William Girdlestone Shellabear (1862–1948) was a "pioneer" scholar and missionary in Malaysia. He was known for both his appreciation of Muslim society and also his translation of the Bible into the Malay language

Malay language

Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...

W. G. Shellabear, as he was generally known, first went to Malaysia as a British soldier, then returned as a Methodist missionary, where he worked from 1891-1948. “He introduced and guided changes in attitudes towards Malays and Islam, which made it possible for Methodist missionaries to related positively to Malays while maintaining the integrity of their evangelistic outreach.” He helped Westerners appreciate “how Malay spirituality represented a genuine commitment to Islam, despite its failure to conform to the expectations of [Western] Orientalists”. His appreciation of Malay language and culture made him promote Malay language schools, which brought him into disagreement with many missionaries who preferred to organize and teach at English-language schools.

He produced a voluminous amount of writings, some of which were aimed at Christian Malays, some for Muslims Malays, some for missionaries coming to Malaysia, and some for scholars. These included ‘’Sejarah Melayu’’ (Malay Annals), ‘’Hikayat Abdullah

Hikayat Abdullah

Hikayat Abdullah was the major literary work of Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, a Malacca-born Munshi of Singapore. It was completed in 1845 and first published in 1849, making it one of the first Malay literary texts being published commercially. Abdullah’s authorship was prominently displayed in this...

’’ (The Life of Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir

Abdullah

-Places:*Abdullah Gan, mountainous region of Afghanistan*Abdullah Hukum LRT station, elevated rapid transit station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia*Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum, was an urban village located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...

), a Malay hymnal, dictionary and grammar of Malay, and a translation of Pilgrim’s Progress. He also collaborated with a Malay scholar, Sulaiman bin Muhammed Nur, in joint publications such as ‘’Kitab Kiliran Budi’’ (The Book of Wisdom, a collection of proverbs) and ‘’Hikayat Hang Tuah

Hikayat Hang Tuah

Hikayat Hang Tuah is a Malay work of literature that tells the tale of the legendary Malay Muslim warrior Hang Tuah and his four warrior friends - Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu - who lived during the height of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century.The most memorable...

’’ (The Life of Hang Tuah

Hang Tuah

Hang Tuah is a legendary warrior/hero who lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. He was the greatest of all the laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and was known to be a ferocious fighter...

). "His grammar, dictionary, and Bible translation remained in print for decades".

His scholarly activities involved him in the Straits Philosophical Society, the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

Royal Asiatic Society

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...

, and the faculty of Hartford Seminary

Hartford Seminary

Hartford Seminary is a theological college in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.-History:Seminaries in the city of Hartford date back to 1833. In 1913, the current Hartford Seminary came into existence through the combination of three Hartford-based schools affiliated with the city's Congregationalist...

. He was born in Norfolk, England and died in Hartford, Connecticut after retiring from the Seminary in 1936.

Shellabear is also the founder of MPH Group

MPH Group

MPH Group Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a Malaysian group of companies best known for its book retailing, and is also involved in the printing, publishing and distribution of books and library services in Malaysia and Singapore. Its bookstore chain, MPH Bookstores Sdn Bhd, headquartered in Petaling Jaya,...

, a publication house that was founded on 1890, as Amelia Bishop Press.

Sources on Shellabear

• Hunt, Robert A. 1996. William Shellabear: A Biography. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : University of Malaya Press.
• Hunt, Robert A. 1998. “Shellabear, William Girdlestone". Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, ed. By Gerald Anderson, p. 617 . New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Roxborogh, John. 2000. “Shellabear, William Girdlestone.” Evangelical Dictionary of World Missions, ed by A. Scott Moreau, p. 871. Grand Rapids: Baker Books and Carlisle, Cumbria: Paternoster.
• Satari, Paul Russ. 2001. “Shellabear, William Girdlestone.” A Dictionary of Asian Christianity, ed. By Scott Sunquist, p. 759. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Publications by Shellabear

