Semantic untranslatability in Quranic discourse: challenges and contextual remedies in English translation

Translating the Quran remains one of the most intellectually demanding and theologically sensitive undertakings in the field of translation studies. Rooted in the belief that the Quran is the literal word of God revealed in Arabic, the text poses exceptional semantic challenges that transcend ordinary linguistic barriers. This study examines the fundamental semantic challenges that impede the translatability of the Quran, including semantic polysemy, semantic ambiguity, homonymy, metaphorical language, syntactic ellipsis, deixis, intertextuality, and culturally bound legal and ritual terminology. Drawing on examples from major English translations and classical exegetical sources, the study highlights how these features contribute to the Quran’s semantic density and interpretive depth. Employing both qualitative textual analysis and comparative translation review, this study identifies specific challenges and proposes practical, context-sensitive remedies. These include the preservation of rhetorical structures, strategic use of annotation, controlled transliteration, and translator reflexivity. The study concludes that while the Quran may resist full equivalence, informed and ethically responsible translation practices can serve as a bridge between the sacred original and diverse global audiences. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on sacred text translation and provide pedagogical insights for training translators in handling semantically dense and theologically layered texts. Finally, this study advances Qur’anic translation research by introducing suggested SRMM—a model that balances flexibility with clear principles to address the semantic and theological complexities inherent in sacred texts.