Universalised versus Particularised Conceptualisations of Islam in Translations of the Qur'an in Scandinavia (original) (raw)
Related papers
2019
Scholarly work in the field of Translation Studies (TS) has a tendency to focus only on the political aspects of the term “ideology”. Such a reductive approach to this concept risks overlooking other, and not less important, meanings that the term encompasses. This study, therefore, embraces an inclusive and broader definition of ideology in order to demonstrate its potential for understanding translation as a social activity. Drawing on Louis Althusser’s theory of ideology and notion of interpellation, this study explores the functioning aspects of ideology in the context of translation. In the frame of Althusser’s theory, ideology is always-already embedded in translation within or without the state. Within the state, translation operates at the level of the ideological state apparatus, conforming to and reproducing the dominant state ideology as part of the state’s struggle for hegemony. Without the state, translation operates as a (counter) ideological apparatus, resisting the p...
This research article aims to explore and critically examine six cases in which traces of ideology are explicitly or implicitly involved in the context of translating the Qurān into English. It attempts to answer questions pertinent to the nature and effect of traces of ideology on translating the Qurān in English and the way they shape the Qurānic message. The article employs a critical qualitative framework that allows for the researcher’s subjective interpretations of relevant texts. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used for the analysis of data as this approach provides a convenient mode of critical thinking to carry out the present thesis. In this article, six texts across twenty versions of the Qurān in English are investigated in terms of their salient features that reflect peculiar ideological readings. Major findings indicate that complex traces of ideology may contribute to a particular choice in translating the salient features in the texts investigated. The case of Helminski, for instance, shows how cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Sufi doctrines, and feminist agendas all combine to produce a radical reading of the Qurān in English where she consistently refers to Allah (SWT) with the combination he/she. Sufi ideologies are crucial in translating some pronouns with controversial references in some Qurānic verses. As well, gnostic interpretations have their own legacy such as the alteration in Khalifa’s ‘authorized version’. Plus, Neo-Mutazilite and Qurānist traces of ideology significantly contribute to produce alien readings of some Qurānic texts as illustrated in cases (5) and (6) in this research article. Keywords: Qurān, traces of ideology, critical discourse analysis (CDA), sacred feminine, Sufi
The Dilemma of the Translation Concept in Islamic Sources
Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: G Linguistics & Education, 2019
Epistemology is a theory of knowledge, especially with regards to its methods, validity, and scope; it is an investigation of what distinguishes that which needs to be justified as belief or opinion. In explaining the monotheistic law, the religious perspective looks at the Quranic epistemology as a theory of knowledge which is an absolutely primordial and ineluctable precept of the oneness of God as the prior premise. In explaining knowledge formation based on emergent, events the contemporary Islamic scholars have failed to incorporate substantively the Quranic methodology worldview in the form of epistemological analytics and its function. How to understand Quranic epistemology? The prerequisite is an understanding of the Arabic language, including syntax, morphology, rhetoric, and the ability to recite the Quran. Without these, Islamization of knowledge would regards as academic rhetoric. This research critically discusses issues on some blockages facing the Islamization agenda. Abstract-Epistemology is a theory of knowledge, especially with regards to its methods, validity, and scope; it is an investigation of what distinguishes that which needs to be justified as belief or opinion. In explaining the monotheistic law, the religious perspective looks at the Quranic epistemology as a theory of knowledge which is an absolutely primordial and ineluctable precept of the oneness of God as the prior premise. In explaining knowledge formation based on emergent, events the contemporary Islamic scholars have failed to incorporate substantively the Quranic methodology worldview in the form of epistemological analytics and its function. How to understand Quranic epistemology? The prerequisite is an understanding of the Arabic language, including syntax, morphology, rhetoric, and the ability to recite the Quran. Without these, Islamization of knowledge would regards as academic rhetoric. This research critically discusses issues on some blockages facing the Islamization agenda 1
Ideological Tendencies in the Six English Qur’an Translation on Qs. Ar-Rum 41
Jurnal Studi Ilmu-ilmu Al-Qur'an dan Hadis, 2021
Lessons from the Qur’an can be learned from its translation by those who do not understand Arabic, although the Qur’an does not state the meaning obviously. Still, some translators may interpret the Qur’an differently from each other depend on what ideology belongs to the translators. To know the ideology, this study employs Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) approach. The sources of data of this research are six English Qur’an translational texts. The research data are clause unites in the English Qur’an translation of the QS. Ar-Rum 41. They are divided into four clauses. The results showed that the translation of the Qur’an has a connection with the ideology embraced by translators. Saheeh International – Jeddah Qur’an translation bears the Aswaja ideology consistenly; Maulawi Sher Ali – Islamabad Qur’an translation bears the Ahmadiyah ideology consistenly; Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-DIn Al-Hilali, and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan - Madinah Al-Munawwarah Qur’an translation bears the Sunn...
