Al-Azhar is the greatest of Muslim institutes of religious knowledge. It undertakes the mission of preserving, promoting and publishing leading materials from the Muslim Heritage. It is also committed to assuming the responsibility of delivering the true message of Islam to the entire humanity around the world. It works on achieving human progress and guaranteeing security, stability and self-comfort for all human beings in this life and in the life to come. Al-Azhar is also concerned with reviving the Arab civilization and the intellectual and scientific heritage in endeavors to highlight the good impacts of Arabs on human development and progress. Furthermore, Al-Azhar works on promoting morals, scientific progress, arts, social services, national and humanitarian initiatives and spiritual values. It provides the Muslim and Arab worlds with qualified religious scholars and experts of Islamic Shari’a, religious culture, Arabic Language and Quranic studies.

ACT Mission

In his endeavors to develop Al-Azhar, His Eminence Professor Ahmad At-Tayyeb—Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh and Imam, instructed the foundation of Al-Azhar Center for Translation (ACT). ACT aims to provide accredited translation services for all of Al-Azhar sectors and bodies, including Al-Azhar Sheikhdom, University, Ruwaqs (Al-Azhar traditional mosque-based classrooms), and the Islamic Research Academy and institutes. ACT aims at achieving the following aims:   

1. Translation of top-rated books, researches and studies marked for their universal relevance and benefit as per approval of the Council of Senior Scholars.
2. Translation of invaluable books and studies on Islam into Arabic. 
3. Simultaneous interpreting for seminars and conferences organized by Al-Azhar and any of its affiliated bodies.
4. Preparing studies on recent and modern translations of the Glorious Qur’an to choose the best available translations and draw Muslims’ attention to benefit from and republish them.
5. Translation of Hadith Collections into foreign languages and examining available translations in this area to edit and rectify any possible mistakes before republishing them when necessary to bring them to the attention of Muslims for wider benefits.
6. Translation of academic papers and specialized studies addressing the issue of non-Arab Muslim communities and crucial questions.  
7. Translation of Friday Sermons prepared by Al-Azhar authorized bodies on issues related to non-Arab Muslim communities.
8. Providing elegant and readable subtitling for film materials on Islam prepared by Al-Azhar entrusted bodies. 
9. Organizing courses on written translation.
10. Organizing courses on simultaneous interpreting.
11. Publishing a peer-reviewed journal expressing ACT and its specialties.  
12. Organizing courses for improvement of professional, cultural and scientific skills of the ACT personnel.

Currently Available Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Indonesian, Urdu, Persian, Turkish, Greek, Pashtu and Hebrew. (Chinese, Italian, Swahili and Japanese translation teams are currently in process). 

ACT presents Haqiqat ul-Islam [The True Islam] Series as the first of its translation contributions. The series introduces a primary collection on the facts and principles of Islam and highlights the central role of man in Islam—being a message for educating lofty values and teaching respect of humankind and of the realms of animals, birds, plants and even inanimate objects as well. It also presents the Islamic principles regulating the process of self-defense in case of attack or aggression when a Muslim must keenly abide by humanitarian principles, build the world and avoid destruction. Masterworks of this series include:

• Essential Features of Islam by H. E. Professor Ahmad At-Tayyeb—Al-Azhar Grand Imam.
• Muslim Perspective of Human Rights by H.E. Professor Mahmud Hamdy Zaqzouq—former Minister of Religious Endowments.
• Muslim Conception of War by H. E. Sheikh Muhammad Abu Zahrah.
• The Prophet of Islam in Western Thought by Professor ‘Izzuddin Farraj. 

ACT welcomes communicating with the target readers for any comments, suggestions or corrections. Meanwhile, our prayers are due for the translations to be divinely blessed as valuable everlasting contributions to the edifice of human life in the hope to help human welfare and progress and make the world a suitable place for the entire humanity.  

Professor Yousuf Amer,

ACT Director