Sleeping in the Cave: Zechendorff's 1632 Latin Translation of the Qur'an

Abstract

Johann Zechendorff's (1580–1662) manuscript includes an interlinear Latin translation and a complete edition of the Arabic Qur'an. This article presents a thorough linguistic examination of a longer passage of the Latin translation of Sūrat al-Kahf (Q. 18), on the aṣḥāb al-kahf (‘the Companions of the Cave’). The aim is to give an impression of the difficulties which this European pioneer of Qur'anic studies faced when he embarked on this project. The article gives insights into Zechendorff's method of translation, his technical and linguistic abilities, as well as the shortcomings of his work. The shortcomings reflect the general standard of Arabic studies in Europe, the lack of sources and tools (such as dictionaries and tafsīrs), as well as the peripheral position of Zwickau, where this translation was produced. In the Appendix, the reader will find the Latin text of Q. 18:9–26 (with critical apparatus) and an English word-by-word translation of this text.