Understanding the Prophetic Hadith : Issues Related to the Translation of Mishkāt Ul-Maṣābīḥ

This book examines two English translations of __Mishkāt ul-Maṣābīḥ__ by Al-Tabrīzī and reflects on some of the key issues relating to Hadith translation. The highly instructional nature of the Prophetic Hadith means that the comprehensibility of any translation is of great importance to a non-Arabic-speaking Muslim, and there is a need to analyze available translations to determine whether these texts can function properly in the target culture. The volume considers the relevance of skopos theory, the concept of loyalty, and the strategies of the translators in question. There are also chapters that focus on the translation of Islamic legal terms and metaphors related to women, formulaic expressions, and reported nonverbal behavior in Fazlul Karim’s (1938) and Robson’s (1960) versions of the text. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Foreword Introduction Chapter 1: Understanding the Hadith: Issues Related to the Hadith and Its Translation 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Definition of Hadith and Sunnah 1.2.1 Hadith Nabawi and Hadith Qudsı̄ 1.3 The Significance of the Hadith 1.4 Conceptualizing the Translation of the Hadith in Islam 1.5 Conveying the Sense of the Hadith 1.6 Conclusion Notes Chapter 2: The Relevance of Vermeer’s (1978) Skopos Theory to the Translation of the Hadith 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Historical Overview of Bible Translation 2.3 Nida’s Theory of Bible Translation 2.4 Formal and Dynamic Equivalence 2.5 Relevance Theory 2.6 Functionalist Approaches: Skopos Theory 2.7 Skopos Rules 2.8 Nord’s Concept of Loyalty 2.9 Skopos Theory in Bible Translation 2.10 Skopos Theory and Loyalty: Bridging Cultural Gaps in Bible Translation 2.11 Conclusion Notes Chapter 3: Translation of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ into English: Theoretical and Methodological Issues 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Important Scholars of the Hadith and Their Books 3.2.1 The Book of Hadith Maṣābı̄ḥ al-Sunnah 3.2.2 The Aim of Maṣabı̄ḥ al-Sunnah 3.2.3 The Compilation of Mishkāt al-Maṣābiḥ 3.2.4 Al-Tabrı̄zı̄’s Modification of Maṣabı̄ḥ al-Sunnah 3.2.5 The Importance of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 3.2.6 Arabic Commentaries on Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 3.3 The English Translations of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 3.3.1 The English Translation of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ by Fazlul Karim 3.3.2 The Skopos of Fazlul Karim’s Translation 3.3.3 The English Translation of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ by James Robson 3.3.4 The Skopos of Robson’s (1963) Translation 3.3.5 Skopos Theory and Loyalty in Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ’ s Translation 3.4 Categories of Selected Hadiths 3.5 Translation Strategies of Leppihalme (1998) 3.5.1 Strategies Used for the Translation of Culture-Bound Terms 3.5.1.1 Strategy 1: Retention of Culture-Bound Terms 3.5.1.1.1 Strategy 1(a): Use the Term as Such 3.5.1.1.2 Strategy 1(b): Use the Term, Adding Some Guidance 3.5.1.1.3 Strategy 1(c): Use the Term, Adding Detailed Explanation, for Example a Footnote 3.5.1.2 Strategy 2: Replacement of the Term by a Target Language Term 3.5.1.3 Strategy 3: Omission of the Term 3.5.1.3.1 Strategy 3 (a): Omit the Culture-Bound Term but Transfer the Sense by Other Means 3.5.1.3.2 Strategy 3 (b): Omit the Culture-Bound Term Altogether 3.5.2 Strategies Used for the Translation of Culture-Bound Phrases 3.5.2.1 Strategy 1: Use of a Standard Translation 3.5.2.2 Strategy 2: Literal Translation 3.5.2.3 Strategy 3: Extra Guidance Added in the Text 3.5.2.4 Strategy 4: Overtly Given Information 