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Abdulkarim Sekta-PhD Dissertaion.pdf (4.72 MB)

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THE IMPACT OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON QURAN TRANSLATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA

Sekta, Abdulkarim Muhammad Mahmoud
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1743602769632803

Abstract Details

2025, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Modern and Classical Language Studies.
The dynamic landscape of Quranic translation into English has been significantly influenced by historical events, socio-political contexts, and evolving interpretations (al-Amri, 2019). Among the socio-political contexts, the post-9/11 era emerges as a distinctive period, with certain terms, notably kufr (disbelief), jihad (strife), ḥijab (head/body covering [referred to as jalabeeb and khumur]), and ḍarb (strike), becoming especially contentious in Quran translations (Haddad, 2007; Abdulla, 2007; and Alsultany, 2021). While previous studies have examined linguistic difficulties of pre- and post-9/11 Quran translations (Haddad, 2007; Ghazali, 2012; al-Amri, 2016; Nabeel, 2012), none have undertaken a comprehensive analysis of the event’s direct influence on Quran translation. This study, therefore, addresses this gap in the literature by methodically examining if, and how, the 9/1 attacks1 have changed the Quran translations that were published in North America (US and Canada). To address this issue, a corpus of 32 complete English translations was compiled from the online libraries of Quran Archive and Islam Awakened to facilitate a nuanced, close reading and contextualized content analysis of key passages. While the contextualized content analysis method focuses on interpreting the Quranic verses that have been controversial post-9/11, the close reading examines the 32 Quran translations from both a translation strategy’s perspective and translator’s background perspective (i.e., the translators’ religious beliefs, nationality, qualifications, and publication venues). The findings of the study substantiate the hypothesis that the 9/11 attacks had a profound impact on the translation of the four key terms. The results further demonstrate a notable shift in translation strategies, transitioning from a predominant reliance on literal translation and borrowing prior to 9/11 to an increased use of modulation and explicitation in the post-9/11 period. Overall, the influence of the 9/11 attacks appears to have reshaped the translation of these terms, embedding a heightened sensitivity to the political and cultural nuances associated with them.
Said Shiyab (Advisor)
Françoise Massardier-Kenney (Committee Member)
Ryan Miller (Other)
David Odell-Scott (Committee Member)
Babacar M’baye (Committee Member)
275 p.
Language; Language Arts; Religion; Religious Congregations; Religious Education; Religious History; Theology
Keywords: The Quran, 9/11, Quran translations, jihad, ḥijab, kufr, jilbab, khimar, ḍarb, translation strategies, non-linguistic factors

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sekta, A. M. M. (2025). THE IMPACT OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON QURAN TRANSLATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1743602769632803

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sekta, Abdulkarim. THE IMPACT OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON QURAN TRANSLATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA. 2025. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1743602769632803.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sekta, Abdulkarim. "THE IMPACT OF THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON QURAN TRANSLATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2025. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1743602769632803

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2025, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.