Translation of Quranic Readings and Their Sciences in Non-Arabic Manuscripts and Their Editing: -A Descriptive, Foundational, and Applied Study-

Abstract

Abstract

This research aims to elucidate the status of manuscripts on Quranic readings and their sciences written in languages other than Arabic, highlighting their scholarly value, the efforts of their authors, and their connection to their Arabic origins. It underscores the importance of translating these manuscripts and clarifies the methodology to ensure the integrity of the text, relying on both theoretical and applied approaches to integrate them into academic research. 

The study reached several conclusions, most notably: the concept of translation is present in Quranic texts; non-Arabic manuscripts on Quranic readings and their sciences reveal the contributions of their authors and preserve rare works; they demonstrate mutual influences; and neglecting them due to language barriers disregards their scholarly output. The study identified twenty-five manuscripts composed before the year 1000 AH, distributed across various libraries. It also demonstrated the feasibility of translation by referencing prior and subsequent translations and outlined the essential qualifications for translators, including proficiency in both languages and mastery of the field’s terminology.

The study also provided recommendations, including encouraging academic departments to facilitate the acceptance of such studies; leveraging recent initiatives, such as those at King Abdulaziz University; fostering collaboration with language departments and translation centers to overcome language barriers; adopting a comprehensive, scientific methodology; and emphasizing the need to catalog indices to identify valuable scholarly manuscripts. Fundamentally, there is no difference in authenticity between works written in Arabic and those in other languages.