Reinterpreting Local Language Translations: An Analysis of The Mongondow Qur'an and Translation of the Theological Verses of God's Hand and Power
Article Sidebar
Published:
Jul 13, 2025
Keywords:
Translation, Qur'an, Bolaang Mongondow, Theology, Hands.
Main Article Content
Abstract
The translation of the Qur'an into regional languages such as Mongondow faces both linguistic and theological challenges, particularly when rendering theological verses that contain the concepts of “the Hand” and “the Power of Allah,” which carry the risk of anthropomorphic interpretations. This study aims to identify the translation problems of such verses in the Mongondow Qur'anic translation, with a focus on the accuracy of theological meaning and the relevance to local cultural contexts. Employing Anthony H. Johns' theory of vernacularization, the research analyzes translated texts through a library research method, structured interviews with religious and cultural figures, and descriptive-analytical analysis with theoretical triangulation. The findings indicate that the Mongondow translation tends to adopt a literal approach—for instance, translating yadullāh as lima (hand)—which poses a risk of theological misinterpretation, although in certain verses a metaphorical equivalent such as nonguasa (having power) is used. This inconsistency highlights linguistic, ideological, and epistemological challenges in preserving the Qur'an’s transcendent meanings. The study concludes that Qur'anic translation requires a more nuanced hermeneutic approach involving experts in exegesis and local culture. The academic contribution of this research lies in advancing the discourse on vernacularization in Qur'anic translation studies, offering an analytical framework applicable to other regional languages, and providing practical recommendations to enhance theological accuracy while preserving local cultural identity.
Article Details
How to Cite
Mokoginta, D. (2025). Reinterpreting Local Language Translations: An Analysis of The Mongondow Qur’an and Translation of the Theological Verses of God’s Hand and Power. Al-Bayan: Jurnal Studi Ilmu Al- Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 10(1), 40–53. https://doi.org/10.15575/al-bayan.v10i1.43634
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
Abdillah, A. (2023). Penafsiran Atas Kisah Kaum Yahudi Terhadap Hidangan Langit Dalam QS. Al-Baqarah [2]: 61 (Studi Kitab Tafsīr al-Munīr Karya Wahbah al-Zuhailī). FU.
Abdillah, M. A. (2024). Al-Qur’an dan terjemahnya ke dalam bahasa daerah: Studi ayat-ayat Juz ‘Amma dalam dialektika Minangkabau [STAI Asy-Syukriyyah]. In Jurnal Asy-Syukriyyah (Vol. 24, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.36769/ASY.V24I2.344
Abrahamov, B. (2015). The bezel of the wisdom of divinity exists in the essence of Adam. In Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Fuṣūsh al-Hikam: An Annotated Translation of “The Bezels of Wisdom” (p. 23).
Adz-Dzahabī, M. H. (2012). At-Tafsīr wa al-Mufassirūn. Dār al-Hadīth.
Al-Baqi, M. F. (2007). Al-Mu’jam al-Mufahras li alfāẓ al- Qur’an al-Karīm. Darul Hadist.
Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Bahasa Mongondow. (2016). Puslitbang Lektur Dan Khazanah Keagamaan Badan Litbang Dan Diklat Kementrian Agama.
Alim, K., Ilyas, D., & Zulfikar, E. (2021). Interpretasi Ayat-Ayat Antropomorfisme (Studi Analitik Komparatif Lintas Aliran). Jurnal Semiotika-Q: Kajian Ilmu Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 1(2), 76–96. https://doi.org/10.19109/JSQ.V1I2.10383
almaany.com. (n.d.). Terjemahan dan Arti kata يد Dalam bahasa indonesia, Kamus istilah bahasa Indonesia bahasa Arab Halaman.
anthropomorphism noun. (n.d.).
