The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an

Bakri Al-Azzam; Muhammad Al-Ahaydib; Hussein Abdo Rababah

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an

Bakri Al-Azzam, Muhammad Al-Ahaydib, Hussein Abdo Rababah

Published in International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 13 May 2015 Accepted: 25 May 2015 Published: 6 June 2015

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of preserving scientific facts in the translation of the Qur’an, as one of its challenging and inimitable features. It should be pointed out that many scientific subject matters, dealt with in the Qur’an, give rise to translation challenges. Such matters are scientifically proven by today's scientific discoveries, but not dealt with sufficiently in translation. Lack of knowledge in many scientific issues results in incompatibility between the translation product and the advanced knowledge of today; this requires that translators of the Qur’an should be equipped with thorough scientific knowledge in order to enable the target text accommodate the source text's scientific facts. The theoretical part of the study is based on the idea that scientific facts in the Qur’an have not been adequately scrutinized from a translational perspective. Most of their efforts focus on the linguistic aspects and literal semantics of the sacred text, stripped from scientific implications. In order to prove the translators’ unintended neglect of these facts, a number of translations are examined and enough supporting explanation of scientific resources is provided to show the congruence between what was revealed in the Qur’an before fourteen centuries, and what modern sciences have uncovered. The study draws the conclusion that scientific knowledge in different scientific fields is essential in the translation of the Qur’an, as it is a possible fact that the translator is liable to commit mistakes in the translation of scientific statements if s/he is not expert or specialist in the scientific discipline under question. Therefore, translators should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the Qur’an in order to be able to provide an authentic rendition in the receptive language.

Published in	International Journal of Language and Linguistics (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11
Page(s)	193-202
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2015. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Scientific Translation, Qur’an Translation, Scientific Facts, Science

References

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[3]	Ali, A (1999) The Holy Qur’an: Translation and Commentary. IPCI, Islamic Vision: England.
[4]	Al. Najjār, Z. (2008) min ‘Āyāt l-‘Ijāz l-‘lmī fī Khalq l-Insān fi l-Qur’ān l-karīm. Dār il-Ma‘rifa: Beirut.
[5]	Al-Sha‘rāwī, M. (1991). Tafsīr al-Sha‘rāwī. Vols.1-13. Dar Akhbār Al-Yawm. Al- Azhar: Ciro.
[6]	Al-Zamakhsharī, A. (2005). al-Kashshāf. Dār l-Ma‘rifa: Beirut.
[7]	Arberry, A, J (1980) The Koran Interpreted, vols. 1-2. London: George Allen and Unwin: London
[8]	Baskill, A. F (1988) Mawqif d-Dīn mina l-‘Ilm. Trans. by Mohammad Ali, O. (2nd edition). Dar l-Anbār for Printing and Distribution: Baghdad.
[9]	Bucaille, M (2003) The Bible, The Qur’an, and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the light of Modern Knowledge, New York: Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an , Inc: New York.
[10]	Bucaille, M (1978) The Bible, The Qur’an and Science. Trans. from French by Pannell, A and Bucaille, M. Crescent Publication Compamy: India.
[11]	Bucaille, M (1977) al-Qur’ān al-Karīm, at-Torāh, al-’Injīl, and al-‘Ilm: Dirāsat l-Kutub l-Muqaddasa fī Ḍū’ l-Ma‘ārif l-Ḥadītha: Dār l-Ma‘ārif: Cairo.
[12]	Byrne, J. (2012) Scientific and Technical Translation Explained: A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Beginners, Routledge
[13]	Campell, W. F (1989) The Qur’an and the Bible in the light of History and Science. (2nd edition). Middle East Resources, (French edition: France, Farfel editions), ISBN: 1- 881085-00-7& 2-86314-077-9).
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[16]	Haikal, M. H (1964) al-‘Īmān wa l-Ma‘rifa wa l-Falsafa. (2nd edition). Maktabat l-Nahḍa l-Miṣriyya: Cairo.
[17]	Hasb Al-Nabī, M (1996) al-Kawn wal-I’jāz l-‘Ilmī li l-Qur’ān. Dār l-Fikr l-‘Arabī: Cairo.
[18]	Krein-Kutiile, M. (2003) Equivalence in Scientific and Technical Translation: A Text-in-Context-based. Study PhD Dissertation, European Studies Research InstituteSchool of Languages, University of Salford- Salford, UK.
[19]	Khidr, A (1993) Tiknolojya l-Fadā l-Kawnī wa l-‘I’jāz l-‘Ilmī li l-Qur’ān l-Karīm. Saudi Publishing and Distribution House: Saudi Arabia.
[20]	Mohammad Ali, M. S (1993) al-‘Ijāz l-‘Ilmī fi l-Qur’ān l-Karīm. Dār l-Maḥabba: Damascus.
[21]	Montgomery, S.(2000) Science in Translation: Movements of Knowledge through Cultures and Time, The University of Chicago Press: Chicago.
[22]	Newman, R., Perry, Ph. and Eckleman, H. (2007) Genesis one and the origin of the Earth. Published by Interdisciplinary Biblical research Institute. USA.
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[26]	Reḥmān, J. (2003) Searching for scientific facts in the Qur’an: Islamization of Knowledge or a new form of scientism? Islam and Science. , vol. 1. iss. 2. Centre for Islamic science.
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APA Style

