The Use of Multiple Meanings of Quranic Words in Persian Translations (A Case Study of Surah Al-Emran in the Translations from the First to the Ninth Century)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 PhD student in Qur'anic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Science and Research Unit, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Alborz, Iran.

4 Associate Professor, Department of Quranic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

There is no doubt that contemporary translators have translated the verses of Surah Al-Imran based on the multiple meanings of the words. But this important issue is raised whether this difference in understandings of the structure of the unit of words also took place in the translations and interpretations of the early centuries. In this article, the issue of the existence of polysemous words in the Holy Qur'an and the application of how to translate them by translators has been investigated in a descriptive-analytical and inferential way, and the results have been presented using the most important and authentic translations and interpretations of the early centuries. The findings of the research show that most of the words and expressions of this surah follow the system of multiple meanings. The belief of the early translators and commentators in the principle of polysemy in the translation of the words of this surah is also evident in their works. The ancient Persian language is also so powerful that it has been able to translate the words of revelation with pure Persian constructions. The results of the analyzes make it clear that using the principle of polysemy in translation makes it possible to achieve the layers of meaning of the verses and provides the context for the Qur'an to respond to human needs.

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Main Subjects


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