A Critical Analysis of the Malay Translation of Medicinal Plants in Kitab al-Tibb of Sahih Al-Bukhari

Abstract

Lately, prophetic medicine has gained noticeable attention as many researches have shed light on its benefits. However, the attention received is limited to widely known plants. This study believes that translation is supposed to be a powerful medium to achieve the acquaintance with medicinal plants in hadith. Therefore, it decides to delve into the Malaysian Malay translation of Kitāb al-Ṭibb of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhāriy, named “Terjemahan Sahih Al-Bukhari”, specifically in the Kitab Perubatan. This study employs a qualitative methodology through document analysis on the meant translation, specifically on names of medicinal plants and nomenclatures. Then, to fill any gap of comprehensibility in the translation, this study employs contextual analysis to provide their correct identification. This study assesses the comprehensibility of the translation for the names. Therefore, it manages to achieve its main objective in filling the gap of comprehensibility traced through the translation. Ultimately, this study finds in the Kitāb al-Ṭibb 3 names of medicinal plants and 4 nomenclatures encapsulate a number of medicinal plants. As for the translation for 3 names of the plants; 1 of them is correct, 1 is acceptable and 1 is incorrect. Meanwhile, the translation for nomenclatures; 1 of them is written in transliteration form, 2 are inexact, and 1 is incorrect. Predictably, there is gap in the translation. However, this study manages to identify a total of 8 medicinal plants mentioned in the Kitāb al-Ṭibb. This study recommends a deeper exploration of the medicinal plants in texts of hadith, including those bound in archaic words.