Bakri Al-Azzam, Muhammad Al-Ahaydib, Hussein Abdo Rababah. (2015). The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 3(4), 193-202. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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ACS Style

Bakri Al-Azzam; Muhammad Al-Ahaydib; Hussein Abdo Rababah. The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2015, 3(4), 193-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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AMA Style

Bakri Al-Azzam, Muhammad Al-Ahaydib, Hussein Abdo Rababah. The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int J Lang Linguist. 2015;3(4):193-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11,
  author = {Bakri Al-Azzam and Muhammad Al-Ahaydib and Hussein Abdo Rababah},
  title = {The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {193-202},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20150304.11},
  abstract = {The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of preserving scientific facts in the translation of the Qur’an, as one of its challenging and inimitable features. It should be pointed out that many scientific subject matters, dealt with in the Qur’an, give rise to translation challenges. Such matters are scientifically proven by today's scientific discoveries, but not dealt with sufficiently in translation. Lack of knowledge in many scientific issues results in incompatibility between the translation product and the advanced knowledge of today; this requires that translators of the Qur’an should be equipped with thorough scientific knowledge in order to enable the target text accommodate the source text's scientific facts. The theoretical part of the study is based on the idea that scientific facts in the Qur’an have not been adequately scrutinized from a translational perspective. Most of their efforts focus on the linguistic aspects and literal semantics of the sacred text, stripped from scientific implications. In order to prove the translators’ unintended neglect of these facts, a number of translations are examined and enough supporting explanation of scientific resources is provided to show the congruence between what was revealed in the Qur’an before fourteen centuries, and what modern sciences have uncovered. The study draws the conclusion that scientific knowledge in different scientific fields is essential in the translation of the Qur’an, as it is a possible fact that the translator is liable to commit mistakes in the translation of scientific statements if s/he is not expert or specialist in the scientific discipline under question. Therefore, translators should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the Qur’an in order to be able to provide an authentic rendition in the receptive language.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an
AU  - Bakri Al-Azzam
AU  - Muhammad Al-Ahaydib
AU  - Hussein Abdo Rababah
Y1  - 2015/06/06
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JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11
AB  - The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of preserving scientific facts in the translation of the Qur’an, as one of its challenging and inimitable features. It should be pointed out that many scientific subject matters, dealt with in the Qur’an, give rise to translation challenges. Such matters are scientifically proven by today's scientific discoveries, but not dealt with sufficiently in translation. Lack of knowledge in many scientific issues results in incompatibility between the translation product and the advanced knowledge of today; this requires that translators of the Qur’an should be equipped with thorough scientific knowledge in order to enable the target text accommodate the source text's scientific facts. The theoretical part of the study is based on the idea that scientific facts in the Qur’an have not been adequately scrutinized from a translational perspective. Most of their efforts focus on the linguistic aspects and literal semantics of the sacred text, stripped from scientific implications. In order to prove the translators’ unintended neglect of these facts, a number of translations are examined and enough supporting explanation of scientific resources is provided to show the congruence between what was revealed in the Qur’an before fourteen centuries, and what modern sciences have uncovered. The study draws the conclusion that scientific knowledge in different scientific fields is essential in the translation of the Qur’an, as it is a possible fact that the translator is liable to commit mistakes in the translation of scientific statements if s/he is not expert or specialist in the scientific discipline under question. Therefore, translators should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the Qur’an in order to be able to provide an authentic rendition in the receptive language.
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Author Information

