L’auteur

Elwood Morris Wherry (1843-1927) était un prêtre anglican et missionnaire en Inde. Il édita une traduction et un commentaire du Coran.

Préface (extraits, Tome I p.VI-VII)

"My object has been to gather up in a few volumes the results of the labours of those vho have endeavoured to elucidate, the text of the Quran, adding the results of my own study. It is in this sense that this work is entitled a Comprehensive Commentary. Though primarily intended for the use of those who, like my« elf, are engaged in missionary work among Muhammadans, it is hoped that it wiU render valuable service to others.

The plan adopted in the preparation of this work is as follows : —

I, To present Sale’s translation of the Quran in the form of the Arabic original, indicating the Sipara, Surat, Ruqu of the Sipara, Ruqu of the Surat, &c., as they are in the best Oriental editions.

II. To number the verses as they are in the Roman Urdu edition of Maulvi Abdul Qadir’s translation. This arrangement will be of special benefit to missionaries in India.

III. To exihibit in tiic notes and comments the views of the best Muslim commentators. For these I am in- debted for the most part to Sale, the Tafsir-i-Raufi the Tafdr-Hussaini the Tafsir-i Fatah- ar-Rahman, and the notes on Abdul Qadir’s Urdu translation of the Quran. Sale’s notes have been almost entirely drawn (with the aid of Maracci’s work in Latin) from the standard writings of Baidhiwi, the Jalalain, and Al ZamakhiiharL I have also culled much from some of the best European writers on Islam, a list of whose works may be found below.

IV, To the above is prefixed Sale’s Preliminary Dis- course, with additional notes and emendations. And the last Volume will contain a complete Index, both to the text of, and the notes on the Quran, which will enable the reader to acquaint himself with the teaching of the Quran on any particular subject, with a Tery snrall amount of labour.

E. M. W.

Lodiana, December 31, 1881.