pragmatic understanding to get equivalent in the term of meaning and in the term of style.
Interpretation tafsir literally means clarification, explanation and
illustration . Allah ever said in holy Qur’an:
“And no example or similitude do they bring, but we reveal to you the truth and the better explanation thereof
”. Al-Furqon: 33 Technically, the word tafsir refers to the knowledge and revealed to Muhammad and
an elucidation of its profound stated that it is the knowledge of research on the Qur’an. It is further called Exegesis. Example:
ﷲﺎ ا آﺮ ﺎ
نا ﺬ
اﻮﺤ ةﺮﻘ
ﺮﻘ ا ة
: 67
“Verily, Alah commands you that you slaughter a cow”. Al-Baqarah: 67 The word baqarah has been interpreted as referring to Aisyah, the beloved
wife of the messenger Muhammad. The writer concludes that the interpretation is one of among the strange
meanings which do not have conformity with the meaning of Arabic language.
C. Kinds of Translation in Translating Qur’an and Legal Law Hukm
There are two kinds to translate Qur’an; firstly, at-Tarjamah al- Harfiyyah which refers to literal or word by word, it further refers to the transfer of words from
the language to its equivalents of other language whereby, the organization of the word should be in conformity with the other, and as such the arrangement must be in
concordance with other.
11
Secondly, at-Tarjamah al-Ma’na wiyyah Semantic Translation which means explanatory or illustrative translation. It further refers to an
explanation of meaning of the word in other languages without confining to arrangement of the original words or consideration of its organization.
12
1. at-Tarjamah al-Harfiyyah Literal Translation The Qur’an is the inimitable speech of Allah with His own words whose
recitation is considered as an act of devotion ibadah. Nobody could advocate the translation of the Qur;an as the word of Allah. Indeed Allah did not speak except
what we recite in Arabic. Inimitability i’jaz is infact not realized in the translation, because it is specific to the revelation of Allah only in Arabic language. The Qur’an
in Arabic only is an act of devotion upon its recitation with His words and alphabets and the arrangement of the Qur’an. Scholars give an opinion that since the Qur’an has
been reveled in Arabic language, any translation of it will not be the word of Allah. Based on this discussion, it has been concluded by some ulama that the literal
translation is not permissible. 2. at-Tarjamah al-Ma’nawiyyah Semantic Translation
At-Tarjamah al-Ma’nawiyyah is not the subject which cannot be easily
accomplished, in view of the fact that there is not a single language corresponding to
11
Manna Qattan, Mabahith fi’ ulumil al-Qur’an, Beirut: Muwassasat al- Risalah, 1983, p. 313
12
Ibid. P. 313
