Challenges and Methodologies in Qurʾānic Translation: a Case Study of the Malay Language

Translating Ghazala’s Al-Mutalazimāt Al-Majāzīyah into Malay: A Case Study of Naguib Mahfouz’s Aulād Ḥāratinā

Literary translation between Arabic and Malay presents unique linguistic and cultural challenges, particularly concerning idiomatic collocations (al-Mutalazimāt al-Majāzīyah). This study investigates the translation of figurative expressions in Naguib Mahfouz's allegorical novel Aulād Ḥāratinā (Children of the Alley) into Malay. Grounded in Ghazala's (2007) classification of al-Mutalazimāt al-Majāzīyah and Newmark's (1988) translation procedures, this qualitative content analysis evaluates five selected samples from the novel. The study reveals that the existing Malay translation frequently employs normalization, free translation, and rhetorical omission, leading to a significant loss of the source text's aesthetic and cultural imagery. By proposing alternative translations utilizing dynamic and semantic equivalence, this paper demonstrates that the rich figurative repertoire of the Malay language can adequately capture Mahfouz's complex idiomatic, proverbs, and similes. The findings emphasize the necessity for literary translators to balance semantic accuracy with cultural resonance to preserve the pragmatic force of the original Arabic text.

Generalization and specification in translating prophetic hadith: A componential analysis of cultural items in the Malay translation of Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī

Background and Purpose: The translation of Prophetic Hadith involves mediating meaning across linguistic, cultural, and religious boundaries, where lexical choices significantly influence interpretation. A persistent challenge concerns how translators adjust the level of specificity when rendering culturally embedded Arabic expressions into Malay. Despite increasing attention to religious translation, limited research has examined how generalization and specification, as semantic strategies, reshape meaning and affect interpretive accuracy. This study investigates the occurrence and function of these strategies, as proposed by Chesterman (1997), in selected Malay translations of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (TSB) published by the Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia (JPM). Methodology: Adopting a qualitative approach, the study employs componential and descriptive analyses to examine shifts in conceptual specificity between the source and target texts. Through componential decomposition, it identifies how core semantic features of Arabic cultural items are either generalized or specified within Malay interpretations. The study analysed seven material cultural items extracted from selected hadiths in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, namely burd, al-tharīd, al-qiththāʾ, al-utrujjah, al-raiḥānah, al-ḥanẓalah, and al-bitʿu. Findings: The findings indicate that generalization enhances accessibility but often reduces culture-specific semantic detail, while specification narrows meaning to dominant Malay conceptualizations, potentially limiting semantic richness. These shifts reflect deliberate translational choices shaped by linguistic, cultural, and pragmatic factors. Contributions: This study highlights the importance of semantic sensitivity and demonstrates the value of componential analysis in evaluating meaning shifts, advocating balanced strategies that preserve interpretive depth while ensuring clarity. Keywords: Generalization, specification, cultural items, prophetic hadith, Sahih Bukhari. Cite as: Abd Rahman, L., A. Bakar, A., Ramli, S., Doll Kawaid, A. I. S., Abu Bakar, A. I., Harun, H., & Mat Zaki, M. A. A. (2026). Generalization and specification in translating prophetic hadith: A componential analysis of cultural items in the Malay translation of Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(2), 401-420. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss2pp401-420

JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION, LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The Multiplicity of Meaning: A Comparative Analysis of Polysemy in Quranic Translation

The translation of religious texts poses unique and intricate challenges. This is particularly more apparent when it pertains to capturing the subtle meaning by using suitable equivalence, since one lexical term has various meanings based on its particular context. This study examines the difficulties and consequences of translating these polysemous words from Arabic to English. The data of this study were collected from the Quran, where four verses that contain the terms Fitnah, Ummah, and Huda were chosen because they have different meanings. Employing a qualitative and comparative approach, the research examines the terms Fitnah, Ummah, and Huda within three prominent translations: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1934), and M.A.S. Abdel Haleem (2004). The results indicate that dependence on "formal equivalence" or literal translation frequently results in "semantic thinning," causing the theological richness and logical consistency of the original text to be diminished. In contrast, contemporary "functional" methods that emphasize contextual interpretation are better at maintaining and conveying the original message. The research finds that although no English term can entirely capture the complex essence of Quranic polysemy, employing explanatory descriptors and exegetical footnotes is crucial to avoid theological misinterpretation and provide a clearer understanding for non-Arabic speakers.

Challenges in Translating Arabic Homonyms in the Holy Qur’an into English: A Comparative Study of Two Selected Translations of Some Qur’anic Verses

Human and AI Translation of Metaphor and Idioms in Postcolonial Arabic Literature: A Comparative Evaluation

The study concludes that, in postcolonial Arabic literary translation, human mediation remains essential for preserving figurative meaning and narrative positioning, while AI tools may serve only as preliminary support rather than as a replacement for human judgment.