A Review of the Latest English Translation of Nahj al-Balagha Critique of the Translation by Tahera Qutbuddin, Professor at the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, St. John's College, University of Oxford
Document Type : pajoohesh
Author
10.22081/jap.2024.76673
Abstract
The new English translation of Nahj al-Balagha, undertaken by Dr. Tahera Qutbuddin, a renowned scholar of Arabic rhetoric and former professor at the University of Chicago, currently a professor at the University of Oxford, was published by Brill in 2024. The book is titled Nahj al-Balagha: Wisdom and Eloquence of Ali. Dr. Qutbuddin’s critical edition and research are based on the earliest manuscript versions from the 5th century (11th century CE), with facing-page translations. This provides readers with a solid version of this valuable text. While acknowledging and respecting the efforts and scholarly contributions of Professor Qutbuddin, this article briefly examines certain sentences, equivalencies, and vocabulary choices in the translation that could be revised for greater accuracy. The critiques are divided into three sections: ambiguities, omissions, and suggestions for improvement in translation.
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