Abstract
The Sundanese are deeply immersed in Islam, as exemplified by the adage, “to be Sunda is to be Muslim”. An important initiative within this cultural-religious context is the translation of the Quran into low vernacular Sundanese, departing from the formal and codified language forms of the original. Despite concerns about potential textual transgression, this translation negotiates linguistic barriers and reinforces cultural identity within the Islamic framework. This paper examines the contemporary Sundanese translation of the Quran, Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun (1989), and argues that its use of low colloquial Sundanese not only enhances the Quran’s legibility but also establishes an immediate connection between readers and their faith.
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Recommended Citation
Hanafi, Taufiq
(2025)
"Contemporary Sundanese Quran; A departure or divine proximity?,"
Wacana, Journal of the Humanities of Indonesia: Vol. 26:
No.
2, Article 3.
DOI: 10.17510/wacana.v26i2.1758
Available at:
https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/wacana/vol26/iss2/3
Figure 1. Excerpt from the Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun which includes a complete translation of verse 2 from Surah Al-Baqarah, alongside Hasim’s own transliteration and extended commentary
Figure 2 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (72 kB)
Figure 2. The complete verse of Al Baqarah verse 2 with Hasim’s transliteration ‘dzaalikal-kitaabu laa raiba fiihi hudallil-muttaqin’
Figure 3 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (65 kB)
Figure 3. Excerpt from Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun indicating the use low-register pronoun.
Figure 4 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (58 kB)
Figure 4. Surah Taha verse 12 with Hasim’s transliteration that reads: ‘Inni ana rabbuka fakhla’ na’lalik. Innaka bilwaadil-muqaddasi thuwa’
Figure 5 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (105 kB)
Figure 5. Hasim’s verse-by-verse Sundanese translation, immediately followed by the word-for-word interlinear translation. It can be seen that Hasim uses two types of pronoun in Sundanese that belong to low and high register
Figure 6 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (61 kB)
Figure 6. Hasim’s transliteration and interlinear verse-by-verse translation of Surah Taha verse 13. This translation shows Hasim’s flexibility in utilizing high register pronoun, and thus inconsistency in his Quran translation.
Figure 7 - Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun.jpg (52 kB)
Figure 7. This verse encapsulates the translation endeavour in Ayat Suci Lenyepaneun. Hasim’s transliteration reads: Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi min hablil-warid
