Bulgaria Marks Century of Quran Translations Reflecting Cultural Shifts

Bulgaria Marks Century of Quran Translations Reflecting Cultural Shifts
……………….

Over the past century, Bulgaria has produced five major translations of the meanings of the Quran into Bulgarian, reflecting the country’s evolving political, cultural, and religious landscape since the 1920s. The earliest attempt came in the 1920s, initiated by the Bulgarian government to engage the Pomak Muslim community in the south.

A Protestant missionary version appeared in 1930, followed by an English-based translation in 1944. After the fall of communism in 1989, renewed interest in Islamic studies led to a 1991 Ahmadi translation and a 1993 version by former Mufti Nedim Kenjiev, based on his Turkish edition.

In 1997, Arabist Professor Tsvetan Theophanov published the first academic translation directly from Arabic, with updated editions released between 1999 and 2025. Later works included linguist Ivan Dobrev’s 2009 translation and former Sofia Mufti Ali Khayreddin’s 2023 edition.
Researchers say these translations trace Bulgaria’s deepening academic and spiritual engagement with Islamic culture and scripture.