A Korean professor of Arabic Studies was among the winners of the 2008 King Abdullah International Prize for Translation (2008) announced here Monday. King Abdulaziz Public Library (KAPL), which initiated the international award in 2006 for translation works in five categories, declared Korean professor Dr. Choi Yuong Kil joint winner of the prize for his translation of a biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), titled ‘Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum', into the Korean language. ‘Raheeq Al-Makhtum' (The Sealed Nectar) was written by Sheikh Safi-ur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri. Reading out the citation, Dr. Sayeed Al-Sayeed, Head of the Prize Committee, said Dr. Choi Yuong Kil's work was characterized by high quality, phrasing, clarity of meaning and eloquence both in language and style. “This unique work represents a significant contribution to knowledge in the area of Humanities. His work, the first translation of Prophet Muhammad's biography into the Korean language conveys important elements of Islamic heritage to the people in Korea and other Asian societies,” he said. The Korean professor shared the prize in the Humanities category with Dr. Mohammad Al-Tahir Al-Mesawi, Sudanese Professor of Philosophy and Islamic Heritage, University of Malaysia. Dr. Al-Mesawi won in the Humanities category for his translation of the book, ‘Maqaassidh Al-Shariah' (Treatise on Maqasid Al-Shariah), from Arabic into English. The annual King Abdullah International Award for Translation is given in five translation categories, one to an institution and four others to individuals for their original translation works in Humanities from Arabic into other languages, Humanities from other languages into Arabic, Natural Sciences from Arabic into other languages and finally Natural Sciences from other languages into Arabic. Riyadh-based King Saud University Translation Center (KSUTC) won in the institutions category. KSUTC has more than 300 works of translation into Arabic from English, Italian, Japanese, French and Turkish, covering various fields. Also in the Humanities category, Dr. Fayez Al-Suya'a, Jordanian professor of socio-economics shared the Prize for translation from other languages into Arabic with two Saudi professors, Dr. Bander Bin Nasser Al-Otaibi and Dr. Haniyyah Mahmoud Ahmad Merza of Special Education, KSU. ‘The Age of Capital' Dr. Al-Suya'a bagged the award for translation of an English book, ‘The Age of Capital', authored by Eric Hobsbawm (1848-1875), into Arabic, while Dr. Al-Otaibi and Dr. Merza were adjudged co-winners for their translation work from English into Arabic of a book titled ‘Teaching Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities.' In the Natural Sciences category, the prize for translation from other languages into Arabic went to Dr. Hatim Al-Najdy, a Syrian professor of electronics and communication at Syrian University, for his translation of a book ‘System Engineering Management', written by Benjamin Blanchard. This year, the prize in the Natural Science translation category from Arabic into other languages, was withheld. However, additional honors were announced by Dr. Sayeed Al-Sayeed, Head of the Prize Committee, which saw Dr. Salman Al-Khadra Al-Jayyusi, a Palestinian, and Prof. Fahndrich Hartmut, a German, recognized for their continuing efforts in the field of translation. The announcements were made during a ceremony held at KAPL. Faisal Bin A.R. Al-Muammar, KAPL Supervisor-General, welcomed the guests who included renowned scholars, professors and academicians from around the world. “Thousands of people from across the world sent their entries for the prize, which is aimed at building bridges and for exchanging cultures between the Arabic speaking and the rest of the world, no matter where they belonged,” Al-Muammar said in his speech. Each winner will receive a cash prize of SR500,000 (US$ 133,000), a certificate and a plaque, which will be handed over at a prize-distribution ceremony to be held soon. The prize was instituted by KAPL in line with the vision of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to promote cultural exchange among peoples of the world and to advance intellectual interaction among civilizations. Al-Muammar said the award traverses all linguistic and geographical boundaries to deliver a message of human understanding, in keeping with the Saudi people's steadfast pursuit of peace, and the King's initiatives and appeals for more understanding and brotherhood among nations. ”This translation award advocates ideological, intellectual, and cultural dialogue among civilizations and narrows the gap separating nations, as translation is a prominent tool in vitalizing cross-cultural communication,” Al
