Consistency in Rendering Recurring Qur’ānic Structures: A Comparative Analysis of English Translations by Sahih International, Yusuf Ali, and Abdel Haleem

Document Type : Original Research

Author

Department of English Language, Baqir Al-Olum University, Qom, Iran

Abstract

Translating recurring linguistic and rhetorical structures in the Qur’ān presents a significant challenge for English translators, as inconsistencies can disrupt the text’s thematic unity and stylistic coherence. This study investigates how such structures—categorized as expressions, sentences, verses, syntactic patterns, and rhetorical devices—are rendered in three English translations of the Qur’ān: Sahih International (1997), Yusuf Ali (1934), and Abdel Haleem (2004). Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, the research utilizes the frameworks of formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence, supported by classical tafsir and Arabic syntactic sources, to evaluate translation consistency across the five categories. The findings reveal distinct translational strategies: Sahih International emphasizes formal equivalence, demonstrating high consistency in expressions and syntactic constructions; Abdel Haleem strikes a balance between formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence, performing notably well in the translation of verses; Yusuf Ali, on the other hand, adopts a more interpretive style, resulting in greater variability and frequent departures from tafsir-supported renderings. This inconsistency underscores the importance of uniformity in preserving the Qur’ān’s integrity and enhancing clarity for readers, especially in sacred texts where repetition serves a deliberate rhetorical function. The study proposes a hybrid formal equivalence-dynamic equivalence model that prioritizes structural fidelity, such as consistent renderings of recurring phrases like “who ... except”, while incorporating naturalness to improve readability for English audiences. However, the limited sample size of three instances per category constrains the generalizability of the findings, indicating a need for broader analysis. Ultimately, this systematic approach not only promotes greater coherence in Qur’ānic translation but also offers practical guidance for translators and contributes to the broader discourse in translation studies, particularly regarding the balance between fidelity and accessibility in rendering sacred texts.

Keywords

Main Subjects

©2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.

References

Abdul-Raof, H. (2001). Qur’ān translation: Discourse, texture and exegesis. Routledge.
Abdel Haleem, M. A. S. (2004). The Qur’ān: A new translation. Oxford University Press.
Al-Jabari, R. (2020). Problems of translating the embedded meanings of some axiomatic expressions in the Glorious Qur’ân: A semantic pragmatic study. Academia. https://www.academia.edu/41659211/
Al-Maʿāī Arabic-English dictionary. (n.d.). Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyya.
Amjad, F. A., & Farahani, M. (2013). Problems and strategies in English translation of Qur’ānic divine names. International Journal of Linguistics, *5*(1), 128–142.  https://doi.org/10.5296/ijl.v5i1.3292
Baker, M. (1992). In other words: A coursebook on translation. Routledge.
Darvīsh, M. (1994). ʿIrāb al-Qur’ān al-Karīm wa Bayānuh (Vols. 1–10). Dār al-Yamāmah.
El-Khatib, A. (2006). A critical study for the proper methodology of translating Islamic terms in the Holy Qur’ān into English with special reference to some Qur’ānic terms. Dirasat: Shari’a and Law Sciences, *33*(2), 245–260.
Hajikhani, A., Naseri, M., & Barzanooni, M. (2016). A comparative study of consistency in translating nouns, verbs, and prepositions in contemporary translations of the Holy Qur’ān. Comparative Tafsir Studies, *2*(1), 81–100.
Hashemi, Z., Ashoori Talooki, N., & Heidari, M. A. (2024). Uniform or varied translation of similar Qur’ānic verses and its role in the evolution of Persian translation history. Knowledge and Islamic Insight, *2*(3), 46–59.
Hatim, B., & Mason, I. (1990). Discourse and the translator. Longman.
Ḥasan, ʿA. (1978). Al-Naḥw al-Wāfī (Vols. 1–6). Dār al-Maʿārif.
Ibn ʿĀshūr, M. Ṭ. (2000). Al-Taḥrīr wa al-Tanwīr (Vols. 1–30). Al-Dār al-Tūnisiyya li’l-Nashr.
Jabak, O. (2020). Application of Eugene Nida’s theory of translation to the English translation of Surah Ash-Shams. SSRN.  https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3744397
Mohammed, K. (2005). Assessing English translations of the Qur’ān. Middle East Quarterly, *12*(2), 58–71.
Munday, J. (2016). Introducing translation studies: Theories and applications (4th ed.). Routledge.
Murah, M. Z. (2013, December). Similarity evaluation of English translations of the Holy Qur’ān. In 2013 Taibah University International Conference on Advances in Information Technology for the Holy Qur’ān and Its Sciences (pp. 228–233). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/NOORIC.2013.53
Nabavi, S. M., Azimpour, E., & Azim, A. (2014). A study of consistency in translating verbal similarities in the Qur’ān. Tarjuman-e-Wahi, *35*(18), 55–79.
Nassimi, D. M. (2008). A thematic comparative review of some English translations of the Qur’ān [Doctoral dissertation, University of Birmingham]. University of Birmingham Research Archive. https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/127
Nida, E. A. (1964). Toward a science of translating: With special reference to principles and procedures involved in Bible translating. Brill.
Qur’ānic Arabic Corpus. (n.d.). https://corpus.quran.com
Sahih International. (1997). The Qur’ān: English meanings and notes. Al-Muntada Al-Islami.
Simnowitz, A. (2015). Muslim idiom translation: Assessing so-called scripture translation for Muslim audiences with a look into its origins in Eugene A. Nida’s theories of dynamic equivalence and cultural anthropology [Doctoral dissertation, Columbia International University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Ṣāfī, M. (1990). Al-Jadwal fī ʿIrāb al-Qur’ān wa Ṣarfihi wa Bayānih (Vols. 1–31). Dār al-Rashīd.
Ṭabāṭabāī, M. Ḥ. (1973). Al-Mīzān fī Tafsir al-Qur’ān (Vols. 1–20). Muʾassasat al-Aʿlamī li’l-Maṭbūʿāt.
Ṭabarsī, F. Ḥ. (1987). Majmaʿ al-Bayān fī Tafsir al-Qur’ān (Vols. 1–10). Dār al-Maʿrifah.
Tanzil.net. (n.d.). https://tanzil.net
Yusuf Ali, A. (1934). The Holy Qur’ān: Text, translation and commentary. Sh. Muhammad Ashraf Publishers.
Al-Zamakhsharī, M. ʿA. (1986). Al-Kashshāf ʿan Ḥaqāʾiq Ghawāmiḍ al-Tanzīl (Vols. 1–4). Dār al-Kitāb al-ʿArabī.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 11 April 2024
  • Revise Date: 27 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 09 June 2024
  • Publish Date: 01 July 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics