Classical Works
Aisha Bewley, the doyen of Arabic translators of classical texts on Islam and Sufism, dominates the Diwan Press catalogue, but is particularly important for three utterly central works of Islam:
The Noble Qur’an, a new rendering of its meanings in English, the Muwatta’ of Imam Malik, and Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, her translation of ash-Shifa of Qadi ‘Iyad.
The Noble Qur’an, a new rendering of its meanings in English.
This has been recognised by many as simply both the most accurate translation of the meanings of the Qur’an, drawing as it does upon the most reliable of the tafsīr literature, as well as being the most readable. The task of Diwan Press is both to keep it in print and widely available to Muslims and non-Muslims, to large institutions such as public libraries, universities and schools, as well as to prepare a new edition with parallel Arabic text and English translation. Read a review of this translation here by Ahmad Thomson.
Muhammad the Messenger of Allah
The translation of Qadi ‘Iyad’s ash-Shifa. Recognised by ‘ulamā’ from every society and every madhhab as the best work on the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the importance of this text being in the English language is very hard to over-stress. It will be the job of Diwan Press to ensure that it is permanently in print and receives the widest distribution possible so that it is available to the English speaking Muslims and to non-Muslims.
| Muhammad the Messenger of Allah (Ash-Shifa) | Qadi 'Iyad | £16.00 | 512p |
The Muwatta' of Imam Malik.
This unparalleled source for the most revered of the ṣaḥīḥ ḥadīth as well as a record of the Islam of the first community of Madīnah, with its extensive explanatory material by Imām Malik himself was recognised from the earliest days as being one of the ṣaḥīḥ, with the famous judgement on it by Imām ash-Shāfiʿī in particular, a judgement endorsed by later scholars such as Imām as-Suyuti, Ibn Hajar and Shah Waliallah ad-Dahlawi who concurred that it is completely ṣaḥīḥ without any exception. The Diwan Press will work not only to keep this seminal text in print but to see that it receives the honour and attention that it deserves since that can only benefit in the spread of an appreciation of the dīn of the salaf.
| Al-Muwatta | Imam Malik ibn Anas | £11.00 |