Qoran Shenakht

The rule of "non-translation of the addressee kāf in demonstrative pronouns" (asmāʾ al-ishāra) is among the established principles in Quran translation. The practice of exegetes likewise indicates that they do not consider themselves bound to reflect the signification of this kāf. This is while the rhetorical device of iltifāt (grammatical shift) is extensively employed in the Quran, such that in several consecutive verses, multiple forms of address may appear. Thus, "the necessity of precise exegesis and translation of the Holy Quran" underscores the imperative of "examining the consequences of failing to reflect the addressee kāf in exegesis and translation." Employing an analytical-critical method, this study demonstrates that the application of iltifāt in the Quranic verses produces a dynamic text wherein God is continuously in communication with His audience. Consequently, the established practice of exegetes and adherence to the aforementioned rule not only diminishes the referential and semantic functions of demonstrative pronouns but also, in most cases, fails to attend to the device of iltifāt; as a result, the exegesis and translation produced lack the dynamism of the Quranic text itself. Therefore, to reflect this rhetorical signification in translation, it is proposed that in verses containing the "addressee kāf," written markers such as parentheses or brackets be employed to clarify the addressee for the reader.