The Quran: Lost in Translation School Essay

 The Quran: Lost in Translation School Essay

Editor's Note: This is an essay of mine. It was for a class that I took a few years ago. It was about women in the Quran. It explained to me a lot of controversial things about the Islamic religion. This essay is about the translations of the Quran. In any case, my essay of mine is 5 stars worthy.  I put some pictures for generic purposes.

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Muslim attitudes toward translation and interpretation of the Quran.

          Muslim attitude toward translation and interpretations vary greatly. There appears early evidence of The Quran’s translation and interpretation as far back as time of Muhammad. According to Ahmad Von Denffer, the Persian Salman al Farisi sent the translation of the first sura to Iranian converts for recitation in native tongue (142). Muslim believed that for the purpose of conversion, translations where necessary. In addition, Muslims argued that interpretations are necessary to prevent the misinterpretation of the Quran. However, Muslim scholars realized the problems with translations and interpretations. In order to overcome these problems, Muslim scholars developed standards for both interpretations and translations. 

          Traditionally, Muslim scholars placed emphasis on studying the Quran in Arabic. They believed that Arabic was the pure pristine language of revelation. Thus, translation meant the altering of the sacred divine words of Allah. However, it became necessary for translations to be made in order to guide non-Arabic speakers in the way of Allah. In order to safeguard the words of Allah, criteria where developed for proper translations. Ideally, the translator must be a Muslim familiar with both the Arabic and foreign language.  Van Denffer states that the translator must be “acquainted with …hadith, tafsir, ect.” (145).For that reason, Muslims rejected translations made by missionaries and non-Muslim.  

          In addition, Muslim found the need for to interpret certain general verses. Muslim fought following the laws of the Quran. Due to lack of detail and allusion format of the Quran, it became necessary to clarify certain verses. Certain Criteria where developed in order safe guard the true meaning of the Quran.  Thus, interpretation of the Quran has to be based on the both the Tafsir and Hadith traditions. The Muslim makes emphasis on the differentiation between interpretations done with and without the proper basis. The interpretations done without the Tafsir or Hadith are to be disregarded. Yet, according to Von Denffer, some Muslim scholars believe that interpretation should not be allowed “since it cannot be traced back to the Prophet or his companions”.  Thus, there mixed opinion with regard to the validity of interpretations. 

          Furthermore, are some drawbacks to both interpretations and translations. At times, many of the words translated lose their essential meaning.  At times, translations may misguide the readers and miss important details. Interpretations rely heavily on critically acclaimed medieval and modern commentators. At times, the opinion of these men might be influenced by shaky political situations. For example, Sayyid Qutb’s commentaries in the Quran supported his political agenda. According to Jane Damman McAuliffe (The Cambridge Companion to the Quran 199), Qulb became identified in the Western World as “the philosopher of Islamic Terror”. In addition, the Hadith has lost certain powers over interpretation and translation in the modern times. For these reasons, translations and interpretations are under heavy scrutiny in modern Islamic scholarship. 

          In conclusion, both translations and interpretations are necessary for the understanding of the Quran. How one goes about this process is heavily dependent on the translator or commentator. At times, the translators and commentators might be influenced by their own political agenda. Despite the risk of alterations and modifications of the Quran, modern Muslim scholars see the need for both translation and interpretation of the Quramic verses.