The Qur’an in Malayalam: Contextualising Early <i>iṣlāḥī</i> Translations

This article is an exploration of the texts and historical contexts of the early translations of the Qur'an into the South Indian language of Malayalam. Attempts at Malayalam translations of the Qur'an started in the 1930s. The present study deals with the translation projects that emerged between the 1930s and 1965. It showcases the situatedness of these translations in the colonial experiences of the region, as well as in the discursiveness of global Islamic trends. It also looks at the theological controversies these translations evoked within the Muslim community.