Traditionalist Orientation in Translating the Qur'an: A Critical Appraisal of Fatḥ al-Raḥmān fī Tafsīr al-Qur'ān (original) (raw)

Unlike the early centuries of Islam, translations of the Qur'an have recently been occupied a remarkable position within the discourses of contemporary Muslim scholarship. It is even suggested that 'a hallmark of the twentieth-century exegesis is the translation of the Qur'an into local and regional vernaculars.' (Esposito, 2009). Similar to the Tafsīr works, almost all Qur'an translations exhibit varied approaches in their orientations and are basically intended to address certain specific ideological denominations within the Muslim community. The present paper attempts to critically appraise the characteristics of traditional orientation in translating the Qur'an. In order to achieve this, the procedure employed is a critical appraisal of Fatḥ al-Raḥmān fī Tafsīr al-Qur'ān, a vastly popular and voluminous translation of the Qur'an in Malayalam language, authored by K.V. Muhammad Musliyār (d. 2000). The study suggests that Fatḥ al-Raḥmān fī Tafsīr al-Qur'ān is a perfect illustration of the traditionalist orientation in translating the Qur'an. Along with revealing some of its weak points, the study also acknowledges the historic contribution of Fatḥ in popularizing the Qur'an translation movement in the Kerala state of India.