Disability and Inclusion in Four Translations of Sūrat ʿAbasa: a Contextualist Comparative Study

Adopting a contextualist approach, this study explores whether four English translations of Sūrat ʿAbasa convey the Qur’ān’s ethical teachings on disability and inclusion. While the Sūrah addresses a pivotal encounter involving a blind man and prophet Mohammad, existing scholarship has largely overlooked its ethical implications in translation. This paper argues that recent translations are more likely to adopt inclusive strategies and reflect contemporary sensitivities toward disability, aligning more closely with the Qur’ān’s moral vision. It compares Qur’ān translations by Hilali and Khan, Haleem, Bakhtiar, and Khattab to examine how their lexical choices, historical framing, and theological orientation influence their renderings. The findings suggest a shift from textualist to macro-contextual translation approaches, underscoring the role of translators in mediating ethical meanings. The paper concludes that a contextualist approach to translation enhances accessibility and ethical resonance, allowing the Qur’ān’s message to engage meaningfully with contemporary concerns.

Department

English & Translation

Publisher

Brill

Sponsor

NA

Copyright

CC0 1.0 Universal

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