ARA 403 Translation of Islamic Texts

This course is designed to foster the development of students’ independent study skills, focusing on the nuanced art of editing, annotating, and translating Arabic texts. Throughout the program, students engage in a comprehensive exploration of language, style, and content within Arabic and Islamic materials. The translation tasks encompass diverse literary genres and texts ranging from Hadith, Qurʾanic exegesis, to jurisprudence. By delving into the expressive and rhetorical facets of Islamic texts, students learn to critically analyze language nuances, discern major challenges faced by translators of Islamic texts, and employ effective translation strategies to surmount these hurdles. The curriculum delves into fundamental Islamic terms in both English and Arabic, exploring common concepts, theories, and strategies essential for translating cultural expressions. Additionally, students delve into figures of speech, rhetorical devices, and other linguistic intricacies present in Islamic texts. Through this multifaceted exploration, students gain a profound understanding of the complexities inherent in translating Islamic texts while honing invaluable skills in independent study and linguistic analysis.