| Qur'an
Translation |
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Part 1:
The Difficulties of Translation
While the text of the original Arabic Qur'an is
identical and unchanged since its revelation, you will find various translations
and interpretations. Anytime a translation is done into another language,
the translator (who is only human) has to interpret the meaning and render it in
the new language. It is, by nature, an approximation of the meaning, since
words and ideas cannot be expressed identically in different languages. Arabic
is a very rich language, and words have many shades of meaning. Thus in
many languages it often requires more wordiness to get the meaning across, which
detracts from the beautiful simplicity of the Qur'anic message. Arabic
idioms, and the weight of the words, are difficult to understand and translate.
While Arabic is a living language, the classical Arabic of the Qur'an requires
more study in order to fully appreciate and understand the depths of meaning. Another
concern is the translator's familiarity with the target language. Some
translations are done by individuals who are very knowledgeable in Arabic, but
they are not able to render the intended meaning because they are not familiar
with the nuances of the other language. In
the end, the dilemma is to find a translation that is linguistically and
spiritually as accurate
as possible, yet is readable and flowing. In English, such a translation
is difficult to find, though many have tried.
Next page > Which English Translation is Best?
> Page 1, 2, 3
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