Translating the definite and indefinite forms of the homophones in the Holy Qur’an into Hebrew by Rivlin and Rokendorf

Abstract

The Quran has always been and continues to be a gateway to knowledge and a focal point for scholars. The study of the Quran, its deep exploration, and the attention given to its sciences are not limited to Muslims alone. Due to its great status and its spiritual and emotional influence on the hearts of Muslims, it has become the field through which researchers, according to their intellectual orientations and goals, seek to understand. Among those interested are translators of its verses. This research focuses on the translation of the definite and indefinite articles in similar words within the Quran, an area that highlights the precision, skill, and commitment of the translator in rendering religious texts. This is because the meaning of a word is derived from the context of the verse, and grammatical issues play roles that reflect the intended meaning of the word. Since the function of definiteness and indefiniteness in Hebrew is nearly identical to that in Arabic, any discrepancy reveals the translator's approach and abilities. Therefore, the translation by Revellin was chosen for its careful attention to achieving the intended meaning, and the translation by Ruckendorf, who has an Orientalist perspective, was selected, as reflected in his choice to title the translation "The Quran or the Mikra." The research thus highlights the distinctions between the two translations in terms of the use of definiteness and indefiniteness