English Translations of the Holy Quran in the Sub-Continent (original) (raw)
Development of Islamic Teachings through the Translation of the Quran in Various National Languages
Randwick International of Social Science Journal, 2022
From the research on the translation of the Quran, in various countries in the center of places of worship, it is known that there are already translations so that it is hoped that it will increase interest in reading and understanding the contents of the Quran. The translation of the Quran is an interpretation of the holy book of Islam in a language other than Arabic. The Quran has been translated into most languages by the translator. The translation of the Quran has always been a troubled and difficult issue in Islamic theology. Because Muslims respect the Quran as a miracle and incomparable (i'jaz al-Quran), they argue that the Quranic text cannot be reproduced in other languages or other forms. The translation of the Quran in its history undergoes a lengthy process, for example from the question of authority or the legitimacy of the translator, the law of translation, coupled with the presence of the translation made by the Orientalists making many differences among the sch...
A STUDY ON FIVE QUR'ANIC TRANSLATIONS BY NON-MUSLIMS OF THE INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT
TANZIL: JURNAL STUDI AL-QUR’AN, 2024
The Holy Quran has been translated into almost every language of the world, and India is also credited for being translated into the majority of its languages-these translations from Muslims and non-Muslims. The legitimacy of the translation of the Quran is widely disputable among Muslim scholars. Though most Muslims do not consider Quran translation to be legal under a theological base, it does aid in conveying the divine message to non-Arabic speakers. The driving force of non-Muslim translations that occurred in the Indian sub-continent is the vision of conveying the message of the Quran and the intelligent discussion within different religions and faiths. The Western oriental translations were criticized for failing to capture the original meaning, while the translations by Indians and Eastern scholars were praised for accurately conveying the text's content and failed to be commonly acknowledged and narrated by the history due to the lack of consistent studies and research. It is a fact that the contribution of non-Muslims to the Quranic study didn't get needed attention by researchers. This Paper aims to study five Quran translations compiled by non-Muslim scholars of the Indian sub-continent, using the Qualitative method. The results of this research show that there is an impact that these translations can make in the social and religious domain in India.
2015
The recent increase in the number of English translations of the Quran has led to problematic misrepresentations, misinterpretations and even textual discrepancies in the translations of a number of Islamic concepts, principles and norms. This paper is an attempt to evaluate five different English versions of the translation of the Quran using concepts, principles and norms as parameters for discussion and analysis. Results of discussion and analysis of the samples used in this paper have indicated that there is an un urgent need for a mechanism that will help using the formation of a standardised version of an explanatory translation of the meanings of the Quran that is authoritative in form and content to be used all over the English Speaking world. To achieve this objective, a list of suggestions and recommendations have been made for use by those in authority and for those who are interested in carrying out further
Translations of the Qur’ān into Western Languages
This article traces the history of the translation of the Qur’?n into Western languages from the Middle Ages to the present day. The focus is primarily on translations into English and French. The author considers the problem of the translation of the Qur’?n in light of the development of Oriental studies in the West as well as the political frameworks that inform the processes of access to and interpretation of the text.
English Translations of the Qur'an and the Roles of Why, By Whom, For Whom and How
The translation of a literary work from its original language to another requires not only great skill in both languages, but great knowledge of their literatures and cultures as well. A scripture, particularly the Qur'ān, presents another, higher level of difficulty. Muslims hold that the Qur'ān in any other language than the original Arabic is not the Qur'ān. Some scholars oppose Qur'anic translation per se. Others believe it is an integral part of the Prophet Muhammad's command to convey the Qur'anic message. Although Muslim translators understand their translations are not the Qur'ān, this is why they must strive to transmit the message of the Qur'ān to the best of their skills through their translations. Hundreds of editions have appeared in various languages, with the majority in English. By whom can the Qur'ān be translated? A translator assumes he is the most qualified, skillful and dedicated in communicating with his target audience. They are the all-important ones for whom he must tailor his work. Once he has settled why, by whom and for whom, he can proceed to how. What style can he best use to reach his audience with the Qur'anic Message? What range of diction and level of discourse will he employ to bring his efforts into the cultural and social context of his readers? Can Islamic and Arabic terminology be conveyed without lengthy footnotes and commentary? The translator is responsible for making many difficult and crucial decisions which will affect the accuracy, clarity and acceptability of his work.
The Study Quran, 2015
This essay, written for The Study Quran (HarperOne, 2015), examines the difficulties in translating certain aspects of the Quran in the light of some traditional Islamic attitudes towards Quran translation.