Translation of Islamic Texts and Ideology
This paper aims at studying Islamic texts written by non-Muslims and translated by Muslim students; to investigate the translators' ideology on these texts. Three Islamic texts written by non-Muslims were translated by 49 undergraduate students at Yarmouk University, Translation Department, as home assignments. CDA method is employed as a theoretical framework for the contemporary study, as it is an influential tool in exploring the employment of ideology in translating religious texts. The paper concludes that Muslim translators are unconsciously influenced by their religious, social and cultural ideologies when they translate text into Arabic.
An Aye on Islam - The Theological Assumptions of Translators of Muslim Idiom Translations
Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations, 2023
This chapter is from: Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations, eds. Ant Greenham and Ayman Ibrahim. Brentwood, TN: B&H Academic, pp. 189-220. Copyright 2023. The paper analyzes the public theological statements and writings of Translators of Muslim Idiom Translations (TMITs) regarding the religion of Islam, Muhammad, the Qur'an, Muslim Identity, and Shahadah Confession.
Traces of Ideology and Fictional Scenarios in Translating the Qurān
Abstract: This research article aims to explore and critically examine nine cases in which traces of ideology are explicitly or implicitly involved in creating fictional scenarios‘ in the context of translating the Qurān into English. The goal is to trace the ideological agendas that underpin these fictional scenarios‘ and the way they shape the Qurānic message. The article employs a critical qualitative framework that allows for the researcher‘s subjective interpretations of the relevant texts. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used for the analysis of data as this approach provides convenient modes of critical thinking to carry out the present thesis. In this article, nine cases across twenty versions of the Qurān in English are investigated. Major findings indicate that traces of ideology are the genesis of fictional scenarios that drastically alter the Qurānic message. Neo-Mutazilite, modernist, and Qurānist traces of ideology significantly contribute to produce alien readings of some Qurānic texts as in cases (1) to (6). Sufi and gnostic ideologies are crucial in creating a fictional scenario in which the Prophet Muhammad is supposed to have attained the Beatific Vision in the Night of Ascension:[cases (7)].Plus, the desire to create exotic worlds‘ and intrude into the privacy of women has its own legacy in the world of ideology and significantly contributes to create fictional scenarios‘ in translating particular Qurānic verses:[case (8)]. Nonetheless, sometimes complex traces of ideology may combine together to create an ideologically motivated fictional reading: [case (9)]. Keywords: Qurān, fictional scenarios, traces of ideology, critical discourse analysis (CDA), Sufi
Lingua Cultura, 2018
This research aimed to find out the used translation’s techniques and the acceptability of the translation. This was a descriptive qualitative research and an embedded-case study. Based on semantic and relevance theory, the researcher determined good translation. This research was conducted by listing the religious terms found in The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam. Then, the researchers compared the source language and target language to identify the translation techniques. Finally, the researchers and raters assessed the acceptability of the translation by conducting Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The result shows that the translator uses established equivalent, borrowing, literal, particularization, generalization, transposition, reduction, addition, explication, and discursive creation. Besides, the average rate for the acceptability of the translation is 2,8 out of 3. It means that the translation is mostly in accordance with the norm and rule of language in the ta...
This research article aims to explore and critically examine nine cases in which traces of ideology are explicitly or implicitly involved in creating ‗fictional scenarios' in the context of translating the Qurān into English. The goal is to trace the ideological agendas that underpin these ‗fictional scenarios' and the way they shape the Qurānic message. The article employs a critical qualitative framework that allows for the researcher's subjective interpretations of the relevant texts. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is used for the analysis of data as this approach provides convenient modes of critical thinking to carry out the present thesis. In this article, nine cases across twenty versions of the Qurān in English are investigated. Major findings indicate that traces of ideology are the genesis of fictional scenarios that drastically alter the Qurānic message. Neo-Mutazilite, modernist, and Qurānist traces of ideology significantly contribute to produce alien readings of some Qurānic texts as in cases (1) to (6). Sufi and gnostic ideologies are crucial in creating a fictional scenario in which the Prophet Muhammad is supposed to have attained the Beatific Vision in the Night of Ascension:[cases (7)].Plus, the desire to create ‗exotic worlds' and intrude into the privacy of women has its own legacy in the world of ideology and significantly contributes to create ‗fictional scenarios' in translating particular Qurānic verses:[case (8)]. Nonetheless, sometimes complex traces of ideology may combine together to create an ideologically-motivated fictional reading: [case (9)].