From Bible to Quran: The Evolution of Arabic Translation

The Arabic language has played a significant role in the transmission of sacred texts, particularly the Bible and the Quran. For centuries, Arabic-speaking Jews, Christians, and Samaritans have been involved in translating these texts into their native tongue. In this article, we will explore the history and significance of Arabic Bible translations.

Under the influence of New Philology scholarship, Arabic Bible translations are now being valued for their own importance rather than just as secondary sources for other translations. While there is no consensus on the text-critical value of early Arabic translations, they still hold significance in the transmission of biblical texts over a period of almost 1.5 millennia.

The process of translating the Bible into Arabic began at an early stage, with bilingual or multilingual manuscripts being produced. Coptic Christians were particularly interested in producing Christian and non-Christian versions based on different source languages. This led to the creation of Arabic translations of biblical books that were not confined to their original communities.

In fact, Arabic versions of biblical texts were found in various scripts, including Greek, Hebrew, Samaritan, and Syriac (Garshuni). The different communities that produced these translations also used different alphabets to write Arabic. This diversity is evident even in the 19th century, when Arabic Bible translations began to express regional colloquial dialects.

Judeo-Arabic translations also exhibit influence from the Aramaic Targums, which were written in Coptic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Syriac scripts. The Bible was translated into Arabic from a variety of source languages, but it is likely that these translators did not rely on existing translations.

Before the advent of Islam, quotations from the Bible (testimonia) were used by Christian apologists in Arabic. However, there is no evidence to suggest that complete Arabic Bible translations existed at this time. It was only from the 9th century CE onwards that running Arabic translations of the Bible are attested in manuscripts.

Translations of the Bible into Arabic were produced by Arabic-speaking Jews (Rabbanite and Karaite), Christians, and Samaritans. These translations constitute one of the richest traditions of Bible transmission, reflecting the complex history of religious dialogue and interaction between different communities in the Middle East.

In conclusion, the evolution of Arabic translation from the Bible to the Quran is a testament to the power of language and the importance of cultural exchange. Despite the challenges and complexities involved, Arabic remains an essential language for understanding the sacred texts of both Christianity and Islam.

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