Brockington, L. H. (1940). The Hand of Man and the Hand of God. Baptist Quarterly, 10(4), 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/0005576X.1940.11750558
Darmawan, D., Faizah, I., & Riyani, I. (2018). Sundanese Qur’anic Commentaries and Its Contributions on Preserving Sundanese Language in West Java. 154(Icclas 2017), 157–160. https://doi.org/10.2991/icclas-17.2018.38
Faizin, H. (2021). Sejarah Dan Karakteristik Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Kementerian Agama RI. SUHUF, 14(2), 283–311. https://doi.org/10.22548/SHF.V14I2.669
Heryani, Y. (2019). Teknik Menerjemahkan Al-Qur’an ke Dalam Bahasa Sunda. Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam, 16(2), 167–175. https://doi.org/10.15575/AL-TSAQAFA.V16I2.5018
Husna, N. (2020). Analisis Akurasi Dan Karakteristik Terjemahan Al-Qur`an Dan Terjemahnya Bahasa Jawa Banyumasan. AL ITQAN: Jurnal Studi Al-Qur’an, 6(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.47454/itqan.v6i1.717
Ikhwan, M. (2016). Tafsir Al-Quran dan Perkembangan Zaman: Merekonstruksi Konteks dan Menemukan Makna. Nun: Jurnal Studi Alquran Dan Tafsir Di Nusantara, 2(1), 1–23.
Johns, A. H. (1999). “She desired him and he desired her” (Qur’an 12:24) : ’ Abd al-Ra’ûf’s treatment of an episode of the Joseph story in Tarjumân al-Mustafîd. Archipel, 57(2), 109–134. https://doi.org/10.3406/ARCH.1999.3520
Karim, Abd., Nensia, N., Aldeia, A. S., Aflahah, S., & Muslim, A. (2021). Moderasi Beragama dalam Praktik Bobahasaan Mongondow (Teks dan Makna Kearifan Lokal Berbagai Sikap Kebahasaan dan Lirik Lagu). Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 19(1), 103–140. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V19I1.905
Karim, Abdul et. al. (2021). Religious Moderation In Mongondow Language Practice (Text And Meaning Of Local Wisdom Of Various Linguistic Attitudes And Songlyrics). Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 19(1), 103–140. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V19I1.905
KBBI VI Daring. (n.d.).
Latif, H. (2021). Dinamika Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Bebas Bersajak dalam Bahasa Aceh: Apresiasi Karya Tgk. H.
Mahjiddin Jusuf. Jurnal Ilmiah Al-Mu’ashirah: Media Kajian Al-Qur’an Dan Al-Hadits Multi Perspektif, 18(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.22373/JIM.V18I1.10453
Lowin, S. L. (2019). The Jews Say the Hand of God is Chained: Q. 5:64 as a Response to a Midrash in a piyyut by R. Elʿazar ha-Kallir. Https://Doi.Org/10.3366/Jqs.2019.0383, 21(2), 108–139. https://doi.org/10.3366/JQS.2019.0383
Lukman, F. (2024). Vernacularism and the embers of conservatism: The production and politicization of Qurʾan translations. In Qur’an Translation in Indonesia Scriptural Politics in a Multilingual State (p. 88).
Mamik. (2015). Metodologi Kualitatif (M. C. Anwar (Ed.)). Zifataman Publisher.
Manoppo, H., Tungkagi, D. Q., Rusli, A. bin, Pinem, M., & Kholis, N. (2020). Dinamika Islamisasi Di Bolaang Mongondow Raya, Sulawesi Utara, Abad Ke 17-20. Simlitbangdiklat.Kemenag.Go.Id.
Mokoagow, S., Manoppo, H., Gonibala, R., Lantong, B. K., Damopolii, D., Mokoginta, A., Mamonto, M. A., Pontoh, Y. D., Damopolii, S., Makalalag, S., Mokoginta, H., Gonibala, M. S., & Paputungan, S. (2016). Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahan Bahasa Mongondow. Puslitbang Lektur Dan Khazanah Keagamaan Badan Litbang Dan Diklat Kementrian Agama.
Muhammad Khoirul Anwar, M. K. A. (2022). Relasi Kuasa Dalam Terjemahan the Message of the Qur’an: Tafsir Al-Qur’an Bagi Orang-Orang Yang Berpikir Karya Muhammad Asad. Al-Bayan: Jurnal Studi Ilmu Al- Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.15575/al-bayan.v7i2.16823
Najmi, N. N., & Hassanzadeh, D. (2023). A Survey of Tasbihati Arba`ah As Denoting the Combination of Tashbih, Anthropomorphism, and Tanzīh, Transcendentalism, from the perspective of Allameh Tabataba’i and Imam Khomeini (r). Theosophia Practica, 14(Issue 51), 71–98. https://doi.org/10.22081/PWQ.2023.74725
Nst, H. (2019). Metodologi Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Dalam Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahnya Bahasa Batak Angkola. Jurnal Ilmu–Ilmu Ushuluddin, 07(1), 1–19.
