Qur’an Translations in African American (Post-)Muslim Movements

Due to their situatedness in a particular Western English-speaking environment, African American Muslims primarily received, engaged with, and employed the Qur'an through the vehicle of English translations. Contrary to what is often assumed, the Qur'an has played a key role in the formulation of the doctrines of the various African American Muslim movements, including among early representatives, such as the Nation of Islam. What is more, different interpretations and translations of the Qur'an have informed doctrinal differences, institutional formations, and internal disputes among African American Muslims. This article provides an overview of the usage and, arguably, the politics of English Qur'an translations in different African American Muslim movements from the early twentieth century until the present. In addition, it introduces and analyses the works of the first Qur'an translators from amongst the ranks of African American Muslim movements.