Further Investigation of Taḍmīn (Implication of Meaning) in the Qur’an with Reference to Four Muslim-Arabic Authored English Translations

Abstract

This research is an extension of Nouraldeen (2020). The principal objective of this project is to investigate the English translation of complete taḍmīn in the Qur’an and shed light on other types of taḍmīn in the Qur’an. ِAlthough complete taḍmīn is probably not as numerous as other types of taḍmīn in the Qur’an, it deserves much attention for the interesting additional meaning it provides. Two sources are used to collect the āyāt (verses) that involve complete taḍmīn. Four English translations of the second sūrah (chapter) produced by Arab translators are analysed and assessed with a suggested translation that is believed to improve the current translations. None of the four translations are aware of taḍmīn when translating the Qur’an and this suggests a further empirical study which to elicit the views of some Qur’an translators with regards to why taḍmīn is not given attention and how it can be rendered. One unexpected finding is that some Qur’an translations are not consistent when translating same words in different āyāt (verses). This study is intended to be part of an ongoing work which studies and assesses the English translation of all āyāt (verses) that include complete taḍmīn as they appear in the same arrangement of the suwar (chapters) in the Qur’an.