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Fatwa CenterTranslations of Quran meanings are not Quran but they are more honored than other books
Question
As-salaamu 3laikum, I read some of your fataawa clarifying that a translation of the Qur'an is not the Qur'an. Somehow a question came into my mind about whether a translation of the Qur'an is more similar to the Qur'an or to any other book. My own conclusion was that it cannot be similar to the Qur'an as the Qur'an is the Word of Allah and nothing is like Allah. So it must be more similar to other books. However, I also feel there is a difference between a translation of the Qur'an and other books as the only function of a translation is to try to convey the meaning of Allah's words in another language, which is not the case with other books. So in a way it is different from both. Can you clarify this for me. Jazaakum Allahu khair
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The matter is clear and there is no problem at all concerning it. A translation of the meanings of the Quran is not like the Quran; it does not assume the legal status of the Quran insofar as reciting it is not an act of worship, it is not obligatory to be in a state of purity when touching it, and it is not prohibited to recite it while in a state of Janaabah (major impurity), and so on.
As regards the fact that the translation of the Quran is different from other books, this is crystal clear. The translation of the meanings of the Quran acquires its honor and its status from what it contains of the meanings of the Quran; so in this regard, the books of translation of the Quran are not like other books.
Allaah Knows best.
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