The Role of Context in Interpreting and Translating the Qur’an

The context plays a very important role in understanding, interpreting and translating the Qur'an into another language. But, this issue is not taken into account in the English translations of the Qur'an. The same is true for some commentaries written in Arabic. However, some scholars in the classical period have paid attention to the determination of the context. It is difficult to reach a correct understanding when context is not sufficiently taken into account. By context, it is meant both the textual context and the context of the situation. These two conditions affect the meaning. Greater awareness of the importance of the context that frames specific verses counters and corrects any perceptions that suras are chaotic in construction, or that the Qur’an makes illogical statements or historical inaccuracies, that Qur’anic rhyme is merely for embellishment, and that the Meccan suras are an imitation of saj？al-kuhhān (soothsayer’s rhetoric). It is essential for all involved in the interpretation and translation of the Qur’an to keep the siyāq, whether siyāq al-na？？ or siyāq al-mawqif, firmly in min