Tafsir and Qur’an Translation

Abstract

This article investigates the relevance of the religious science of Tafsir in the translation of the meanings of the holy Qur`an. The study aims to highlight the significance of exegesis / Tafsir in elucidating the contents of the Qur`an through the analysis of selected translations of Quranic verses which display semantic ambiguity that requires reference to Tafsir for clarification. A qualitative, descriptive, and analytical approach is adopted to highlight the need for exegesis in explaining their meanings. The study provides context and exegesis for each verse according to different sources. Afterward, the English translations of these verses are analyzed and compared to the source text to ensure that the intended meanings, according to the provided exegesis, are considered and preserved in the rendered texts. This study underscores the critical finding that translating the Holy Qur’an requires referring to the most important books of Tafsir to explain and interpret the verses at different levels. This research thus aims to contribute to a deeper understanding that collaboration across various disciplines, mainly Islamic religious and translation studies, is essential to uncover the hidden meanings within the Quranic text.