True Islam New Zealand held their first Holy Qur’an Exhibition in Te Awamutu at the Burchell Pavilion on Saturday.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community missionary Iman Shafiq Ur Rehman takes a seminar at the first Holy Qur’an Exhibition in Te Awamutu. Photo: Jesse Wood
The Auckland-based organisation has run these events for 12 years and two or three held across the country annually.
Two exhibitions have been in Cambridge as well as a visit to Hamilton.
“We have come to Te Awamutu with the first event of the year. We are planning to host one in the South Island next, but we haven’t decided the town,” Ahmadiyya Muslim Community missionary Iman Shafiq Ur Rehman said.
The Holy Qur’an, Te Reo Māori translation – Kurānu Tapu. Photo: Jesse Wood
“We have already had stalls here at the Sunday markets. So, we have come a few times, but it’s the first time having this whole exhibition here.”
The exhibition displayed more than 40 translations of the Holy Qur’an, including a Te Reo Māori translation – Kurānu Tapu.
“The Te Reo translation is always the centrepiece of our exhibitions,” exhibition manager Saqib Ahmad said.
“This remarkable work was undertaken by a dedicated volunteer over a period of 20 years.”
About 40 translations of the Qur’an were on display. Photo: Jesse Wood
In 1989, the head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the late Mirza Tahir Ahmad, visited New Zealand.
He encouraged the work to begin translating verses of the Qur’an into Māori.
With help from several Māori language experts at the University of Waikato, Pakistani teacher Shakil Ahmad Monir is credited with the translation.
While working in Nigeria, Monir taught himself to read Te Reo with an English to Māori dictionary, a Māori Bible and a Māori grammar book.
In 2010, the first half of Kurānu Tapu book was launched, followed by the full version three years later.
This is the most recent Qur’an translation.
Ur Rehman said members of the community have translated the full book of the Holy Qur’an into 75 languages.
All versions have been translated straight from Arabic.
At the Te Awamutu exhibition, Ur Rehman held short seminars on topics including The Qur’an and the issue of terrorism.
These addressed common misconceptions, along with displays about Islam’s teachings on peace, harmony, and interfaith dialogue.
“Our mission is to remove misunderstandings. There are a lot of negative stereotypes about Islam. Sometimes people think it is the Muslim scripture that teaches all the violence we see projected in the media,” Ur Rehman said.
The Holy Qur’an, Te Reo Māori translation – Kurānu Tapu. Photo: Jesse Wood
“We’re trying to bring the Qur’an, the Muslim scripture, before people. We have different translations here so that people can find it in their own language.
“We have key teachings, pull up banners and seminars. We try to show that the scripture teaches peace. That’s our mission.”
As a longtime volunteer for the organisation, Saqib enjoys the journey heading into new areas throughout New Zealand with the exhibition.
“It’s rewarding to see visitors engage with the different translations, ask questions and leave with a clearer perspective on Islam’s teachings of peace, tolerance and unity,” Saqib said.
“Every city attracts a different audience, and each interaction is an opportunity to build bridges, dispel misconceptions and foster a mutual understanding.”
The Holy Qur’an Exhibition was held at the Burchell Pavilion. Photo: Jesse Wood
