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

Abstract

Translating the Qurʾān from Classical Arabic into Malay presents profound linguistic, cultural, and theological challenges. Classical Arabic’s intricate morphology, polysemy, and rhetorical structures often lack direct Malay equivalents, while culturally specific metaphors and symbolic expressions risk semantic distortion when rendered literally. While previous studies have largely neglected the theological implications of rendering mutashābihāt (ambiguous) verses, as well as the linguistic, idiomatic, and figurative challenges involved, this study addresses that gap by examining a range of representative terms that pose linguistic, idiomatic, figurative, cultural, and theological challenges. Employing a qualitative semantic-thematic methodology grounded in classical tafsīr (exegesis) by authorities like al-Zamakhsharī and al-Rāzī, the research analyzes specific Malay translations, including the official Terjemahan Al-Qurʾān Bahasa Melayu . The verses subjected to case study were selected purposively according to two criteria: (a) the presence of polysemous mutashābihāt with significant theological or symbolic weight, and (b) terms that illustrate distinct types of translation challenges (linguistic, idiomatic, figurative, cultural, theological). The analysis reveals that structural disparities – like Arabic’s inflectional morphology versus Malay’s analytic structure – and literal renderings of idiomatic expressions frequently fail to preserve the Qurʾān’s theological coherence. In contrast, interpretive strategies rooted in tafsīr and semantic adaptation offer more accurate, culturally meaningful alternatives. The study concludes that an integrated exegetical-linguistic approach is essential for preserving the Qurʾān’s holistic meaning and theological integrity, demonstrating how this method resolves the tension between textual fidelity and accessibility for Malay-speaking audiences.