The Ruling on Translating the Noble Qur'an into Languages Other Than Arabic
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The first message in this episode is a letter that reached the program from the Libyan Jamahiriya, sent by one of the brothers there, whose name is Kamal al-Quni. Our brother asks about translating the meanings of the Noble Qur'an. He says: Is reading the Noble Qur'an in a language other than Arabic a sin? Because I read and translate from Ibn Kathir’s tafsir for my brothers in Allah who are non-Arabs, in the English language. I hope to receive a response from you quickly. May Allah reward you with good.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent down His Noble Book in the Arabic language, so it is an Arabic Qur'an. Therefore, it is not permissible to recite it in any language other than Arabic. Rather, its meanings are translated into other languages to clarify the meaning and teach the meaning, so that speakers of languages other than Arabic learn the meanings of the words of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) , and so that they benefit from the rulings of His Book (Mighty and Majestic) . However, they must learn the wording of the Qur'an so that they can recite it in Arabic, both in prayer and outside of prayer. The translation is merely an explanation (tafsir); its meaning is interpretation. That is, it clarifies to the one who does not know the Arabic language the meaning of the saying of the Exalted: [al-Baqarah:255] ... the meaning of: [al-Ma'idah:3] and so on. Thus, the meanings and rulings are clarified to them so that they understand them in their own language. The translation is not the Qur'an; rather, it is an explanation and a translation. The Qur'an is what is recited in the Arabic language as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) sent it down.
Scholars who are knowledgeable in other languages may translate its meanings for our Muslim brothers so that they may understand it. Likewise, they may translate it for non-Muslims for the purpose of calling to Allah and explaining the rulings of Allah, so that the non-Muslim may know the truth of the Qur'an and the knowledge contained within it. This may then become a cause for his entering into Islam. Yes.
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow his guidance.
As for what follows: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) sent down His Noble Book in the Arabic language, so it is an Arabic Qur'an. Therefore, it is not permissible to recite it in any language other than Arabic. Rather, its meanings are translated into other languages to clarify the meaning and teach the meaning, so that speakers of languages other than Arabic learn the meanings of the words of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) , and so that they benefit from the rulings of His Book (Mighty and Majestic) . However, they must learn the wording of the Qur'an so that they can recite it in Arabic, both in prayer and outside of prayer. The translation is merely an explanation (tafsir); its meaning is interpretation. That is, it clarifies to the one who does not know the Arabic language the meaning of the saying of the Exalted:
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence
اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُProhibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَيْتَةُ وَالدَّمُ وَلَحْمُ الْخِنزِيرِScholars who are knowledgeable in other languages may translate its meanings for our Muslim brothers so that they may understand it. Likewise, they may translate it for non-Muslims for the purpose of calling to Allah and explaining the rulings of Allah, so that the non-Muslim may know the truth of the Qur'an and the knowledge contained within it. This may then become a cause for his entering into Islam. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.