Dr Daud Awwal, a Nigerian scholar and writer of the 4-in-1 Qur’aan, has described the holy book as a unifying resource that promotes mutual understanding across cultures, languages, and faith traditions.
The internationally recognised author, who bagged the 2025 International Impact Book Award.
He noted that the First Global English-Yoruba Qur’aan 4-in-1 is unique for combining Arabic text, transliteration, Yoruba translation, and English interpretation in one publication.
Awwal said that no single Quran across the globe contains four elements in a single format.
“This English-Yoruba Qur’aan 4-in-1 is backed up with Biblical references, scientific references, world affairs insights, hadith, and commentary.
“The project bridges the gap between diverse cultures, language and faith tradition, and interfaith dialogue.
“It allows the Qur’aan more accessibility to millions of Yoruba-speakers across the globe,” he said.
The author said that he also developed a special edition for children tagged “My First 13 Surahs”, designed with simple English and Yoruba that are appropriate for ages five to 10 year old, with illustrations, worksheets, multiple questions, colouring, drawing and a mobile app to enhance the learning process.
“Reverend Samuel Cole translated part of the Qur’aan into Yoruba only in 1906 but his word lacks Arabic text, transliteration, and full of errors because he doesn’t have any formal educational background on Arabic and Islamic Studies.
“I reviewed his work for six months.
“For over centuries, Yoruba Muslim speakers had no authentic reference that combined all those four elements in my work that took 22 years to complete,” he said.
Awwal further explained that he began his Arabic studies in Lagos at Markaz University College, where he spent eight years mastering the language.
He later won a scholarship in 1998 from the late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia to study Classical Arabic and Islamic Studies at Muhammad ibn Saud University in Riyadh, graduating in 2001.
Today, with more than 50 published works many listed in the British Library and available on Amazon, Lulu, and his official website, he says his lifelong goal is to make knowledge of the Qur’aan more accessible and enduring.