which was based on Marracci’s work. (1) Like Marracci, Sale introduced his translation by A Preliminary Discourse on Islam and the Qur’ân. This Preliminary Discourse as well as the notes and comments were based on Marracci’s work. Although Sale states that he made his translation directly from the original Arabic, he guardedly admits his indebtedness to Marracci in the introduction saying with reference to the latter’s work thus: "This work, however, with all its faults, is very valuable, and I should be guilty of ingratitude, did I not acknowledge myself much obliged thereto; but still, being in Latin, it can be of no use to those who understand not that tongue." (2)

Sale’s work proved very popular in Europe and the English speaking countries and it went through a number of reprints and editions throughout the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. His Preliminary Discourse was also translated and published separately in several European languages. It was also translated into Arabic by the Protestant Christian Missionaries in Egypt and published under title: Maqâlât fî al-Islâm. Meanwhile Marracci’s and Sale’s translations were in turn translated into other European languages. For instance, in 1751 M. Savary made a French translation of Marracci’s Latin translation under the title: Le Coran, traduit de l’Arabe, accompagné de notes, etc. The title page of one edition of this work states that it was published in Makka in 1165 H. (3) The claim is evidently false and it was made no doubt to impress its authenticity on the readers. The work proved, however, almost as popular as that of Sale’s and it went through several editions and reprints at Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and London by various publishers. Equally popular proved to be another French