2024-04-26 02:21:23
Placed under the theme “Ibn Arabi or how to become a translator of the translator?”, this meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the Royal Institute for Research on the History of Morocco, offered participants the opportunity to explore closely the experience of the French academic, in particular his work translating several works by Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi, theologian and Arab Sufi master.
Denis Gril expressed his gratitude to the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, stressing that this institution allowed him to present his journey of translating the thought of Ibn Arabi. He stressed that his entire life accompanied him in the mission of making the teachings of Ibn Arabi accessible in French, because of his profound contribution to the understanding of Islam and his answers to major existential questions, particularly on the creature-Creator relationship.
The speaker also highlighted the personality of Ibn Arabi, emphasizing that he was not only a Sufi scholar, but also “a character endowed with a powerful language and refined prose.” According to Gril, Ibn Arabi was not only a great poet, but also an inventive and imaginative mind capable of translating the deepest divine truths and spiritual visions into publicly accessible language.
In a statement to the press, Denis Gril highlighted the complexity of translating the works of Ibn Arabi, affirming that the great Sufi master was one of the pillars of the Arabic language and one of the great writers of his time, in addition to its spiritual dimension.
Regarding his choice to translate the works of Ibn Arabi, Gril explained that he found there a source of inspiration that animated his heart and mind, allowing him to understand the truth of Islam, adding that the works of Ibn Arabi revealed the depth of his thought and his remarkable creativity in Sufism.
Returning to the theme of the conference, the French academic stressed that the translation of Ibn Arabi’s works could be considered from two angles. The first consists of translating a text from one language to another, as he did for the works of Ibn Arabi from Arabic to French. The second considers the works of Ibn Arabi as a translation of realities, states, situations and spiritual visions into written language.
For his part, Abdelfattah Lahjomri, director of the Arabization Coordination Office at the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), stressed that translation was a civilizational and scientific necessity, contributing to broadening intellectual interaction between languages and societies, while overcoming cultural barriers.
He noted that the conference offered an exceptional opportunity to experience Ibn Arabi speaking in a language other than Arabic, in the company of Denis Gril, one of his most eminent translators into French. He stressed that Sufism could not be discussed without mentioning Ibn Arabi.
During this meeting, which is part of a cycle of conferences aimed at enriching knowledge on translation, whether of heritage texts or contemporary texts, Denis Gril presented examples of texts that he had translated from Ibn Arabi.
The meeting was marked by the recitation of the Fatiha for the repose of the soul of the former advisor to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Abbas El Jirari, who died last Saturday.
Denis Gril is professor emeritus of Arabic language and Islamology at the University of Aix Marseille, member of the Institute for Research on the Arab and Muslim World (IREMAM). A specialist in Sufism, he is the author or co-author of several studies devoted to this subject.
The Higher Academic Translation Authority is a body reporting to the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco with the mission of promoting works of translation, in Morocco and abroad, between Arabic or Amazigh and other languages.
From this perspective, the Authority is mainly dedicated to the translation of reference works, studies and scientific research in various scientific fields, thought, culture, heritage and civilization. It ensures the encouragement of scientific research on questions of translation studies and its applications, in coordination with institutions and organizations specializing in the subject, whether national or foreign.
2024-04-26 02:21:23