Challenges of Incorporating Implicit Meanings of Omitted Sentences When Translating the Holy Qur’an

Abstract

This study investigates the complex challenges of translating omitted declarative, coordinative, and conditional sentences in the Holy Qur’an, focusing on the retrieval and accurate rendering of their implicit meanings in English. While ellipsis (ḥadhf) is a well-documented rhetorical device in Arabic, its syntactic and semantic implications remain underexplored in Qur’anic translation studies. By analyzing selected verses across three prominent English translations—Abdel Haleem, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, and Saheeh International—the study examines translators’ awareness, interpretive strategies, and the impact of their choices on semantic fidelity and theological accuracy. Findings reveal significant variation in the treatment of ellipsis, highlighting the difficulty of conveying nuanced meaning without explicit syntactic cues. Non-native translators occasionally outperform native speakers, demonstrating that methodological rigor and exegetical insight often outweigh intuitive proficiency. The study underscores the critical role of contextual and rhetorical understanding in translating Qur’anic ellipsis, advocating for a systematic framework that preserves both the semantic depth and rhetorical elegance of the original text.