Original Copy of Early Turkish Quran Translation Discovered

Original Copy of Early Turkish Quran Translation Discovered
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A rare original copy of one of the first Turkish translations of the Holy Quran by Mehmet Hamdi Yazır has been discovered in a major library archive, Turkish theologian Necmi Atık announced.

According to IQNA, Atık found the manuscript while researching Yazır’s works for his doctoral thesis, examining the personal library archives of Yazır’s grandson, Mehmet Hamdi Yazır, in Istanbul. The manuscript, written in Yazır’s own handwriting, features clear and accessible language, though certain elements, such as the names of Allah, remain untranslated. The final two parts of the Quran are noted for their poetic style.

Following the establishment of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) in 1924, Yazır was asked to translate the Quran into Turkish after Mehmet Akif Ersoy withdrew from the task. Yazır dedicated eight years to completing the translation, maintaining close communication with Diyanet throughout the process.

Born in 1878 in Antalya, Yazır was a scholar fluent in Turkish, Arabic, Persian, and French. He also served as a teacher, parliamentarian, and Minister of Religious Endowments, leaving a lasting legacy in Turkish Quranic scholarship.