Translating Sufi Terminology Between the Universality of the Concepts and their Particularity

Abstract

The paper seeks to explore the reception of Sufism in the West through translation. Specifically, it examines the strategies used to convey Sufi concepts and terms into other languages, highlighting the challenges translators may face given that Sufism is an inherently spiritual experience. The study aims to assess the extent of loss and gain when these concepts are transferred into new cultural contexts. The research adopts the approach of American translation theorist Lawrence Venuti, focusing on his strategies of  foreignization  and domesticating.