Publications in Malay

• 1901 (trans.) Aturan Sembahyang (The book of worship). American Mission Press.
• 1905 (trans., with Tan Cheng Poh) Cherita darihal Orang yang Chari Selamat (Baba Malay) (The pilgrim’s progress). American Mission Press.
• 1907 Pelajaran dri hal Isa Al Maseh (Teaching about Jesus Christ). Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1908 (ed., with Sulaiman bin Muhammed Nur) Hikayat Hang Tuah (The life of Hang Tuah). Singapore: Malaya Publishing House.
• 1909 (ed., with Sulaiman bin Muhammed Nur) Kitab Kiliran Budi (The book of wisdom—a collection of Malay proverbs). Methodist Publishing House, Singapore.
• 1915 (ed.) Hikayat Abdullah (The life of Abdullah). Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1915 (ed., with Sulaiman bin Muhammed Nur) Hikayat Sri Rama (The life of Sri Rama). Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 71.
• 1915 (ed.) Ramayana of Valmiki (The Ramayana epic). Royal Asiatic Society. Malay version found in Bodleian Library
  Bodleian Library
  The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
  
  .
• 1917 Sha’ir Puji Pujian (The hymnal). Singapore: Methodist Book Room. Later editions through 1947.
• 1918 Kitab Undang Undang Methodist (The Methodist book of discipline). Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1921 Hikajat Perhimpoenan Methodist (The history of Methodism). Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1924 (ed.) Sejarah Melayu (History of the Malays). Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1948 Cherita Ibrahim (The story of Abraham). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1948 Sha’ir Nabi Yang Berpengasihan (The story of the beloved prophet). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Beberapa Sha’ir dri hal Kerajaan Allah (The story of God’s kingdom). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Cherita Yang Sempurna (The perfect life). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Hikayat Beni Israel (The history of Israel). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Hikayat Musa (The story of Moses). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Hikayat Ruth (The story of Ruth). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Hikayat Yusuf (The story of Joseph). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Tafsir Injil Lukas (A commentary on Gospel of Luke). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1949 Tafsir Yahya (A commentary on John). Singapore: Methodist Mission.
• 1955 (trans.) Cherita darihal Orang yang Menchari Selamat (Standard Malay) (The pilgrim’s progress). Singapore: Methodist Mission.

Publications in English

• 1891 (with B. F. West) Triglot Vocabulary (English, Chinese, Malay). Singapore: American Mission Press. Later editions by Methodist Publishing House.
• 1898 “Some Old Malay Manuscripts.” Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
• 1899 Practical Malay Grammar. Singapore: American Mission Press.
• 1901 “The Evolution of Malay Spelling.” Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.
• 1902 Malay-English Vocabulary. Singapore: American Mission Press. Later editions by Methodist Publishing House, 1912, 1925.
• 1913 “Baba Malay.” Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 65.
• 1913 The Influence of Islam on the Malays: An Essay Presented to the Straits Philosophical Society. Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1915 Mohammedanism as Revealed in Its Literature. Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1916 English-Malay Dictionary. Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1917 “Introduction to the Hikayat Sri Rama.” Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, April, pp.181–207.
• 1918 (trans.) Autobiography of Munshi Abdullah. Singapore: Methodist Publishing House.
• 1919 “Christian Literature for Malaysia.” Muslim World 9, no. 4.
• 1919 Islam’s Challenge to Methodism. New York: Board of Foreign Missions.
• 1925 “The Moslem World, Why We Need It.” Muslim World 15, no. 1.
• 1930 “An Exposure of Counterfeiters.” Muslim World 20, no. 4.
• 1931 “Can a Moslem Translate the Koran?” Muslim World 21, no. 3.
• 1931 “Is Sale’s Koran Reliable?” Muslim World 21, no. 2.
• 1932 “The Meaning of the Word ‘Spirit’ as Used in the Koran.” Muslim World 22, no. 4.
• 1933 “A Malay Treatise on Popular Sufi Practices.” The Macdonald Presentation Volume. Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press.
• 1939 “Dr. Kraemer on Islam.” Muslim World 29, no. 1.
• 1945 (with Vernon E. Hendershott) Dictionary of Standard Malay. Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Publishing Association.
• 1946 “The Gospel for the Malays.” Muslim World 36, no. 3.