Those Who Do Not Fulfil The Conditions Of a Translator Yet Still Translate — It’s Importance, Rulings & Conditions
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Written, Compiled & Transcribed by Umm Juwairiyyah
Questions & messages were shared by Umm Sahliā and answered by Ustadh Sa'eed Rhana. The Ustadh gave permission for Umm Sahliā to share the answers and to warn against such people.
The Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته أستاذي حياكم الله
I have a question on a certain topic regarding Arabic Translators, their reliability and the Importance of including them in the chain of narration. This has been asked to you before and Alhamdulilah we have benefited greatly off of your greatly worded response. May Allah preserve you.
Although i do have a question on a specific matter that has been seen a lot lately nowadays, for instance, there are a few Salafi Dawah Pages, May Allah bless and ease them, that take from our Scholars, as well as, their students Alhamdulilah, and also are well aware of the importance of sourcing the translator and have been advised constantly about it, but instead of Implementing upon it and its conditions for arabic translators, they’d rather interpret the arabic themselves. Knowing they are not reliable. And when they are reminded of such Importance, they refuse and take it as a warning against them, boycotting them and accuse us of “kicking them off the manhaj”, Allahu Al musta’an.
Should we trust Individuals like this or should we leave them and inform others about their haal? Let us know Ustadh if it is best in shaa Allah as it is a tricky situation.
بارك الله فيكم و جزاكم الله خيرا يا أستاذ
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The Answer of Ustadh Sa’eed Rhana Transcribed From His Audio Message:
عليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
Al-Asl, BarakAllahu Feek, the origin that when it comes to translation, we take it only from the Student of Knowledge who are known for their salafi manhaj, they’re known for their expertise in both languages, in the arabic language which is the main language and the language of the land, for example: In the US we have reliable translators that are known to be proficient in translation, like ash-Shaykh Musa Richardson [hafidhullah], ash-Shaykh Hasan as-Somali [hafidhullah], ash-Shaykh Abu Hasan al-Malik [hafidhullah] and Ustadh Raha Batts, Ustadh Rasheed Barbee and the like. And in the UK you have the Salafi Publication, they’re known for that. So when they translate we feel comfortable and we take it and we don’t question it because we know them. But somebody who is not qualified to translate, Tayyib, and when he does translate he makes mistake and instead of taking the translation to those who are expertise like those Mashaykh i mentioned, instead of doing that, he relies on his own translation and he makes mistakes and consequently he’s going to misguide the people. So if this individual does not take the Naseeha from the brothers who want good for him and he takes it personally then you should warn against him, you should warn against because this is the deen of Allah and his translation, if they’re not correct, they’re very dangerous, they’re misleading, because now if he translates for example: from Shaykh Nasirudeen Al-Albani [rahimahullah] or from Shaykh Muhammad Salih Al-Uthaymeen or any of the senior scholars and he said the shaykh said this, the shaykh did not say that, now you’re lying on the shaykh and you’re misguiding the people and the people now they’re going to start believing that the shaykh said that and he never said that. You see how dangerous it is, now you’re going to mislead the people, you’ll misguide them, so your translation will be sinful, it will not be fruitful and something that Allah will reward you for it. Na'am there’s no doubt if someone is not a reliable translator, he’s not known for translation then we should not take from him.
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Note from Umm Juwairiyyah: This is transcribed word for word from his audio message. Some people will argue and say “This is only regarding those who make mistakes when translating” but really it’s not just that but rather this is also regarding those who do not even fulfil the conditions of a translator. Mistakes or not. Salafi Manhaj isn’t enough to be capable of translating from Arabic to another language.
The Sister, Umm Salihā then further added on regarding specific individuals & specific ignorant statements (they make regarding the matter of translators or when confronted regarding the matter) to which Ustadh Sa’eed Rhana responded with:
سلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Okay BarakAllahu feek, you can ask him one question, tell him who among the student of knowledge who have expertise in translating from arabic to other language, has given you Tazkiyyah, Tayyib, has he given you the green light to translate? Name some of the student of knowledge in the UK and the US, Tayyib, ask him that question, see who gave him the authority to do that, this is very important, Tayyib, BarakAllahu feek.
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What Are The Conditions of a Translator?
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله: ... [A]nd it is a condition that this translator be trustworthy and reliable, that he have complete knowledge and understanding of both languages--the one being translated from as well as the one translated to--and that he not engage in giving [his own] answers to questions, unless he has knowledge that puts him in a position to be able to give an answer. [Source: Silsilah Fatawa Nur ‘ala al-Darb, Tape 305 — http://zadgroup.net/bnothemen/upload/ftawamp3/Lw_305_01.mp3 | Translator: Mikail ibn Mahboob Ariff]
Shaykh Musa Richardson: “If he wishes his translation to reach intelligent people, then he must be able to express himself in what is expected of good correct language, known by cultural standards. Translations into poor English don't accomplish much. [Source: https://x.com/1mmeducation/status/959458843540508672?s=46]
all conditions of a normal narrator (sane, adult, Muslim, not disobedient or in flagrant violation of cultural expectations) are required, and additionally: solid knowledge of both languages and fahm (understanding) of the speech being translated. & Allaah knows best. [Source: https://x.com/1mmeducation/status/959459376183603200?s=46]
Translators must be reliable, upright, capable in both languages, have correct aqeedah, knowledge of the skill of translation” [Source: https://x.com/1MMeducation/status/660835186670764032]
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