Laleh Bakhtiar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laleh Bakhtiar
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Mary Nell Bakhtiar
July 29, 1938 Tehran, Imperial State of Iran
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| Died | October 18, 2020 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | Iranian-American |
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| Occupation | Author, translator, psychologist |
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Nader Ardalan
(m. 1960; div. 1976) |
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Laleh Bakhtiar (born Mary Nell Bakhtiar; July 29, 1938 – October 18, 2020) was an amazing Iranian-American scholar. She was also an author, translator, and psychologist. Laleh was known for her work on Islam and Sufism, which is a mystical part of Islam.
One of her most famous works was The Sublime Quran. This was a special translation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. She made sure her translation was fair to everyone, including women. She also challenged how a certain Arabic word, daraba, was usually translated. People often translated it as "beat," but Laleh believed it meant "go away." She felt the traditional translation was sometimes used to excuse harm against Muslim women.
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Early Life and Studies
Laleh Bakhtiar was born Mary Nell Bakhtiar in Tehran, Iran, in 1938. Her mother was American, and her father was Iranian. She grew up in the United States, mostly in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., with her mother and two older sisters. She was raised as a Christian and became Catholic at age eight.
In 1957, when she was visiting her mother in Isfahan, Iran, she felt unhappy with her name, Mary Nell. Her mother's friend, a tribal chief, gave her the Persian name "Laleh." She used this name for her professional work.
Laleh earned her first college degree, a Bachelor of Arts in History, from Chatham College in 1960. When she was 19, she met an Iranian philosopher named Seyyed Hossein Nasr. He encouraged her to learn more about Islam. Later, at age 26, she moved to Iran. There, she studied Sufism and Arabic at the University of Tehran with Nasr as her teacher. He guided her for 30 years.
Her Career and Books
Laleh Bakhtiar wrote or translated more than 150 books about Islam. Some of her important works include The Sense of Unity (with Nader Ardalan) and Sufi Expressions of the Mystic Quest. She also led the Institute of Traditional Psychology. She was a scholar at Kazi Publications, a company that publishes Islamic books.
The Sublime Quran Translation
Laleh's special translation of the Quran, called The Sublime Quran, came out in 2007. She wanted her translation to offer a female viewpoint. She also looked for different meanings for Arabic words that were unclear or debated by scholars.
For example, she translated kāfirūn as "those who are unthankful." Other translations often used "unbelievers" or "infidels." In a specific verse (Chapter 4, Verse 34), which talks about how husbands should treat wives who are disobedient, she translated the Arabic word daraba as "go away." Many other translations used "beat" or "hit." Laleh believed her translations would help people understand Islam better.
Personal Life
Laleh Bakhtiar married Nader Ardalan, an Iranian architect, in 1960. She became a Muslim in 1964. They divorced in 1976.
In 1988, she moved back to the U.S. and earned her Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of New Mexico. She moved to Chicago in 1992 and worked as a certified counselor. Laleh passed away in Chicago on October 18, 2020, from a blood disorder called myelodysplastic syndrome.
Her Family
Laleh Bakhtiar had three children: Mani Helene, Iran Davar, and Karim. She also had eight grandchildren. Her daughter, Iran Davar, is a writer and journalist. She started a company that uses AI to share Laleh's writings.
Laleh's mother, Helen Jeffreys Bakhtiar, worked in public health in Iran in the 1950s. The nomadic Bakhtiari tribe honored her by naming a mountain after her.
Laleh's older brother was Jamshid Bakhtiar, known as Jim. He was a psychiatrist. He was also a talented football player in college, playing as a fullback and placekicker for the University of Virginia. He was even chosen for the 1957 College Football All-America Team.
Awards and Recognition
Laleh Bakhtiar received special honors for her work. In May 2016, she got the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mohammed Webb Foundation in Chicago.
In November 2020, Daisy Khan, who started the Women's Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE), also gave Laleh a Lifetime Achievement Award.
What People Thought of Her Work
Not everyone agreed with Laleh Bakhtiar's translation of the Quran. Mohammad Ashraf, from the Islamic Society of North America (Canada), said he wouldn't sell The Sublime Quran in their bookstore. He felt Laleh hadn't studied at a recognized Muslim school. He said, "This woman-friendly translation will be out of line."
Khaled Abou El Fadl, an Islamic law professor, also said Laleh was more known as an editor than an Islamic scholar. He felt that three years of studying Arabic wasn't enough. Laleh believed some of the criticism was because she was a woman. She pointed out that some other well-known translators also weren't considered Islamic scholars.
Her Lasting Impact
Laleh Bakhtiar's work had a big impact. In 2009, American novelist Dave Eggers recommended The Sublime Quran on Oprah.com. He said it helped him see "the beauty of the faith" and Islam's focus on "social justice, to peace and to the less fortunate."
Jordanian Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad also approved of her Quran interpretation. Author Reza Aslan praised her translation, saying it was the first time a woman could look at the scripture from a new angle. He felt her translation was "far more consistent with the message and spirit of the Quran."
Scott Alexander, a professor of Catholic-Muslim Studies, said Laleh's contributions to studying Islam in the West were "truly monumental." Shaida Khan, who works against domestic violence in Muslim communities, called Laleh "an exemplary individual" for women who have faced violence.
Ingrid Mattson, a professor of Islamic Studies, said Laleh lived a "remarkable life." She saw Laleh as an "intelligent woman of faith and integrity." Marcia Hermansen, a professor at Loyola University Chicago, noted that Laleh's translation made it harder for Muslim leaders to use interpretations that were unfair to women.
See also
In Spanish: Laleh Bakhtiar para niños