Bakri Al-Azzam

The Hashemite University- English Department, Zarqa, Jordan
Muhammad Al-Ahaydib

Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, College of languages and Translation, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Hussein Abdo Rababah

Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, College of languages and Translation, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

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APA Style

Bakri Al-Azzam, Muhammad Al-Ahaydib, Hussein Abdo Rababah. (2015). The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. International Journal of Language and Linguistics, 3(4), 193-202. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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ACS Style

Bakri Al-Azzam; Muhammad Al-Ahaydib; Hussein Abdo Rababah. The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int. J. Lang. Linguist. 2015, 3(4), 193-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

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AMA Style

Bakri Al-Azzam, Muhammad Al-Ahaydib, Hussein Abdo Rababah. The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an. Int J Lang Linguist. 2015;3(4):193-202. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11,
  author = {Bakri Al-Azzam and Muhammad Al-Ahaydib and Hussein Abdo Rababah},
  title = {The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an},
  journal = {International Journal of Language and Linguistics},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {193-202},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijll.20150304.11},
  abstract = {The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of preserving scientific facts in the translation of the Qur’an, as one of its challenging and inimitable features. It should be pointed out that many scientific subject matters, dealt with in the Qur’an, give rise to translation challenges. Such matters are scientifically proven by today's scientific discoveries, but not dealt with sufficiently in translation. Lack of knowledge in many scientific issues results in incompatibility between the translation product and the advanced knowledge of today; this requires that translators of the Qur’an should be equipped with thorough scientific knowledge in order to enable the target text accommodate the source text's scientific facts. The theoretical part of the study is based on the idea that scientific facts in the Qur’an have not been adequately scrutinized from a translational perspective. Most of their efforts focus on the linguistic aspects and literal semantics of the sacred text, stripped from scientific implications. In order to prove the translators’ unintended neglect of these facts, a number of translations are examined and enough supporting explanation of scientific resources is provided to show the congruence between what was revealed in the Qur’an before fourteen centuries, and what modern sciences have uncovered. The study draws the conclusion that scientific knowledge in different scientific fields is essential in the translation of the Qur’an, as it is a possible fact that the translator is liable to commit mistakes in the translation of scientific statements if s/he is not expert or specialist in the scientific discipline under question. Therefore, translators should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the Qur’an in order to be able to provide an authentic rendition in the receptive language.},
 year = {2015}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Reflection of Scientific Facts in the Translation of the Qur’an
AU  - Bakri Al-Azzam
AU  - Muhammad Al-Ahaydib
AU  - Hussein Abdo Rababah
Y1  - 2015/06/06
PY  - 2015
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11
T2  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JF  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
JO  - International Journal of Language and Linguistics
SP  - 193
EP  - 202
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-0221
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijll.20150304.11
AB  - The purpose of this study is to explore the possibility of preserving scientific facts in the translation of the Qur’an, as one of its challenging and inimitable features. It should be pointed out that many scientific subject matters, dealt with in the Qur’an, give rise to translation challenges. Such matters are scientifically proven by today's scientific discoveries, but not dealt with sufficiently in translation. Lack of knowledge in many scientific issues results in incompatibility between the translation product and the advanced knowledge of today; this requires that translators of the Qur’an should be equipped with thorough scientific knowledge in order to enable the target text accommodate the source text's scientific facts. The theoretical part of the study is based on the idea that scientific facts in the Qur’an have not been adequately scrutinized from a translational perspective. Most of their efforts focus on the linguistic aspects and literal semantics of the sacred text, stripped from scientific implications. In order to prove the translators’ unintended neglect of these facts, a number of translations are examined and enough supporting explanation of scientific resources is provided to show the congruence between what was revealed in the Qur’an before fourteen centuries, and what modern sciences have uncovered. The study draws the conclusion that scientific knowledge in different scientific fields is essential in the translation of the Qur’an, as it is a possible fact that the translator is liable to commit mistakes in the translation of scientific statements if s/he is not expert or specialist in the scientific discipline under question. Therefore, translators should be knowledgeable in all aspects of the Qur’an in order to be able to provide an authentic rendition in the receptive language.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

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