Translation of the Holy Quran: A Call for Standardization
Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 2014
The recent increase in the number of English translations of the Quran has led to problematic misrepresentations, misinterpretations and even textual discrepancies in the translations of a number of Islamic concepts, principles and norms. This paper is an attempt to evaluate five different English versions of the translation of the Quran using concepts, principles and norms as parameters for discussion and analysis. Results of discussion and analysis of the samples used in this paper have indicated that there is an un urgent need for a mechanism that will help using the formation of a standardised version of an explanatory translation of the meanings of the Quran that is authoritative in form and content to be used all over the English Speaking world. To achieve this objective, a list of suggestions and recommendations have been made for use by those in authority and for those who are interested in carrying out further research in this field.
"Translating the Qur'an into English: Target Readers' Expectations"
Skase Journal Of Translation and Interpretation, 2017
Although the overwhelming majority of Muslims are non-Arabic speakers and depend on translations of the Qur'an to access the meaning of the text in their respective languages, their preferences and expectations have not been systematically surveyed. This research, the first of its kind in the area of Qur'an translation, is based on a survey which I have designed and conducted in order to establish what readers of Qur'an translations into English prefer in terms of layout, translation strategies, and the translators' backgrounds, amongst other things. The survey also gives the respondents the opportunity to offer their recommendations for future Qur'an translations.
"Translations of the Qur’an: Islamicate Languages" Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies
Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies, 2020
This chapter surveys scholarly literature on Qur’anic translations into non-European languages—in this sample, Swahili, Persian, Turkish, Mandarin Chinese, and Malay. It highlights the foci and problems of research in the field and examines, in broad strokes, the history of translations and their relationship with vernacular commentaries. The piece is arranged according to the evolution of the genre in its various formats—interlinear translations, commentary translations, and modern translation. Additionally, it considers the role of print technology, Christian missionaries, and Muslim reformist movements in cultivating a modern genre of Qur’anic translation.
Viewpoints in the Translations of the Holy Quran
(International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature)
There is too much literature about the untranslatability of the Quran from its Arabic text into another language. Most Muslims: Arab and Non-Arab, and almost everyone with Arabic language background, will not find any difficulty to prove the untranslatability of the Holy Quran into another language. The Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty to his messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in Arabic . It was intentionally revealed in Arabic to serve specific purpose: To defy the Arabs in their own trade and craftsmanship of producing highly rhetorical and poetic composition in their literature. Although all the scientific, geographical and historical facts mentioned in the Quran have been found true, nevertheless, the Quran remains a book of miracles, but its miraculous ability is in its inimitability (as no one has made similar sura the like of it since its revelation) and untranslatability into another form of reproduction in other languages (as hundreds of translations were made and are still made, but would not come to the absolute final perfect form of translation. These translation are incomplete, as they are mere human efforts). This paper aims to shed some light on the opinions of some Islamic scholars on this issue, as well as to suggest some strategies to help in coming out with some sound translations to help Non-Arab Muslims and other Non-Arabic speakers to understand the truth about the Quran as a true WORD from Allah to all human beings on Earth.
2012
Translation of the Holy Qur’an has been a difficult topic for discussion and research by translators and research specialists because of its sacred status. The wording of the Qur’an is so precise that no word is out of place, redundant or used haphazardly in a way that serves no purpose. Available translations of the Qur’an are often being judged as imprecise and looked at out of its context (i.e., the Qur’an). To overcome this ambiguity in Qur’an translation, translators have adopted different strategies such as transliteration, explication, cultural substitution, and footnotes. Even though, available translations of the Qur’an have been critiqued by Muslim scholars and researchers at different degrees. Practically, translation of the Qur’an, being the Word of Allah, brings to the surface the limits of translatability. The wording, the structure, the rhetoric and lexical choices vary from the Qur’an Arabic to standard Arabic, let alone a foreign language. It is fair enough to bear in mind while performing a Qur’an translation that you are dealing with Allah’s Words and not human.
(2001) Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s Translation of the Quran: An Evaluation.
