By Awais Durrani
17-08-2015
Quran can't be translated word by word but only through paraphrasing ---Some of the Quranic terms have special significance & it is not just possible to translate them not only in other languages but even in Arabic .The exclusively Quranic terms like Allah,Deen,Hamd,Kafir,Momin,Mushrik,Nabi ,Rahman,Raheem,Rasool,Salat,Zakat ,Sabr,Shukr ,Riba ,Saum ,Zikr ,Taqdeer etc can't be translated even in Arabic in one word ,as had been done by almost all the translators ,would only convey Biblical or conventional concepts which in many cases is contrary & far away from the concepts of the Quran.Arabic language is the richest language in the word . Just take one example ,Quran has used three different words while describing various stages of creation of the universe ,Khalaqa,Fatara,Bada'a while in English there is only one word--created which fails to express these stages .In general it is very difficult to translate a piece of literature & art from one language to another ;particularly Quranic terms ,The Quran retaining its force, beauty ,force,seriousness,& grandeur ,it is not just translatable .A language coins particular words according to the traditions of its people,culture,concepts & values ;so how could it be possible for English ,or for that matter ,any other language to give one word for a concept which did not exist in their culture ? So the necessity of retaining these words in Arabic & adding a Glossary of these terms is of paramount importance & must be kept in view .Quran can't be translated but its exposition can rendered paraphrase tically .It is worth-mentioning that our efforts are serious & honest to convey the pristine concepts .The original Arabic text of WAHI ,however is eternal & its interpretations during any span of time can't be taken as the last word,which shall to be left to the last man on this earth.As the Quran says -41/53--" The Truth of his Guidance shall ever continue to manifest itself in the outer space & within the human psyche till it is finally established .The reflection of any human error therefore ,should in no case be attributed to Allah's message Quran has been declared as His last message to mankind.As such it should embody a complete code of life & permanent values, which remain unalterable even with the passage of time & give guidance to all the problems which mankind would face for all times to come.This message should obviously be in such a language which,on the other hand,should be simple,clear,unambiguous & definite & on the other all-comprehensive ,deep, dignified & consciously superior .To meet this challenge & all the requirements ,Arabic seems to be the only language in the world having these unique characteristics .There appeared no rasool in Arabia in between the time of Ishmael & Muhammad the exalted .It seems that during all this time of three thousands years ,the arabs remained busy in enriching their language so that it should be capable of containing the last message of Almighty .Just imaginee that in Arabic language there are 80 different words for honey ,200 for snake,500 for the lion ,1000 for the sword & 5744 for the camel -(ref;- Cosmic Consciousness by Richard Mauvice Bucke ) So when Arab used he a particular word for camel ,the listener would know its age ,colour & all the numerous qualities.This was the language in which Quran was revealed neither poetry nor prose but with altogether a unique style ,its own rhythm ,with rare beauty & grandeur .It is sublime ! to translate such a language into another retaining its spirit ,its beauty,its force,seriousness depth & grandeur is just impossible.One may still make an attempt ,if it is only a piece of art or literature ,but when it contains a charter of human rights ,a book of universal constitution ,one has to be very very careful.As mentioned earlier that a language coins particular words according to its traditions ,culture, concepts ,& values ;so how it could be possible for English or for that matter any other language to give one word for a concept which did not exist in their culture?This difficulty is apparent when one reads Persian & Urdu translations-which per force ,retain original Quranic words viz Kafir,Momin, etc All these words existed in arabic language before the advent of islam,so the actual meanings of these terms were known to them,therefore the actual & specific concepts of all such terms must be known to the reader & their simple translation in English ,would either give Biblical meanings or negate the very spirit of the message .
SUN IS RISING........
-One of the serious difficulties which one can encounter relating to the translation in English of the Qura'nic terms & phraseology bearing on Din .Most of the prevalent English equivalents for the Arabic terms are associated with Mazhab (Religion) which will make it impossible to to distinguish Din from Mazhab & the main purpose of the Din is defeated in such translations & English vocabulary does not offer such equivalents & phrases which could convey precisely the exact sense of the Quranic terms .For example Din has no equivalent in English .This is why Quran can't be translated practically into another language.A well- known British orientalist Professor HAR Gibb writes in his famous book "Modern trends in Islam " The Quran is essentially untranslatable ,in the same way that great poetry is untranslatable .The seer can never communicate his vision in ordinary language.He can express himself only in broken images,every inflection of which ,every nuance & subtlety,has to be long & earnestly studied before their significance broke upon the reader--images too ,in which the music of the sounds plays an indefinable part in attuning the mind of the hearer to receive the message.to paraphrase them in other words can only be to mutilate them,to substitute clay for fine gold ,the plodding of the pedeterian intelligence for the winged flight of the intutive perception .....an english translation must employ precise & often arbitrary terms for the many-faceted & jewel-like phrases of the Arabic ;& the more literal it is ,the grayer & more colourless it must be...Even in so simple a sentence as 50/43 "Surely we give life & death & unto Us is the journeying " it is impossible to present in English or perhaps in any other language ,the force of the five times repeated WE in the six words of the original.In view of this difficulty ,the only alternative is to retain the original Quranic terms & to explain their meanings in a glossary which must be based on etymological considerations & the original meanings of the roots of the relevant words .From the comparative study of Din & mazhab ,it would appear that the two