About ShamelaTranslate
Last updated: 2026-07-08
ShamelaTranslate is a scholarly, largely open-access library that makes classical Arabic Islamic texts readable in German and English.
What we do
We collect classical works — primarily from the public Shamela library and from manual scholarly entry — carefully preserve the original Arabic, and publish careful translations alongside it so non-Arabic readers can study these texts.
Every page keeps the original Arabic next to its translation. You can read in Arabic only, translation only, or side by side.
How the translations are made
Translations are produced with a carefully constrained AI pipeline. We have editorial tools to review and correct them afterwards — but at present, most translations are still unreviewed. We mark the status of each translation honestly:
- Machine — an unreviewed first-pass machine translation.
- Reviewed — checked and corrected by an editor.
- Verified — confirmed against the source by a qualified reviewer.
Machine translations are published as soon as they are ready — always clearly labelled with their status, so no one mistakes them for a reviewed or verified translation. The Arabic original is stored as it comes from the source; we do, however, occasionally correct an obvious spelling error.
Open access & corrections
Most of the library is free to read; a small number of titles require a Premium subscription. If you find a translation error, please use the in-page feedback or the contact page — corrections from readers directly improve the texts.