What is meant by translating the Qur'an is translating its meanings
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Fatwa number ( 2792 ):
Q: I read in (Al-Arabi Magazine), issue 237, the month of Sha'ban of the year 1398 AH, an article on the topic of Qur'anic studies, a new approach to the positions of the opposition, by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Khalaf Allah .
Please review the aforementioned article, especially: the translation of the Qur'an, which he intends, according to the apparent wording of his speech, to be a literal translation, and what is your opinion regarding the reasons he cited in his article in justifying the translation of the Qur'an? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, and make you among those who defend His Shari'ah and the Sunnah of His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) .
A:It is clear from the article of the aforementioned doctor that he wants to translate the meanings of the Qur'an and express them in languages other than Arabic. Translating the meanings of the Qur'an is permissible if the meaning is understood correctly and a scholar expresses it in other languages with a precise expression that conveys the intended meaning of the Qur'anic texts; this is to fulfill the duty of conveying the message to those who do not know the Arabic language. The Shaykh al-IslamAhmad ibn Taymiyyah(may Allah have mercy on him) said: "As for addressing the people of technical terminology with their terminology and language, it is not disliked if there is a need for it and the meanings are correct, such as addressing the non-Arabs fromthe Romansand the Persiansand the Turksin their language and their custom, for this is permissible and good out of necessity. The Imams only disliked it when there was no need for it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the mother of Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-'Asto the mother of Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-'Asand she was a young girl who was born in the land ofAbyssiniabecause her father was among those who emigrated to it. So he said to her:Sahih al-Bukhari 5823- and speak in the languageof the Abyssinians: al-Hasan - because she was a speaker of this language, and therefore the Qur'an and hadith are translated for those who need to understand them through translation, and likewise a Muslim reads what he needs from books
the nations and their speech in their language and translates it into Arabic, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to learn the book of the Jews so that he could read it for him and write it for him, where he did not trust the Jews with it. As for audio translation, it is not permissible. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I read in (Al-Arabi Magazine), issue 237, the month of Sha'ban of the year 1398 AH, an article on the topic of Qur'anic studies, a new approach to the positions of the opposition, by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Khalaf Allah .
Please review the aforementioned article, especially: the translation of the Qur'an, which he intends, according to the apparent wording of his speech, to be a literal translation, and what is your opinion regarding the reasons he cited in his article in justifying the translation of the Qur'an? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good, and make you among those who defend His Shari'ah and the Sunnah of His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) .
A:It is clear from the article of the aforementioned doctor that he wants to translate the meanings of the Qur'an and express them in languages other than Arabic. Translating the meanings of the Qur'an is permissible if the meaning is understood correctly and a scholar expresses it in other languages with a precise expression that conveys the intended meaning of the Qur'anic texts; this is to fulfill the duty of conveying the message to those who do not know the Arabic language. The Shaykh al-IslamAhmad ibn Taymiyyah(may Allah have mercy on him) said: "As for addressing the people of technical terminology with their terminology and language, it is not disliked if there is a need for it and the meanings are correct, such as addressing the non-Arabs fromthe Romansand the Persiansand the Turksin their language and their custom, for this is permissible and good out of necessity. The Imams only disliked it when there was no need for it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to the mother of Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-'Asto the mother of Khalid ibn Sa'id ibn al-'Asand she was a young girl who was born in the land ofAbyssiniabecause her father was among those who emigrated to it. So he said to her:
O Um Khalid! This is Sanah
يا أم خالد، هذا سَنَاthe nations and their speech in their language and translates it into Arabic, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Zayd ibn Thabit to learn the book of the Jews so that he could read it for him and write it for him, where he did not trust the Jews with it. As for audio translation, it is not permissible. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.