Christian-Muslim Engagement in Translating Sūrah Yusuf: A Translatological Analysis of T.A.J. Ogunbiyi and Idris Animashaun's Work

Abstract

An engagement with the Qur’an has been of great interest to both Muslims and non-Muslims over the years. Christian missionaries in Yorubaland have taken bold steps in rendering the Qur’an into Yoruba language to promote their evangelism mission before other groups in Africa. Amongst notable Christians in this regard was Reverend Thomas Adesina Jacob Ogunbiyi, who translated Surah Yusuf (Qur’an 12) into Yoruba in 1911 in collaboration with Alufa Idris Animashaun. However, to the best of our knowledge, this pioneering effort has not received adequate attention from scholars. It is therefore, the interest of this research to critically examine this work to know how accurate and coherent it is, in terms of the lexical items, figurative expressions and taking cognizance of the conditions and prerequisites for translating the Qur'an. The study adopts descriptive and analytical method of research. The study identifies difficulties in rendering some words and idiomatic expressions into the target language. Corrections are later suggested. The study concludes that any attempt at Quranic translation should take cognizance of the unique qualities of the Quran’s classical Arabic language use.