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VI. TRANSLATION
The vast majority of Muslims in the world do not speak Arabic, so the Qur'an in its original
language is not accessible to them. Nevertheless, Muslims have traditionally objected to its
translation on the grounds that it is the word of God.
Islamic doctrine teaches that the Qur'an is
the miracle of Muhammad and neither its composition nor its contents can be imitated. However,
those Islamic scholars who advocate translation argue that the Qur'anic message is universal.
According to the Qur'an, they argue, God never sent a messenger who did not speak the language
of the people.
For these believers the very verse explaining why the Qur'an was revealed in
Arabic implies an obligation to translate and transmit its message to non-Arabs. Translations
of the Qur'an into other languages, for the express purpose of making the meaning of the text
available to all, may have existed as early as the 9th century AD.
For both ceremonial and
nonceremonial purposes, however, the Qur'an must be recited in the original Arabic.
The unique Arab literary characteristics of the Qur'an, such as its chantlike rhythms and dramatic images,
remain formidable obstacles to translation.
The Qur'an was the first prose book in Arabic and it has remained the
model of excellence for Arabic literature.
As a sacred book the Qur'an has a value beyond that of literature, but it
has also been judged by literary critics of the Arabic language to be artistically unequalled in its beauty. It was
due to the position of the Qur'an in Arab Muslim society that Arabic became a world language.
VII. INTERPRETATION OF THE QUR'AN
The unveiling of the meaning of the divine word and its correct interpretation became the subjects
of a special branch of learning called tafsir.
Very strict requirements were laid down for a person
to become a Qur'an commentator and discuss theological and legal issues such as God's attributes,
free will, and predestination on the basis of the Qur'an. A person must be well versed in several
disciplines and subdisciplines known as "the sciences of the Qur'an." Tafsir comprises a vast
body of knowledge representing all the major trends in Islamic theology and law since the
classical period (7th century to 10th century).
Given the nature of written Arabic, the sciences
of the Qur'an extend even to the study of grammar, lexicography, and history.
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