3.5.2.5 Strategy 5: Internal Marking for a Culture-Specific Phrase 3.5.2.6 Strategy 6: Reduction to Sense by Rephrasal 3.5.2.7 Strategy 7: Omission of the Culture-Specific Phrase 3.6 “General,” “Islamic-Legal” and “Regional” Meanings of Arabic Terms 3.7 Criteria for Selecting the Hadiths 3.8 Criteria for Selecting the Three Categories 3.9 Methodology for Analysis 3.9.1 Analyzing Loyalty to Al-Qari’s (1599) Commentary Book 3.9.2 Analyzing the Meaning of Arabic Terms and Expressions 3.9.3 Analysis Procedures 3.10 Additional Sources and References 3.11 Conclusion Notes Chapter 4: The Translation of “Islamic-Legal Terms” and “Metaphors” Related to Women in Fazlul Karim’s (1938) and Robson’s (1963) Versions of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Status of Women in Islam 4.3 The Translation of Societal Roles and Terms Related to Women in Religious Texts 4.4 Arabic Terms and Their Meanings across Centuries: Language Differentiation 4.5 Analysis of the Translation of Islamic-Legal Terms for Women 4.5.1 ayyim أَيِّمُ 4.5.2 thayyib ثَّيِّبُ 4.5.3 mūmisah مُومِسَة 4.5.4 al-walı̄dah الوليدةُ 4.5.5 ḥiyyad حُيَّضُ (plural of ḥāʾiḍ) 4.5.6 jāriyah جارِيةً 4.6 Analysis of Fazlul Karim’s (1938) and Robson’s (1963) Translations of Metaphors for Women 4.6.1 ẓaʿı̄nah ظَّعِينَة 4.6.2 matāʿ مَتَاعِ 4.6.3 dhawāt al-khudūr ذَوَاتِ الخُدُورِ 4.6.4 ʿawrah عَوْرَةٌ 4.6.5 shaqāʾiq al-rijāl شقائقُ الرِّجالِ 4.6.6 al-qawārı̄r الْقَوَارِير 4.7 Conclusion Notes Chapter 5: The Translation of Formulaic Expressions in Fazlul Karim’s (1938) and Robson’s (1963) Versions of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Defining Formulaic Expressions 5.3 Formulaic Expressions in the Arabic Language 5.4 The Translation of Formulaic Expressions 5.5 Analysis of the Translation of Formulaic Expressions in Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 5.5.1 wayḥak ويْحَكَ 5.5.2 taribat yadāh ترِبتْ يداهُ 5.5.3 taribat yadāk تَرِبَتْ يَداكَ 5.5.4 dhāt kabid raṭibah ٌ ذاتِ كَبِدٍ رَطْبةٍ أجر 5.5.5 al-yad al-ʿulyā khair min al-yad al-suflā اليَد العُليا خيرٌ من اليَدِ السُّفلى 5.5.6 shadda miʾzarah شدَّ مِئزَرَهُ 5.5.7 (a) faḥthu f ı̄ afwāhihinn al-turāb فَاحْثُ في أفْوَاهِهِنَّ مِنَ التُّرَابِ and (b) arghama allāh anfak أرْغَمَ اللَّهُ أنْفَكَ 5.5.8 raghima anf rajul رَغِمَ أنفُ رجلٍ 5.5.9 (a) yarḥamuk allāh يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ, (b) wā thakla ummayāh واثُكْلَ أُمِّيَاهْ and (c) bi abi huwa wa ummı̄ بِأَبِي هو وأُمِّي 5.5.10 fidāka abı̄ wa ummı̄ فِداكَ أبي وأمِّي 5.5.11 ablī wa akhliqī أبْلِي وأَخْلِقِي 5.5.12 ʿuḍū ʿalayhā bil nawājidh عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ 5.6 Conclusion Notes Chapter 6: The Translation of Reported Nonverbal Behavior in Fazlul Karim’s (1938) and Robson’s (1963) Versions of Mishkāt ul-Maṣābı̄ḥ 6.1 Introduction 6.2 The Importance of Nonverbal Behavior in Communication 6.3 Nord’s (2014) Skopos Approach to the Translation of Nonverbal Behavior 6.4 Analysis of the Translation of Reported Nonverbal Behavior 6.4.1 Leaning the Knees against the Other Person and Placing the Hand on the Thighs 6.4.2 Striking a Person on the Shoulder 6.4.3 Reclining on a Couch 6.4.4 Women Depart the Mosque before Men 6.4.5 Intertwine Fingers in Prayer 6.4.6 Facing the Corner of a Door 6.4.7 (a) Tapping on an Orphan’s Head and (b) Putting Two Fingers Together 6.4.8 (a) The Angry Look and (b) Striking the Hands on the Thighs 6.4.9 The act of Giving Charity: Moving the Hand in the Four Directions 6.4.10 (A) Hiding Behind Each Other and (B) Making a Sign with the Hand 6.4.11 Carrying Um Khalid 6.4.12 Going Alone with a Woman into a Lane 6.4.13 (a) Turning the Face Away and (b) Pointing to the Face and Hand 6.5 Conclusion Notes Conclusion References Bible Translations Appendix: Transliteration Symbols Used in the Book Index