THE ISSUE OF TRANSLATING PROPHETS' NAMES: PRESERVING ORIGINAL QUR'ANIC FORMS

Prophets’ names in the Qur’an are not merely identifiers; they carry profound religious, linguistic, and cultural significance. Since the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic, the names of the prophets appear in specific phonetic and semantic forms. Some modern translators render these names in Western or Biblical equivalents—for example, Yahya as John the Baptist or Isa as Jesus—to increase accessibility for English readers. However, preserving the original Qur’anic forms ensures fidelity to the sacred text and maintains its theological integrity.This study examines translation philosophies and scholarly positions, arguing for the preservation of Qur’anic Arabic forms in English translation.