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The Abduljabbar Saga: Where he got it wrong – Prof. Yakubu Azare

Admin by Admin
12 July 2021
in Opinion
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The Abduljabbar Saga: Where he got it wrong – Prof. Yakubu Azare
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I followed the entire debacle that lasted slightly above five hours with the attendant result from the moderator, Professor Salisu Shehu. It was thorough and the laid down procedural regulations were apt and full. I don’t intend to review what happened there; I intend to explain a phenomenon I viewed to have made Abduljabbar slipped. The entire dispute revolves around the concept of translation, which is seen as a primary machine that allows us to decipher messages encoded in another language. The whole concept of understanding religious principles is encapsulated in its translation into the language we fully understand. For any text to be wholly deciphered, there has to be suitable communicative translation and faithful in some instances—failure of translation results in catastrophe. As we often tell our students, a slight mistake in translation could trigger unrest. The case of Abduljabbar is one pointer.

Sacred texts should be translated with uttermost caution to avoid pitfalls and possible uproar. Therefore, aspects of semantic addition and omission are not so much at the liberty of the translator. Of course, the translation author can be – and is – allowed to make additions or omissions, where necessary, to press meaning to the audience; however, in the case of sacred texts (mostly religious documents), such liberties are highly restricted. 

Overall, the whole saga was about Abduljabbar making unsubstantiated claims about certain prophetic traditions, which he claimed were mistakes by some of the finest scholars that history can never forget. He attributed certain heavy libellous statements to these scholars. Abduljabbar often reads the Arabic rendition with subsequent translation and exegesis of the tradition. This is a usual trend by all Ulamas intending to communicate across people of diverse linguistic backgrounds. What is worthy of noting here is how the original message is rendered and transmitted into the receptor language, in this case, Hausa.

Almost throughout the debate, there was a conspicuous absence of direct utterances of Abduljabbar in the original Hadith. This narrows down the accusing finger to Abduljabbar. No amount of denial or persistent argument would absolve him from the shackles of law and accusations. The exegesis cum translations here are, therefore, the root cause. Cultural nuances are essential to issues worthy of consideration when translating, as diverse cultures have varying ways of apportioning meaning to certain utterances. Abduljabbar was, quite evidently, never considerate of such slippery edges. Instead, he translated, explained and attributed conclusions to statements entirely out of context in the bid to attain heroism, demonstrate a more profound or better understanding of the scriptures.

Adding so much into translation in most instances has the tendency of making meaning obscure and or vague. Sacred texts are not only carefully knitted but are sometimes seen as dogmatic. In other words, religious texts express what they appear to have said. Making unnecessary addition may result in meaning change. Abduljabbar was attacked based on his utterances throughout, and in all the challenges posed to him, the central question is, where did you see this or that. Wrong translation understandably played a key role. In one such case, the moderator drew his attention to the contextual meaning and differences between “Haajaa and Shahawaa“. He explained that the former could not be given the contextual meaning of the latter. Each has its way of being expressed to denote what is intended.

Thus, between Hausa and Arabic, some cultural differences arise in how they attach meanings to ideas, subjects and so on; nonetheless, Abduljabbar was not so keen on that. Instead, he occupies the Arabic messages with haphazard translations that devour our cultural and religious context and, often, sensibilities. Both in our religion and culture, the place of the Prophet (SAW) is sacred, secured and untouchable. Therefore, making and creating controversial statements to his person is not only wrong but blasphemous. All the traditions cited by Abduljabbar and the other clerics, there was no one place, and I mean one place, that equates the heavy words of Abduljabbar in his Hausa explanation.

The central point here is, wrong and mismanaged translation played a significant role in this saga. It suffices to say, “Translation is a serious business and is not haphazardly done.” Understand, and master its art before engaging in it. Be vast in the cultural nuances of both languages, and understand that pragmatics is key to assigning meaning to words in certain situations. Also, know that sacred texts do not go with our whimsical preferences. Additions or omissions are made with caution to avoid slippery edges.

May Allah guide us always. May peace and blessings be on our most revered Prophet.

Prof. Yakubu Magaji Azare wrote from Bayero University, Kano. He can be reached via ymazare@yahoo.com.

Tags: Coalition of Kano UlamaKano State GovernmentProphet Muhammad (SAW)Sheikh Abduljabbar KabaraTranslation
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Comments 17

  1. Abba Balancology says:
    1 year ago

    Masha Allah

    Reply
  2. Maryam hussain usman says:
    1 year ago

    Ameen ya hayyu ya kayyum.we are really proud of u our able prof.Allah ya kara basira.

    Reply
  3. Haruna Muhammad Tukur says:
    1 year ago

    Ma sha Allah.
    Our Prof. Jazaakallaahu khairan.
    Your Student at BUK, DAHIS Class of 2000-2002.
    We really benefited a lot from your Course thrn, if I can recall well “Techniques of Translation”. May Allah, the Almighty increase you more in sound knowledge and good understanding.
    H. M. Tukur 0803 416 5633.

    Reply
  4. Jamilu Abdullahi says:
    1 year ago

    Allah ya saka da alheri Prof.

    Reply
  5. Musa Tadda says:
    1 year ago

    Allaahumma Ameen.
    Well said.
    Thank you and more ink to your pen, Prof. Azare.
    Jazaakallahu khairah.

    Reply
  6. Y G Abdalah says:
    1 year ago

    Ikhlas of intention is the most important issue in passing knowledge to others.

    Reply
  7. habibu usman sayyidi says:
    1 year ago

    Alhamdulillah. May Almighty Allah protect you in all your life activities.
    No doubt, you are the kind of professor that the entire Muslims ummah will be proud of. Jakumullahu khair.

    Reply
  8. Aisha Auwalu Saleh says:
    1 year ago

    May Allah preserve our iman and protect us from exceeding His limits. Amin

    Reply
  9. ANNUR AHMAD MUHAMMAD says:
    1 year ago

    GOOD OBSERVATION OUR PROFESSOR!

    Reply
  10. Munzali gaya says:
    1 year ago

    Alhmdllh

    Reply
  11. Zaharaddeen Kallah says:
    1 year ago

    Of course, translation matters in this context. But looking at the connections of Abduljabbar outside the country and allegation that has to do with a particular sect, may be unconnected with the translation issue. This maybe a deliberate attempt to serve as a litmus test.

    Reply
  12. Hassan Yusuf says:
    1 year ago

    Well said indeed. You really wrote magnificently

    Reply
  13. muhammad muhamma musa says:
    1 year ago

    Ameen ya hayyu ya qayyum
    Allah saka da alkairi

    Reply
  14. Abdullahi Magaji says:
    1 year ago

    A balanced analysis. May Allah increase you in knowledge. Proud of you to be a product of Guddiri.

    Reply
  15. Awal says:
    1 year ago

    My dear prof, please call a spade by its name…

    Reply
  16. Umar says:
    1 year ago

    Well articulated Prof! You have said it all. More ink to your mighty pen sir.

    Reply
  17. Abdurrashid Muhammad says:
    1 year ago

    Ameen

    Reply

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