Qoran Shenakht

The principle of “non‑translation of the kāf of address” in demonstratives is a well‑established rule in Qur’anic translation, since this kāf merely indicates the gender and number of the addressee and has no equivalent in Persian; therefore, all such forms are rendered simply as “ān” (“that”). The practice of exegetes likewise shows that they generally do not consider themselves obliged to reflect the semantic value of this kāf in their commentaries. However, the Qur’an makes extensive use of the rhetorical device of iltifāt—the sudden shift in pronoun or mode of address for emphasis or semantic variation—such that several different types of address may appear within a few adjacent verses. Consequently, the need for precise Qur’anic translation highlights the importance of examining the implications of disregarding the kāf of address and re‑evaluating the aforementioned principle. An analytical study of numerous Qur’anic verses based on approximately forty Persian translations and nearly eighty commentaries demonstrates that the Qur’an’s use of iltifāt produces a dynamic text in which God continually engages the audience and draws their attention to specific points. Thus, the exegetical tradition and adherence to the non‑translation principle tend to diminish the referential and semantic functions of demonstratives and often overlook iltifāt, resulting in interpretations and translations that lack the dynamism of the Qur’anic text itself. To preserve this rhetorical meaning in translation, it is recommended that verses containing the kāf of address employ typographical markers—such as parentheses or brackets—to clarify the referent and mode of address for the reader.