Abstract: Objective: This research aims to reveal the extent to which the pre-Islamic cultural context is present in the translation of selected verses from Surah Al-Qalam into French, and to demonstrate its impact on the rendering of terms laden with cultural and semantic connotations. Methodology: The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. It examines selected Arabic tafsir works representing different exegetical orientations across various historical periods to identify their treatment of cultural context. It then analyzes four French translations of the selected verses, representing different translation approaches, and compares them with the Arabic tafsir works to determine the extent to which cultural context is present in these translations and to assess its impact on achieving an accurate understanding of the intended meaning and purpose of the Qur’anic text. Results: The results indicate that most Arabic tafsir works have taken cultural context into account when interpreting the selected verses from Surah Al-Qalam, although some works, particularly those composed in later stages of the history of Qur’anic exegesis, demonstrate greater attention to this aspect. Conclusions: The findings reveal that French translations vary in their treatment of terms with deep cultural connotations, such as majnūn, maftūn, and khurṭūm. While some translations attempt to convey the cultural implications of the Qur’anic text, others tend toward literal translation at the expense of cultural and contextual dimensions. Recommendations: The study recommends that due attention be paid to the cultural dimension in the translation of the Holy Qur’an, as well as to its rhetorical aspects; that comparative studies be expanded to include other surahs and their translations into various European languages; and that the influence of the translator’s intellectual and religious background be taken into account when analysing their work.

Title

وسيم بيشاوي

Publisher

An-Najah National University

Publisher Country

Palestine

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

None

Publication Type

Online only

Volume

--

Year

2026

Pages

--