Sami Oktay Durukan
Mehmet Hakkı Suçin’s Şiir Şiir Ayetler – Amme Cüzü Çevirisi (Poetic Verses – A Translation of the Juz’ ‘Amma) can be read as an effort to make up, in part, for the loss in translation of the poetic rhythm, form and aesthetic values of the Qur’anic verses. Written by Sami Oktay Durukan.
The rays of light from the sun of the Qur’an – which has shone for centuries in all its beauty and splendour, illuminating our world from past to future – have this time touched a different mirror of the heart, and from there have been reflected, as “poetic verses”, onto our hearts in need of different colours and patterns.
When we turn our eyes to the universe, we behold with admiration what is almost a magnificent great book formed by the rivers flowing across the earth, the trees swaying in the valleys, the birds gliding in the sky, the clouds drifting slowly above us, the rain falling as mercy, the winds caressing our skin, the stars winking at our world by night, the galaxies whirling like Mevlevi dervishes, and the whole of existence.
The sublime Qur’an is a translation of this book of the universe poured into divine speech. We can see in the blessed Qur’an, in terms of literary aesthetics and the art of speech, the projection of the wonderful order and harmony we witness in the great book.
Naturally, the Holy Qur’an, revealed in Arabic, needed to be translated for those who do not know Arabic, and many translations of the Qur’an have been produced. Yet it is well known that the translation of an original work cannot be like the original. Consequently, the beauties of the Qur’an’s magnificent style unfortunately cannot escape loss in translation.
Here one might say: “The aim is for divine messages to reach their recipients through the holy books.” That is true. But in conveying divine messages to their recipients, style is also very important. Indeed, when Almighty God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh, He commanded them to speak gentle words. “Gentle words” point to the manner, method and aesthetics of conveying the message. This is why the truths in the Holy Qur’an have been presented to us adorned with unique arts of speech and their own musicality.
It envelops the reader with a poetic tempo that flows like a river
In the face of the loss in translation of the poetic rhythm, form and aesthetic values of the Qur’anic verses, Şiir Şiir Ayetler – Amme Cüzü Çevirisi, written by Mehmet Hakkı Suçin in an effort to make up for this in part, has been published by Opus Yayınları.
When you take the book in your hands, you are greeted by a stylish and charming cover design. As you move through its pages, after the translator’s preface the first thing you meet is Surat al-Fatiha, “The Opening”, and you immediately begin reading with curiosity:
Rahman ve Rahim olan Allah’ın adıyla
Hamdolsun Allah’a, âlemlerin Rabbine
Affedene ve bağışlayana
Hesap Günü’nün yegâne sahibine
Yalnız sana ibadet ederiz
Ve yalnız senden
Yardım dileriz
Doğru yola ilet bizi
Nimet bahşettiklerinin yoluna
Girmeyelim gazaba uğramışların yoluna!
Girmeyelim yanlış yola sapmışların yoluna!
(al-Fatiha, 1:1–7)
Compared with other Turkish renderings of the Qur’an, this translation envelops the reader with a different style we have not been used to before, with a poetic tempo flowing like a river, and you long to move on to the next verse. Capturing both the content and the formal rhythm of the verses as a whole, you advance in a magical atmosphere. For example, when you reach Surat al-‘Adiyat, “Horses Running Breathlessly”, you can feel the pleasure of the art that emerges with the harmony of content and form:
Rahman ve Rahim olan Allah’ın adıyla
Andolsun!
Nefes nefese koşan atlara
Ateş saçan kıvılcımlara
Andolsun!
Sabaha karşı akın eden atlara
Derken etrafı toza dumana katan
Ve savaşın koynuna dalan atlara
Andolsun!
İnsan nankördür Rabbine karşı!
Kendisi de şahittir buna
Zira pek düşkündür çıkarına
Bilmez mi ki kabirler boşaltıldığında
Ve kalpte gizli ne varsa döküldüğünde ortaya
Rableri gösterecektir her şeyi ona.
(al-‘Adiyat, 100:1–11)
It is noteworthy that the translator gives both the Arabic names of the suras and Turkish equivalents that contribute to their poetic quality. On one side of the pages are the Arabic originals of the suras, with a Turkish transcription just below for those who cannot read Arabic; on the other side are the Turkish translations. At the end of the book there is the transcription table used, along with an explanatory section showing the pronunciation of Arabic sounds that do not exist in Turkish.
In conclusion, Şiir Şiir Ayetler too is a translation and an interpretation. Appealing more to literary taste and aesthetic standards, this exemplary translation is important for raising awareness among those who will translate the Qur’an in the future.
Source: Dünyabizim, 13 February 2019. Translated from the Turkish for this site.