http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Muslims-plan--Gaelic-translation.4163502.jp

MUSLIM scholars are working on a plan to find new followers in the
Western Isles: they want to translate the Koran into Gaelic.
They hope the £50,000 project will show Muslims' commitment to Scotland
and Scottish culture and promote understanding between faiths.

However, the move has received a cool reception from some Gaels,
especially in the language's heartland, the emphatically church-going
Western Isles.

The project has been set up by a British-based Muslim publishing
organisation, the Muslim Academic Trust, which is looking for Gaelic
writers and scholars who can help them translate the Koran into the
language. So far, they have failed to find anyone who knows Arabic and
Gaelic well enough to start work, and are instead considering setting up
a translation committee to work on the text using the existing Irish
Gaelic edition, along with English translations. Irish and Scottish
Gaelic are similar languages.

The Trust hopes to produce two bilingual Gaelic-Arabic editions, a
decorative colour edition using Celtic and Arabic calligraphy, and a
simpler print edition. The translation and publication is expected to
take about four years.

The work is being funded by a donation from businesses in Dubai, and the
organisers also hope to receive funding from the Scottish Muslim
community.

Abdal Hakim Murad, a Muslim convert and lecturer in religion at
Cambridge University – who heads the trust – said: "The Koran speaks of
the diversity of human languages as a sign of God's beauty and creative
power, and we feel that the specific genius of each language needs to be
honoured by Muslims, and that a good translation of the Koran would be
an important way of bringing this about."

Murad, also known as Tim Winter, added: "We are very anxious to get this
done properly and to the highest standard. Better not to do it at all
than for it not to be done well."

Bashir Ahmad, the Nationalist list MSP for Glasgow, and Scotland's first
Muslim MSP, said: "We want to make progress with this over the summer."

The move drew a frosty response from the main Gaelic church in the
Western Isles. Rev Iver Martin, the minister of Stornoway Free Church,
said: "I wouldn't have thought there would be much of a market for this.
I'm not sure that a lot of Gaelic-speaking people would be inclined to
read it. Of course, Muslims have the freedom to do what they want, but
it's worth pointing out that in many Muslim countries, Christians do not
have the freedom to freely read the Bible."

But others have welcomed the move. Western Isles MP, Gaelic-speaker
Angus MacNeil, said: "It sounds like a good idea. I have never read the
Koran, but if they translate it into Gaelic, I will read it."

On Apr 18, 8:06 pm, Watchman  wrote:
> I understand another local paper will soon be upon us The Isle of
> Wight Gazette, produced by a certain Martin Potter.
>
> Amongst his numerous failures were Scrooge Computers and a local paper
> produced in scarrots lane (IW Trader or Advertiser??).  He was banned
> from being a company director but that may have elapsed, anyone who
> puts money into this venture or works/supplies on credit will only
> have themselves to blame if they don't see any monies.  I'll wager it
> won't see it's 1st birthday!

Hi Watchman,
What a shame you keep yourself anonymous, wonder why? Anyhow, you said
you would be interested in a wager, well I will wager you £10,000 that
The Isle of Wight Gazette will see its first birthday, now put your
money where your mouth is! However before you accept let me be fair
and inform you that we are getting a mass of support for The Gazette!
Martin