Nu-Online. (n.d.).
Nur ’Azmy, K. (2019). Metode Penerjemahan Al-Qur’an dalam Bahasa Banjar (Studi Analisis terhadap Al-Qur’an Terjemah Bahasa Banjar). UIN Antasari Banjarmasin.
Nur Zakiyah, S., & Nur, T. (2021). Ungkapan Metaforis Teks Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Bahasa Sunda Surat Al-Baqarah: Analisis Semantik Kognitif. Literasi: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Bahasa, Sastra Indonesia Dan Daerah, 11(1), 18–29. https://doi.org/10.23969/LITERASI.V11I1.3512
Palmer, G. B. (1996). Toward a Theory of Cultural Linguistics . The University Of Texas Press.
Pengantar Puslitbang Lektur dan Khajanah Keagamaan. (2016). In Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Bahasa Mongondow (p. viii). Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur’an.
Pink, J. (2024). Fathers And Sons, Angels And Womentranslation: Exegesis And Social Hierarchy In Javanese Tafsīr. In Qur’an Translation in Indonesia Scriptural Politics in a Multilingual State Edited by Johanna Pink (Fisrt, p. 99). by Routledge.
Pontoh, D., & Hamri, M. (2024). Author interview Tim Penerjemah Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahan Bahasa Mongondow.
Rohmana, J. A. (2015). Metrical Verse as a Rule of Qur’anic Translation: Some Reflections on R.A.A.
Wiranatakoesoemah’s Soerat Al-Baqarah (1888–1965). Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 53(2), 439–467. https://doi.org/10.14421/AJIS.2015.532.439-467
Shah, M. S. (2010). A Critical Study of Abdel Haleem’s New Translation of the Holy Qur’an. Al-Qalam, 1–15.
Shihab, M. Q. (2007). Ensiklopedia Al-Qur’an: Kajian Kosakata (Vol. 1). Lentera Hati.
Tagela, Z. S. (n.d.). Historia Bolaang Mongondow Raya (Boelang En Mogondo) | Bahasa Mongondow kuno induk bahasa kelompok Austronesia di semenanjung utara pulau sulawesi | Facebook.
Testen, D. (2009). Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of Semitic languages identifies an Early Bronze Age origin of Semitic in the Near East. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1668), 2703–2710. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPB.2009.0408
Tungkagi, D. Q. (2019). Islam in North Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi:The Dynamics of Islamization in the Kingdom of Kaidipang Besar and Bintauna, 17-19thCentury AD. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 17(2), 461–500. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V17I2.747
Yunus, S. R. (2022). Unsur Lokalitas dalam Terjemah Al-Qur’an (Studi Kasus atas Al-Qur’an Terjemahan Bahasa Gorontalo). Program Pascasarjana Institut Ilmu Al-Qur’an (IIQ) Jakarta.
Zuhriyandi. (2025). Vernakularisasi Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Dalam Bahasa Gayo Karya Johansyah: Studi Kasus Surah Al-Baqarah. UIN Sunan Kalijaga .
Abdillah, M. A. (2024). Al-Qur’an dan terjemahnya ke dalam bahasa daerah: Studi ayat-ayat Juz ‘Amma dalam dialektika Minangkabau [STAI Asy-Syukriyyah]. In Jurnal Asy-Syukriyyah (Vol. 24, Issue 2). https://doi.org/10.36769/ASY.V24I2.344
Abrahamov, B. (2015). The bezel of the wisdom of divinity exists in the essence of Adam. In Ibn al-‘Arabi’s Fuṣūsh al-Hikam: An Annotated Translation of “The Bezels of Wisdom” (p. 23).
Adz-Dzahabī, M. H. (2012). At-Tafsīr wa al-Mufassirūn. Dār al-Hadīth.
Al-Baqi, M. F. (2007). Al-Mu’jam al-Mufahras li alfāẓ al- Qur’an al-Karīm. Darul Hadist.
Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Bahasa Mongondow. (2016). Puslitbang Lektur Dan Khazanah Keagamaan Badan Litbang Dan Diklat Kementrian Agama.
