The Early Qur’anic Translation in Madura: Bhuju’ Bukkol and the Accuracy of His Translation

Abstract

This article explores the manuscript of Qur’anic translation written by Bhuju’ Bukkol, a Madurese scholar who lived in the 18th/19th century and whose existence was sacred to the local community. Specifically, this paper seeks to examine the accuracy of his translation from linguistical aspect, as well as the implications of the translation in socio-religious perspective. The focus of the analysis of the translation is directed at the word ‘tukadhdhibān’, whose translation is different from the majority of the Qur’anic translations. By using analytical descriptive method and several translation theories, this paper argues that the translation of the word ‘angeliyoaken’ is categorized into the meaning translation. The translation has linguistically fulfilled the brief and concise elements, but from the aspect of lexical accuracy, the meaning is not correct. On the other hand, the translation of the word is considered communicative, as the accuracy of understanding is quite precise. From the social aspect, the selection of the diction ‘angeliyoaken’ is considered as an effort to find a safe point based on two considerations, namely: not to damage the original understanding of ‘tukadhdhibān’ and not to cause offense to ordinary people who are socially considered quite sensitive

Keywords

• bhuju’ bukkol
• qur’anic translation
• angeliyoaken
• translation accuracy