(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - In order for translating the Holy Book, mastery of different sciences is needed. But since no one can be an expert in several fields, translation of the Quran should be done by a team of experts.
This is according to Hojat-ol-Islam Asghar Saberi who heads the Center for Coordinating Translation and Publication of Islamic Teachings affiliated to the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization.
Speaking at a forum on Quran translations, which was held at the Iranian Quran News Agency, he stressed that a team of experts should embark on translating the Quran or else, the translators should consult scholars of difference fields.
“If a translator has knowledge of philosophy or theology but is not fully familiar with literary principles, he might well understand the meaning of the verses but will probably fail to appropriately convey the message in the target language,” he added.
Hojat-ol-Islam Saberi referred to the weaknesses of the current Persian renderings of the Quran and said most of the Persian translations are similar in terms of words and style.
“It is true that the content should not be altered, but at least the writing style of translation and the use of words selected by translators should be quite different. One reason for this similarity in Quran translations is that translators fear they might make mistakes in conveying the message of the Quran and this makes them emulate previous works,” he opined.
He stressed that a good Quran translator ought to be able to understand the meaning well and accurately and thoroughly convey it in the target language.
Head of the Center for Coordinating Translation and Publication of Islamic Teachings then gave a brief history of translation of the Quran into European languages and said the Holy Book was first translated into Latin in Toledo, Spain, in the year 1141 A.D. “As the translators were not fluent in Arabic, they failed to fully comprehend the meanings of the verses and at times they just summarized them.”
Elsewhere in his remarks at the forum, Hojat-ol-Islam Saberi referred to the issue of translatability of the Quran and said some Sunni scholars disapprove of translating the Quran whereas followers of Shia school of thought believe Quran should be translated as it has been sent down for all mankind.
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