Mikel de Epalza facts for kids

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer (born in 1938 – died on December 6, 2008) was a Spanish professor. He was an expert in Arab and Islamic studies.

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer was born in Pau, France, in 1938. He became a specialist in two important historical groups. These were the Mudéjars, who were Muslims allowed to live in Christian areas of Spain long ago. He also studied the Moriscos, who were Muslims who changed to Christianity during the same time.

Working for Understanding

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer wanted to help countries get along better. He worked to improve relations between European countries near the Mediterranean Sea and nations in North Africa. He had been a Jesuit (a member of a Catholic religious order) and worked in countries like Algeria and Tunisia.

His Work and Achievements

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer was a professor at the University of Alicante in Spain. He taught about Arab and Islamic studies.

One of his biggest achievements was translating the Quran into the Catalan language. The Quran is the holy book of Islam. He finished this translation in 2001 and called it L'Alcorà. His translation was very important. It won an award from the city of Barcelona. He also shared the National Prize for Translation in 2002.

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer was originally from the Basque region of Spain. His first language was Spanish.

Personal Life

Mikel de Epalza Ferrer was married to María Jesús Rubiera Mata. She was also a professor in the same university department. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 70. This was a few months after he was in a serious car accident.