar Al-Nasim in Beirut and distribute it freely without charge in the Islamic speaking english countries. In reality we don't know to whom we shall speak with in order to get the authorization to print the translation..we hope that you help us in achieving this work done for Allah, and to guide us in the right way for doing the right and the good...Allah Bless you and Bless the memory of out Great Late Dr.Bureau of Arabic and Islamic researches sheikh Saeed al-Lahham

Location

Beirut-Lebanon

Assalamu'alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. Dr. Irving attended my wedding at the Mother Mosque of America in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on 15 May 1994. I had no idea he passed away until I read this article. May Allah (swt) reward him for his good work and forgive him of his sins and accept him into Jannat ul-Firdaus. Amin.

Location

USA

Bismillah ir Rahman ir RaheemInna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oonMay the peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon him.Ya Allah, surely You are the Most Wise. May our Ummah be blessed with more scholars like TB Irving.Ameen.also, where can i get a copy of falcon of spain or any other of his publications, please email me insha'Allah.Salaam.

Location

NY, USA

May Allah bless his soul and reward him for his great work, Ameen

Location

Little rock, Arkansas

May Allah bless his soul, Ameen.

Location

Dallas, TX USA

Assalaam ua aliakium,The sad demise of Prof. Irving is a great loss to the Ummah. Inna-lillahe-Waninna-ilaihe-rajeeon. May Allah SWT bless him with the best of his blessings.I wish to find out about the sources in Canada from where his work can be obtained. Youe efforts in letting us know about these great scholars of muslim Ummah is highly commendable. May Allah SWT bless you for this work. Wassalaam.

Location

Mississauga, Ontario

Assalamoalaikum. It is sad to learn about the tragic death of Prof. Irving a converted muslim and a great scholar of Islam. May Allah rest his soul in peace. His contribution to Islam will definitely be remembered and will inshallah benefit him in the Akhirah. It can only be the will of Allah Subhanutaala that he turns such people to the fold of Islam. The books he has written has made the dawaah work so easy in american content. I suggest that muslims residing in this region should use his books for propagation of Islam particularly in these areas. Muslims could present these books to non muslims in their immediate circles.

Location

Toronto, Ontario

Assalaamu 'aleikum wa rahmatu-llaahi wa barakaatuhI hope you are well & fine and so every muslimMight Allaah Almighty bless any who worked, works or intend to work in the sake of Allaah Almighty!& if any of you have the biography of Sh. Yuusuf 'Aliy, pls do send it me, also I'm looking for a book called: Allaah (or God) in 150 languages!Might Allaah Almighty mercy Pr. Irvin and every dead or alive muslimWa-ssalaamu 'aleikum

Location

Morocco

We thank Allah(swt) for the contributions of Prof. T.B. Irvin to Islam, may Allah reward him with al-jannah firdous-amin.Your suggestion that we come to brothers and sisters is very good,but if we do not know them or how to contact them we will be unable to get to them and that is one reason your contribution is well appreciated. One is made aware of people like Prof. Irvin. Please keep it up, may Allah reward you.How can I get hold of some of the Prof's writings please?Was-salamAisha

Location

Luton,U.K.

Alhamdu Lillah he died a muslim and left a legacy for others with his Holy Quran translation and other books on Islam for which he will continue to earn rewards even in the hereafter.May Allah reward him with Al jannah.

Location

dubai

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