have certain common features ;for instance faith in God ,in Divine Guidance & hereafter .But this similarity is not very deep or sufficiently extensive ;for if one reflects over the real meanings of these phrases ,it will abundantly be clear that this similarity in Din & mazhab is merely superficial .In essence ,even these articles of faith have different meanings & connotations in Din & mazhab;nay,these meanings are mutually contradictory in many respects.Islam is a Din,a way of life which can be compared with another way of life & not with any religion as such has nothing at all to do with the problems of human life on earth.This is why Quran does not present Islam as a rival to any religion ;on the other hand it asserts that this Din(system of life) shall ultimately prevail over all the man-made systems (9/33) Quran offers solutions to the grave difficulties & problems with which mankind is faced today.Today all thoughtful men are disgusted both with materialism as well as religion (mazhab) ,for neither of these offers a way out of humanity's present predicaments .The only solution is through Din in Quran. The gravest problem is the economic ,neither capitalism nor communism offers an adequate & effective solution to it. Quran shows path of redemption in this sphere also.But this aspect of islam is present in Quran only.The Quran presented the outlines of a new social order some fourteen centuries ago. People not only disagreed but opposed it .But today the needs of the time & the difficult situation in which mankind finds itself tend to bring humanity gradually nearer to the social order of Islam.Various non-muslim thinkers who,until a short while ago ,used to pin all their hopes on one or another various man-made social systems without Divinity,have now begun to despair of them,And the outlines of the new schemes that they are now contemplating to ensure peace & justice & happiness for mankind appear very much like those of the laws prescribed by Quran.Human intellect is gradually advancing towards the comprehension of the Permanent Values as set forth in the Quran. Notwithstanding ,the forces of exploitation ,the Eternal Truth is ultimately bound to prevail,the sooner the better for the emancipation of mankind.
SUN IS RISING........
-One of the serious difficulties which one can encounter relating to the translation in English of the Qura'nic terms & phraseology bearing on Din .Most of the prevalent English equivalents for the Arabic terms are associated with Mazhab (Religion) which will make it impossible to to distinguish Din from Mazhab & the main purpose of the Din is defeated in such translations & English vocabulary does not offer such equivalents & phrases which could convey precisely the exact sense of the Quranic terms .For example Din has no equivalent in English .This is why Quran can't be translated practically into another language.A well- known British orientalist Professor HAR Gibb writes in his famous book "Modern trends in Islam " The Quran is essentially untranslatable ,in the same way that great poetry is untranslatable .The seer can never communicate his vision in ordinary language.He can express himself only in broken images,every inflection of which ,every nuance & subtlety,has to be long & earnestly studied before their significance broke upon the reader--images too ,in which the music of the sounds plays an indefinable part in attuning the mind of the hearer to receive the message.to paraphrase them in other words can only be to mutilate them,to substitute clay for fine gold ,the plodding of the pedeterian intelligence for the winged flight of the intutive perception .....an english translation must employ precise & often arbitrary terms for the many-faceted & jewel-like phrases of the Arabic ;& the more literal it is ,the grayer & more colourless it must be...Even in so simple a sentence as 50/43 "Surely we give life & death & unto Us is the journeying " it is impossible to present in English or perhaps in any other language ,the force of the five times repeated WE in the six words of the original.In view of this difficulty ,the only alternative is to retain the original Quranic terms & to explain their meanings in a glossary which must be based on etymological considerations & the original meanings of the roots of the relevant words .From the comparative study of Din & mazhab ,it would appear that the two have certain common features ;for instance faith in God ,in Divine Guidance & hereafter .But this similarity is not very deep or sufficiently extensive ;for if one reflects over the real meanings of these phrases ,it will abundantly be clear that this similarity in Din & mazhab is merely superficial .In essence ,even these articles of faith have different meanings & connotations in Din & mazhab;nay,these meanings are mutually contradictory in many respects.Islam is a Din,a way of life which can be compared with another way of life & not with any religion as such has nothing at all to do with the problems of human life on earth.This is why Quran does not present Islam as a rival to any religion ;on the other hand it asserts that this Din(system of life) shall ultimately prevail over all the man-made systems (9/33) Quran offers solutions to the grave difficulties & problems with which mankind is faced today.Today all thoughtful men are disgusted both with materialism as well as religion (mazhab) ,for neither of these offers a way out of humanity's present predicaments .The only solution is through Din in Quran. The gravest problem is the economic ,neither capitalism nor communism offers an adequate & effective solution to it. Quran shows path of redemption in this sphere also.But this aspect of islam is present in Quran only.The Quran presented the outlines of a new social order some fourteen centuries ago. People not only disagreed but opposed it .But today the needs of the time & the difficult situation in which mankind finds itself tend to bring humanity gradually nearer to the social order of Islam.Various non-muslim thinkers who,until a short while ago ,used to pin all their hopes on one or another various man-made social systems without Divinity,have now begun to despair of them,And the outlines of the new schemes that they are now contemplating to ensure peace & justice & happiness for mankind appear very much like those of the laws prescribed by Quran.Human intellect is gradually advancing towards the comprehension of the Permanent Values as set forth in the Quran. Notwithstanding ,the forces of exploitation ,the Eternal Truth is ultimately bound to prevail,the sooner the better for the emancipation of mankind.
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