The Deforming rationalisation, Elongation and Clarification Tendencies in The Translation of The Holy Quran

Abstract

This article examines the possibility of applying three of Antoine Berman’s “deforming tendencies” to the translation of the Qur’an, namely rationalization, expansion, and clarification. It aims to determine the extent to which these tendencies can be applied to the Qur’anic text and to examine their manifestations in Qur’anic translations. The study shows that Berman’s critical approach is partially applicable to the Qur’anic text and that its use can help uncover certain translational choices that may contribute to improving the quality of future Qur’an translations.