Alim, K., Ilyas, D., & Zulfikar, E. (2021). Interpretasi Ayat-Ayat Antropomorfisme (Studi Analitik Komparatif Lintas Aliran). Jurnal Semiotika-Q: Kajian Ilmu Al-Quran Dan Tafsir, 1(2), 76–96. https://doi.org/10.19109/JSQ.V1I2.10383
almaany.com. (n.d.). Terjemahan dan Arti kata يد Dalam bahasa indonesia, Kamus istilah bahasa Indonesia bahasa Arab Halaman.
anthropomorphism noun. (n.d.).
Brockington, L. H. (1940). The Hand of Man and the Hand of God. Baptist Quarterly, 10(4), 191–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/0005576X.1940.11750558
Darmawan, D., Faizah, I., & Riyani, I. (2018). Sundanese Qur’anic Commentaries and Its Contributions on Preserving Sundanese Language in West Java. 154(Icclas 2017), 157–160. https://doi.org/10.2991/icclas-17.2018.38
Faizin, H. (2021). Sejarah Dan Karakteristik Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Kementerian Agama RI. SUHUF, 14(2), 283–311. https://doi.org/10.22548/SHF.V14I2.669
Heryani, Y. (2019). Teknik Menerjemahkan Al-Qur’an ke Dalam Bahasa Sunda. Al-Tsaqafa : Jurnal Ilmiah Peradaban Islam, 16(2), 167–175. https://doi.org/10.15575/AL-TSAQAFA.V16I2.5018
Husna, N. (2020). Analisis Akurasi Dan Karakteristik Terjemahan Al-Qur`an Dan Terjemahnya Bahasa Jawa Banyumasan. AL ITQAN: Jurnal Studi Al-Qur’an, 6(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.47454/itqan.v6i1.717
Ikhwan, M. (2016). Tafsir Al-Quran dan Perkembangan Zaman: Merekonstruksi Konteks dan Menemukan Makna. Nun: Jurnal Studi Alquran Dan Tafsir Di Nusantara, 2(1), 1–23.
Johns, A. H. (1999). “She desired him and he desired her” (Qur’an 12:24) : ’ Abd al-Ra’ûf’s treatment of an episode of the Joseph story in Tarjumân al-Mustafîd. Archipel, 57(2), 109–134. https://doi.org/10.3406/ARCH.1999.3520
Karim, Abd., Nensia, N., Aldeia, A. S., Aflahah, S., & Muslim, A. (2021). Moderasi Beragama dalam Praktik Bobahasaan Mongondow (Teks dan Makna Kearifan Lokal Berbagai Sikap Kebahasaan dan Lirik Lagu). Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 19(1), 103–140. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V19I1.905
Karim, Abdul et. al. (2021). Religious Moderation In Mongondow Language Practice (Text And Meaning Of Local Wisdom Of Various Linguistic Attitudes And Songlyrics). Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 19(1), 103–140. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V19I1.905
KBBI VI Daring. (n.d.).
Latif, H. (2021). Dinamika Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Bebas Bersajak dalam Bahasa Aceh: Apresiasi Karya Tgk. H.
Mahjiddin Jusuf. Jurnal Ilmiah Al-Mu’ashirah: Media Kajian Al-Qur’an Dan Al-Hadits Multi Perspektif, 18(1), 30–43. https://doi.org/10.22373/JIM.V18I1.10453
Lowin, S. L. (2019). The Jews Say the Hand of God is Chained: Q. 5:64 as a Response to a Midrash in a piyyut by R. Elʿazar ha-Kallir. Https://Doi.Org/10.3366/Jqs.2019.0383, 21(2), 108–139. https://doi.org/10.3366/JQS.2019.0383
Lukman, F. (2024). Vernacularism and the embers of conservatism: The production and politicization of Qurʾan translations. In Qur’an Translation in Indonesia Scriptural Politics in a Multilingual State (p. 88).
Mamik. (2015). Metodologi Kualitatif (M. C. Anwar (Ed.)). Zifataman Publisher.
Manoppo, H., Tungkagi, D. Q., Rusli, A. bin, Pinem, M., & Kholis, N. (2020). Dinamika Islamisasi Di Bolaang Mongondow Raya, Sulawesi Utara, Abad Ke 17-20. Simlitbangdiklat.Kemenag.Go.Id.
Mokoagow, S., Manoppo, H., Gonibala, R., Lantong, B. K., Damopolii, D., Mokoginta, A., Mamonto, M. A., Pontoh, Y. D., Damopolii, S., Makalalag, S., Mokoginta, H., Gonibala, M. S., & Paputungan, S. (2016). Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahan Bahasa Mongondow. Puslitbang Lektur Dan Khazanah Keagamaan Badan Litbang Dan Diklat Kementrian Agama.
