Thinking Cross Functionally: Applying ‘Systems Dynamics’ to the Glorious Quran’s Translation

Authors

  • Nighat Shakur Iinternational Islamic University, Islamabad.

Keywords:

 Systems theory,  Polysystems,  The Quran,  Al- Fatihah

Abstract

Undoubtedly Quran is Untranslatable, but the fact remains
that its still being translated into World‟s major Languages
for the proliferation of sacred message to all those who
cannot understand or even read Arabic language, especially
the Muslim children born and raised in non Muslim secular
world. Moreover, as the world knowledges grew immensely,
the need for understanding the universal divine message has
also increased. Hence the scholars of Islam allowed the
translation of Quran with number of strict qualifications and
limitations for the Translators. The present paper has tried
to work out the General Systems Theory, a combination of
Poly Systems and Systems Thinking Theory/Approach,
broadly a „system-theoretic‟ concept, where both description
and prescription parallels in Translation, considering
Quran‟s English translation as an independent Text with
divine message. The paper highlights the fact that one can
perfectly corroborate and understand Quran‟s translation
through this combined approach, without taking on board
any single Systems Approach or any other theory for its
intelligibility. The main aim of the researcher is to
proliferate the message of Quran to its greatest extent
through translation as authentic text without the feeling of
fear of ambiguity or distortions involved in the process of
translation and making it approachable to Muslims and non
Muslims equally well and those who don‟t know Arabic
language. For this purpose Van and Lambert‟s model of
Translation Description (1985) and General Systems
Theory/ Concepts proposed by Leyla Acroglu(2017) have
been applied for the practical and critical analysis of the
target text to achieve the underlined objective. The
application of Systems Dynamics also provides an insight
and opportunity to use the English translation of Quran as
Realia in EFL reading and writing classes effectively. Thus,
the paper introduces a new paradigm which can be safely
termed as „Systems Dynamics‟ for reading and
understanding Quran‟s Translation as an independent Text.

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Citation of this paper

Shakur, N. (2022). Thinking cross functionally: Applying ‗Systems

Dynamics‘ to the glorious Quran‘s translation Erevna: Journal of

Linguistics and Literature, 6(2), 55-72

Published

2023-03-06

How to Cite

Nighat Shakur. (2023). Thinking Cross Functionally: Applying ‘Systems Dynamics’ to the Glorious Quran’s Translation. Erevna: Journal of Linguistics and Literature, 6(2), 55-72. Retrieved from https://journals.au.edu.pk/ojserevna/index.php/erevna/article/view/331