Introduction and Analysis of an Interlinear Qur’an Translation with Unknown Old Anatolian Turkish

Abstract

With the conversion of Turks to Islam, it is seen that Islamic works began to emerge in the field of Turkish language. Among these works, Qur’an translations have an important place. Qur’an translations are in the forms of tafsirs (commentaries), surah tafsirs and interlinear translations. Although interlinear translations are primarily seen in the field of Eastern Turkish, there is also considerable number of interlinear translations in the Anatolian field. 

The fact that interlinear translations are verbatim translations is essential in that they reflect the vocabulary of their period. Although some academic studies have been conducted on these translations, there are different translations in our libraries and museums on which no scientific work has been conducted. The authors and copyist of some of these works are known, but most authors and copyists remain anonymous.

Turkish translations of Qur’an, which have a unique place importance in following the historical periods of Turkish language, are also essential in terms of language studies. They are of particular importance in terms of semantic research and lexicography, as they show how the new concepts that came with the religion after the Turks’ conversion to Islam are expressed.

In this paper, the Old Anatolian Turkish interlinear Qur’an translation, registered at Turkish Manuscripts Department of the Library of Presidency of Religious Affairs with number 279/ 288, which reveals the richness of meaning and vocabulary of Turkish language, is being promoted and analyzed. This copy with some missing surahs and interlinear translations consists of 350 leaves in total. We do not have any information as to where, when, why and by whom the manuscript was written. This manuscript, on which no scientific study had been conducted so far, is examined using document analysis method.