Muhammad Khoirul Anwar, M. K. A. (2022). Relasi Kuasa Dalam Terjemahan the Message of the Qur’an: Tafsir Al-Qur’an Bagi Orang-Orang Yang Berpikir Karya Muhammad Asad. Al-Bayan: Jurnal Studi Ilmu Al- Qur’an Dan Tafsir, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.15575/al-bayan.v7i2.16823
Najmi, N. N., & Hassanzadeh, D. (2023). A Survey of Tasbihati Arba`ah As Denoting the Combination of Tashbih, Anthropomorphism, and Tanzīh, Transcendentalism, from the perspective of Allameh Tabataba’i and Imam Khomeini (r). Theosophia Practica, 14(Issue 51), 71–98. https://doi.org/10.22081/PWQ.2023.74725
Nst, H. (2019). Metodologi Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Dalam Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahnya Bahasa Batak Angkola. Jurnal Ilmu–Ilmu Ushuluddin, 07(1), 1–19.
Nu-Online. (n.d.).
Nur ’Azmy, K. (2019). Metode Penerjemahan Al-Qur’an dalam Bahasa Banjar (Studi Analisis terhadap Al-Qur’an Terjemah Bahasa Banjar). UIN Antasari Banjarmasin.
Nur Zakiyah, S., & Nur, T. (2021). Ungkapan Metaforis Teks Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Bahasa Sunda Surat Al-Baqarah: Analisis Semantik Kognitif. Literasi: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Bahasa, Sastra Indonesia Dan Daerah, 11(1), 18–29. https://doi.org/10.23969/LITERASI.V11I1.3512
Palmer, G. B. (1996). Toward a Theory of Cultural Linguistics . The University Of Texas Press.
Pengantar Puslitbang Lektur dan Khajanah Keagamaan. (2016). In Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahannya Bahasa Mongondow (p. viii). Lajnah Pentashihan Mushaf Al-Qur’an.
Pink, J. (2024). Fathers And Sons, Angels And Womentranslation: Exegesis And Social Hierarchy In Javanese Tafsīr. In Qur’an Translation in Indonesia Scriptural Politics in a Multilingual State Edited by Johanna Pink (Fisrt, p. 99). by Routledge.
Pontoh, D., & Hamri, M. (2024). Author interview Tim Penerjemah Al-Qur’an dan Terjemahan Bahasa Mongondow.
Rohmana, J. A. (2015). Metrical Verse as a Rule of Qur’anic Translation: Some Reflections on R.A.A.
Wiranatakoesoemah’s Soerat Al-Baqarah (1888–1965). Al-Jami’ah: Journal of Islamic Studies, 53(2), 439–467. https://doi.org/10.14421/AJIS.2015.532.439-467
Shah, M. S. (2010). A Critical Study of Abdel Haleem’s New Translation of the Holy Qur’an. Al-Qalam, 1–15.
Shihab, M. Q. (2007). Ensiklopedia Al-Qur’an: Kajian Kosakata (Vol. 1). Lentera Hati.
Tagela, Z. S. (n.d.). Historia Bolaang Mongondow Raya (Boelang En Mogondo) | Bahasa Mongondow kuno induk bahasa kelompok Austronesia di semenanjung utara pulau sulawesi | Facebook.
Testen, D. (2009). Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of Semitic languages identifies an Early Bronze Age origin of Semitic in the Near East. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1668), 2703–2710. https://doi.org/10.1098/RSPB.2009.0408
Tungkagi, D. Q. (2019). Islam in North Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi:The Dynamics of Islamization in the Kingdom of Kaidipang Besar and Bintauna, 17-19thCentury AD. Jurnal Lektur Keagamaan, 17(2), 461–500. https://doi.org/10.31291/JLKA.V17I2.747
Yunus, S. R. (2022). Unsur Lokalitas dalam Terjemah Al-Qur’an (Studi Kasus atas Al-Qur’an Terjemahan Bahasa Gorontalo). Program Pascasarjana Institut Ilmu Al-Qur’an (IIQ) Jakarta.
Zuhriyandi. (2025). Vernakularisasi Terjemahan Al-Qur’an Dalam Bahasa Gayo Karya Johansyah: Studi Kasus Surah Al-Baqarah. UIN Sunan Kalijaga .