Issues in Education 24: 29-52, 2001
The intention of this paper is to assess, evaluate and appraise Abdullah Yusuf Ali's translation of the Holy Quran, may Allah bless his soul. Ali's translation enjoys great respect and has a wide circulation among English-speaking Muslims, especially in the Indian sub-continent; it also has received considerable approval from Muslim scholarly circles around the globe, which is evidenced by the revisions it had at the hands of Islamic institutions and academies in various parts of the world. Despite all of these revisions, however, the translation, notwithstanding the excellent service it did to the Book of Allah and propagation of Islam to millions of people, still suffers from serious shortcomings at the level of concept representation, language, style, coherence, and typography. A selection of these drawbacks will be described in this paper. Our work must not be seen in any way as to disparage the translation; rather, it must be looked at as a way of improving on this superb work; it must be seen as a means towards an end: to render the maximal, optimal and best service to the book of Allah: which brings people from the depths of darkness to light, guidance and mercy. To achieve this end, translations of the Quran must be presented in the best, easiest and most readily comprehensible manner possible to make it accessible not only to the lucky few but to the majority of people. Suggestions and proposals will be finally offered as to how to best put these improvements into practice.
Viewpoints in the Translation of the Holy QURAN
International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature, 2012
There is too much literature about the untranslatability of the Quran from its Arabic text into another language. Most Muslims: Arab and Non-Arab, and almost everyone with Arabic language background, will not find any difficulty to prove the untranslatability of the Holy Quran into another language. The Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty to his messenger Mohammed (PBUH) in Arabic. It was intentionally revealed in Arabic to serve specific purpose: To defy the Arabs in their own trade and craftsmanship of producing highly rhetorical and poetic composition in their literature. Although all the scientific, geographical and historical facts mentioned in the Quran have been found true, nevertheless, the Quran remains a book of miracles, but its miraculous ability is in its inimitability (as no one has made similar sura the like of it since its revelation) and untranslatability into another form of reproduction in other languages (as hundreds of translations were made and are still made, but would not come to the absolute final perfect form of translation. These translations are incomplete, as they are mere human efforts). This paper aims to shed some light on the opinions of some Islamic scholars on this issue, as well as to suggest some strategies to help in coming out with some sound translations to help Non-Arab Muslims and other Non-Arabic speakers to understand the truth about the Quran as a true WORD from Allah to all human beings on Earth.
(Un)Translatability of the Qur’ān: A Theoretical Perspective
International Journal of Linguistics, 2014
This article provides a general overview of untranslatability as a key concept in the realm of translation studies and addresses, in elaborate detail, the question of the Qur'ān's untranslatability. It falls into three parts. The first part investigates the notion of untranslatability as dealt with by linguists and translation theorists; the second part surveys the different views proposed by Muslim intellectuals with regard to the question of the Qur'ān's untranslatability; and the third part scrutinises the views, in relation to that question, expressed by a number of leading translators of the Qur'ān into English. The main aim here is to advance our understanding of the notion of untranslatability in general and the untranslatability of the Qur'ān in particular. Another aim is to examine aspects of the untranslatability of the Qur'ān and the possible reasons for these aspects as expressed by both Muslim intellectuals and Qur'ān translators. The article demonstrates that for both Muslim intellectuals and Qur'ān translators there exist three types of untranslatability when it comes to translating the Qur'an. These are linguistic, cultural and theological untranslatability. It also demonstrates that while both the Muslim intellectuals and translators of the Qur'ān agree upon the fact that the Qur'ān-specific linguistic and cultural aspects are untranslatable, they vary in the ways they prioritise them, and, on the part of the translators, the ways in which they deal with them. However, both groups confirm the possibility of rendering the meanings of the Qur'ān into other languages and affirm the inevitability of this process. Moreover, the article argues that the notion of Qur'ān's translatability-rather than untranslatability-needs to be the main concern of stakeholders.
Translatability of the Qur'an: An Analysis of Linguistic and Theological Elements
Islamic Insight Journal of Islamic Studies, 2019
The Qur'an is a divine source of guidance not for the Muslims alone, but for the entire humanity. Since the Qur'an is revealed and has been meticulously preserved since then in Arabic, while majority of Muslims and human beings are dominantly non-Arabs, rendering its meanings into different vernaculars bears crucial importance. However, for various reasons, its translatability is considerably controversial. The present paper attempts to analyse the linguistic and theological elements related with its translatability. In order to achieve this, the study scrutinizes relevant linguistic theories related with the translatability and connects them with the viewpoints of classical and contemporary Muslim scholarship. The paper suggests that there are certain linguistic and theological elements which challenge the possibility of the Qur'an's translation. On the other hand, the scope of the divine text beyond any specific linguistic boundary constantly necessitates the very same rendering mission. This notion is well reflected in the discourses of classical and contemporary Muslim scholarship on the topic: it is permissible, and to some extant obligatory, to translate the meanings of the Qur'an into different vernaculars. However, none of the translation can serve as a substitute for the original revealed text and a perfect translation of the Qur'an is beyond the scope of human possibility, for the word of God cannot be reproduced by the word of man.