By NONOY E. LACSON
BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi – The provincial government of Tawi-Tawi will officially launch on Saturday the Tausog version of the Holy Qur’an (Muslim Holy Book) aimed at giving more chance to Muslim faithful in this part of the country to understand the true meaning and essence of the word of God written in the Holy Book of Qur’an.
Tawi-Tawi Gov. Sadikul Sahali Wednesday said it took more than five years for a group of Muslim Islamic preachers and scholars to do the transliteration of the Qur’an, which is written in Arabic language to the Tausog dialect, the native dialect used by many Muslims in many parts of Region 9.
“Now that they have completed the transliteration of the Holy Qur’an from Arabic to Tausog, we can now launch it and distribute it the soonest possible time for free to all the Muslim and even non-Muslim in this province for free,” Sahali said.
The governor said the launching of the Holy Book will be held at the Beachsite Resort and Restaurant in this capital town.
Hundreds of Muslim preachers and scholars including ulama, ustadzes and imams of the different mosques in the province led by Tawi-Tawi Mufti Abdulwahid Inju are expected to attend the launching on Saturday.
The provincial chief executive here explained that it would be very meaningful for everyone if they understand what they are reading especially if it is the word of God.
He said the “Word of God will always lead Muslims and Christians to goodness as we all know that the Word of God eliminates evil in our hearts and mind, the source of misunderstanding and friction among the people in the neighborhood.”
Sahali also disclosed that the provincial government will also launch the Qur’an’s transliteration in English alphabet in the coming days.
The transliteration of the Arabic Qur’an into English will also allow Muslims and Christians alike to have the chance to read the Holy Qur’an in its Arabic form but rendered in the English alphabet.
He said there are Muslims who may understand the Arabic language but they could hardly read efficiently words written in the Arabic alphabet.
This is the reason why there is a need for the Islamic scholars to write it in the English alphabet but the words will remain in Arabic language, Sahali explained.
Earlier, the Muslim Scripture has also been translated into the Maranao, Maguindanaon and Cebuano dialects. (With a report from Edd K. Usman)
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/237166/tawitawi-launch-holy-qur-tausug-version
