George Sale
Encyclopedia
George Sale was an Orientalist
and practising solicitor
, best known for his 1734 translation of the Qur'an
into English. He was also author of The General Dictionary, in ten volumes, folio.
. It is known that he trained as a solicitor in his early years but took time off from his legal pursuits, returning at need to his profession. Sale was an early member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Sale became seriously ill for eight days before his death, and died at Surrey Street, The Strand
, of fever
on November 13, 1736. Sale was buried at St. Clement Danes. His family consisted of a wife and five children.
's statements in the Dictionnaire Philosophique
(articles ‘Alcoran,’ ‘Arot and Marot’). On the other hand Harold Lyon Thomson, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
, stated that he never left his native country.
In 1734, Sale published the translation of the Qur'an, dedicated to John Lord Carteret
. Sale provided numerous notes and a "Preliminary Discourse" which was manifest with in-depth knowledge of Eastern habits, manners, traditions, and laws. Voltaire
bestowed high praise on Sale's version of the Koran. Sale did not, however, place Islam
at an equal level with Christianity. He stated,
Sale's translation of the Qu'ran has been reprinted into modern times. In January 2007, Keith Ellison
, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, was sworn in on an old edition of Sale's Koran, donated to the Library of Congress in the early 19th century by Thomas Jefferson
.
Sale was also a corrector of the Arabic
New Testament
(1726) issued by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. He acquired a library with valuable rare manuscripts of Persian, Turkish
, and Arabic origins (which is now held in the Bodleian Library
, Oxford
).
was arranged, Sale was one of those who were selected to carry it into execution. Sale wrote the chapter, "The Introduction, containing the Cosmogony, or Creation of the World". Critics of the time accused Sale of having a view which was hostile to tradition and the Scriptures. They attacked his account of cosmogony
as having a view giving currency to heretical opinions
.
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Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
and practising solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, best known for his 1734 translation of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
into English. He was also author of The General Dictionary, in ten volumes, folio.
Biography
He was educated at the King's School, Canterbury, and in 1720 became a student of the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. It is known that he trained as a solicitor in his early years but took time off from his legal pursuits, returning at need to his profession. Sale was an early member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Sale became seriously ill for eight days before his death, and died at Surrey Street, The Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, of fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
on November 13, 1736. Sale was buried at St. Clement Danes. His family consisted of a wife and five children.
Translator
He took the time to apply himself in the study of the eastern and other languages, both ancient and modern. Carolus Dadichi, the king's interpreter, helped Sale in his studies of oriental dialects. Sale reputedly spent 25 years in Arabia, thus acquiring his knowledge of the Arabic language and customs; this was the basis of VoltaireVoltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
's statements in the Dictionnaire Philosophique
Dictionnaire philosophique
The Dictionnaire philosophique is an encyclopedic dictionary published by Voltaire in 1764. The alphabetically arranged articles often criticize the Roman Catholic Church and other institutions. The first edition, released in June of 1764, went by the name of Dictionnaire Philosphique Portatif. It...
(articles ‘Alcoran,’ ‘Arot and Marot’). On the other hand Harold Lyon Thomson, writing in the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
, stated that he never left his native country.
In 1734, Sale published the translation of the Qur'an, dedicated to John Lord Carteret
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville
John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, 7th Seigneur of Sark, KG, PC , commonly known by his earlier title as Lord Carteret, was a British statesman and Lord President of the Council from 1751 to 1763.-Family:...
. Sale provided numerous notes and a "Preliminary Discourse" which was manifest with in-depth knowledge of Eastern habits, manners, traditions, and laws. Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
bestowed high praise on Sale's version of the Koran. Sale did not, however, place Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
at an equal level with Christianity. He stated,
Sale's translation of the Qu'ran has been reprinted into modern times. In January 2007, Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, was sworn in on an old edition of Sale's Koran, donated to the Library of Congress in the early 19th century by Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.
Sale was also a corrector of the Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
(1726) issued by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. He acquired a library with valuable rare manuscripts of Persian, Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and Arabic origins (which is now held in the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
).
Other works
He assisted in the writing of the Universal History published in London from 1747 to 1768. When the plan of universal historyUniversal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
was arranged, Sale was one of those who were selected to carry it into execution. Sale wrote the chapter, "The Introduction, containing the Cosmogony, or Creation of the World". Critics of the time accused Sale of having a view which was hostile to tradition and the Scriptures. They attacked his account of cosmogony
Cosmogony
Cosmogony, or cosmogeny, is any scientific theory concerning the coming into existence or origin of the universe, or about how reality came to be. The word comes from the Greek κοσμογονία , from κόσμος "cosmos, the world", and the root of γίνομαι / γέγονα "to be born, come about"...
as having a view giving currency to heretical opinions
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
.
See also
- Archibald Bower
- George PsalmanazarGeorge PsalmanazarGeorge Psalmanazar claimed to be the first Formosan to visit Europe. For some years he convinced many in Britain, but was later revealed to be an impostor...
- List of Islamic studies scholars
- Shelvocke
Websites
- Both Online Quran Project and IslamAwakened include the Qur'anQur'anThe Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
translation of George Sale. - The Koran by George Sale
- The Nativity of Jesus, Blesséd be He, in the Koran, Part 2 - George Sale - translation 1734.
Books
- The Koran, First Edition, 1734. (ed. high resolution scans from the Posner Memorial Collection.)
- George Sale (Translator) and Claude Etienne Savary (illustrator), "The Koran: Commonly Called the Alcoran of Mohammed". J.W. Moore, 1856. 670 pages
- George Sale, et al., "Sacred Books of the East: With Critical and Biographical Sketches". Colonial Press, 1900. 457 pages
- Sale, George, Bower, Archibald and Psalmanazar, George; "An Universal History, from the Earliest Account of Time". Millar, 1747.
- George Sale, "Selections from the Koran of Mohammed". Priv. print. by N.H. Dole, 1904. 211 pages.
- George Sale, et al., "Arabic Reading Lessons: Consisting of Easy Extracts from the Best Authors". Wm. H. Allen, 1864. 103 pages.
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