Supplement – The Journey of Certainty Translation Project

Peace and God's mercy be upon you. Welcome, dear viewers, and forgive our delay due to an emergency.

Introduction to Journey of Certainty

As you know, brothers and dear friends, we began the Journey of Certainty more than two years ago. The series has now exceeded fifty episodes, and we continue producing it. By God's grace, it has received broad acceptance among Arab youth. Some changed their ideas and returned to guidance after going astray; some became better protected, stronger in faith, and prouder of Islam; others found it useful material for educating those around them.

The Need for Translation

Throughout the publication of the episodes, we continually received urgent requests from dear viewers to translate them into many languages, together with offers from others to help. Recently, when discussion of women's issues began, the demand for translation reached its peak, and many expressed an urgent need to share the material with acquaintances who do not speak Arabic.

Groups of brothers have indeed translated many episodes into several languages. The work, however, requires coordinated effort, review of the translations, and selection of the best version, especially because the subjects require great precision. God willing, at a later stage we will ask those who have translated something to send it to us.

The Translation Project: Stages and Requirements

By using online platforms and available expertise that can assist us, several dear brothers with experience in this field—may God reward them—researched software, programs, and platforms supporting professional translation. To produce an accurate and polished result in each target language, we need volunteers with different areas of expertise to join the team running the page and assist with several tasks.

First Stage: Arabic Language Review

During the first stage, we need:

1. Monitoring of automated Arabic transcription.
2. Arabic linguistic review after transcription.
3. Preparing the text and timing the subtitles to each episode.

This stage perfects the Arabic text synchronized with the videos so that it becomes the basis for the different translations—a suitable foundation upon which they can be built.

Second Stage: Translation Management and Review

During the second stage, we need:

1. Management and coordination of initial translation teams.
2. Linguistic review in each target language.
3. Scientific review—another important point—by specialists working in each target language.

Our aim, dear viewers, is to begin with major languages such as English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Russian, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu, and Kurdish. The priority assigned to each language will depend upon the number and expertise of its volunteers.

Invitation to Volunteers: First Stage (Arabic)

God willing, the second stage will be announced soon. Today we therefore begin by requesting volunteers specializing in Arabic to review automatically transcribed Arabic content and approve it textually and linguistically before it is transferred to foreign-language translation teams.

Our initial aim, brothers, is to appoint between five and ten Arabic specialists possessing several qualifications:

1. First, mastery of Arabic, years of experience in linguistic review, and the ability to check spelling and grammar, add vowel marks to some word endings to ensure correct pronunciation, and punctuate the text using computer software. God willing, this will make the work easier for translators into other languages.
2. These brothers volunteering for the first stage must also be capable of reviewing four hours of audiovisual material within two weeks and interacting with the transcribers. We need intensive work within that period.
3. It is preferable that those assisting us also possess experience with scientific reports, especially biological research.

We will begin by reviewing samples and contacting volunteers so that the work can start, God willing.

The Importance of Commitment When Volunteering

Allow me to remind you, brothers and sisters: please do not register your name unless you are certain of your motivation to continue, accustomed to honoring promises, and able to complete work at the specified time. Registering and then withdrawing will delay the work and prevent others from volunteering at the appropriate moment.

You register, and people say: “That is settled, praise God: ten people have volunteered for Dr Eyad. There is no need for us to volunteer to translate as well.” Then six, seven or eight of those ten may lose motivation, having shut the door to others volunteering at the right time. Please register only if you are certain and accustomed to finishing work on time.

Supplication and Conclusion

I ask God to bless all our work, accept it from us, and make us rightly guided guides who carry this guidance to other nations and to non-Muslims. For God to guide one man through you is better for you than precious red camels.

Finally, anyone with suggestions concerning the translation project may contact us through the email address that, God willing, we will place in the comments: [email protected]. You may send your suggestions to that address, God willing.

May God bless all of you and accept from us and from you. Peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.