Ideo-Cultural and Lexical Challenges Encountered in Translating Qur'anic Metaphoric Expression into English: With Reference to Three Translations of the Meaning of the Holy Quran

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the possible inconsistencies and incongruities that exist in the translation of metaphoric expressions of Qur'anic verses in the English. The analysis has been conducted through the comparison of prominent English translators of Quran such as Mohammed A.S Abdel Haleem, Mohammed. M Pickthall and Mohammed Khan and Mohammed Taj Al-Din Al-Hilal. Also, the study aims to explore how the three translators deal with the metaphoric expressions in their renditions of the Holy Quran. This endeavor is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of English translations of the Quran, particularly in the context of English readers for non-Arabic Muslims in particular, where euphemisms are concerned. The primary purpose of the present study is to examine the extent to which the three translators are accurate in translating the Qur'anic metaphors into English based upon the contexts and the interpretive meaning. It is hypothesized in this paper that Qu'ranic metaphors are rhetorical, aesthetic devices, but have unfortunately remained unattended by the majority of Holy Quran translators. The study has revealed that metaphors are used profusely throughout the Holy Quran, although translating these metaphors accurately is a difficult process owing to cultural and linguistic barriers that exist between Arabic and English cultures. It is expected that the study will cast light on two important ideas. The first is that the translators are fully aware of the existence of metaphoric expressions in the Qur’an. Secondly, it is essential that translators of the Holy Qur’an must translate these metaphors accurately to preserve the original meaning of the Qur’anic text.

Keywords: Qur'anic metaphors, linguitic, the metaphoric expressions, analysis, comparison, translating, and problems

DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/53-07