word libas as a night is not available in the Arabic.
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The topic of this metaphor is the night as protector and covering for the human, where the
ground is the function of garment as a covering or protection of the body. 4
Translation Analysis The phrase „as a robe” is chosen by Yusuf Ali in this verse. The
meaning of that word is “a long loose outer piece of clothing”
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. The technique of English translation is translating metaphor of the source
language into kind of simile in the target language. The next two translations by Pickhtall and Hilali are coming with a different technique,
where they render the source metaphor into ground or sense. These two translators use the word “covering”.
The last translator produces the same vehicle in TL, where the word garment is chosen. Yusuf Ali and Asad translations do not present a
direct understanding for target readers. However, they must check the intended meaning of robe. The other translations of this metaphor keep
the term of meaning, although it involves losing source metaphor.
c. Chapter al-Baqarah 223
78
al Munjid fi Lughah wa al A’lam 1984, op.cit. p. 711
79
Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary 2000, op.cit. p. 1153
1 Translations
a Yusuf Ali: Your wives are as a tilth unto you ; so approach your tilth
when or how ye will ; but do some good act for you souls before hand; and fear God, and know that ye are to meet Him in the hereafter and
give these good tiding to those who believe. p. 88. b
Pickthall: Your women are a tilth for you to cultivate go to your tilth as ye will, and send good deeds before you for your souls, and fear
Allah, and know that ye will one day meet Him. Give glad tidings to believers, O Muhammad. p. 53.
c Hilali and Khan: Your wives are a tilth for you, so go to your tilth,
when or how you will, and send good deeds, or ask Allah to bestow upon you pious offspring for your own selves beforehand. And fear
Allah, and know that you are to meet Him in the Hereafter, and give good tidings to the believers O Muhammad [sal-Allahu alayhi wa
sallam]. p.48. d
M Asad: Your wives are your tilth; go, then, unto your tilth as you may desire, but first provide something for your souls,
and remain conscious of God, and know that you are destined to meet Him. And
give glad tidings unto those who believe. p. 49. 2
Context of the Verse In this verse, wives are likened to tillage. You can tilt from any side
along in its place.
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The Holy Quran intends to illustrate the necessity of
80
Al Muntak hab fi Tafsiri al Qur’an 1968, op.cit. p. 51
the existence of women in the human crowd as an essential means of protection and maintenance of humankind, not as a means of quenching
the lust and venereal desire. 3
Types of Metaphor The word “harsun” is not used for the literal meaning, because the
literal meaning of harsun is cultivation of the soil or tillage.
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In this verse, the wife is analogized as tillage for their husband. This type of
original non-lexicalized metaphor, because it is not common to say that wife is tillage for their husband. The topic of this metaphor is a woman as
a place for cultivation and bearing a child. The similar function of tillage and woman as a place for farming and harvesting is a ground of this
metaphor. 4
Translation analysis In this verse, only Yusuf Ali has a different technique with the
other translators; he renders metaphor into type of simile, where the last three translators remain the same vehicle tilth in TL.
Although, both of these two techniques fail to present direct understanding to the target reader, but it can be understood well if the
readers compare the function of tillage and woman in this life. For this verse, Yusuf Ali translation is better than the others, because his
technique can avoid the target reader from any self interpretation. Generally, translating into ground or sense or translating metaphor with
81
Hans Wehr 1980, op.cit. p. 166
the same vehicle with addition of the topic are the compatible techniques in this verse.
d. Chapter ash-Shooraa 20
