tarjuma

Tarjuma, from Arabic ترجمہ (tarjama), meaning translation, is the term used in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali and related languages to denote the act of translating a text from one language into another or rendering its meaning into a different linguistic register. In these languages, tarjuma covers literary, scholarly, and religious works, and is often used for the translation of important texts as well as everyday writings.

Among religious texts, tarjuma most commonly refers to translations of the Qur'an into vernacular languages. This practice began in the broader Islamic world in the medieval period and expanded in South Asia and elsewhere with the rise of print and literacy. Tarjuma can vary in approach, from literal renderings to more idiomatic versions, and may include notes or commentary to explain translational choices, jurisprudential terms, and theological concepts. It is distinct from tafsir or tafsir, which is exegesis and commentary on the Qur'an, whereas tarjuma aims primarily to convey the text's meaning in another language.

In modern usage, tarjuma exists in many languages and formats, including published Qur'an translations in Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, and Turkish, as well as translations of secular literature. Quality and style vary, and debates concerning accuracy, linguistic precision, and doctrinal alignment continue to accompany translation efforts.