Translation Strategies of Arabic–Malay Religious Texts: A Systematic Review of Scopus-Indexed Literature

This study addresses the lack of a comprehensive synthesis of translation strategies in Arabic–Malay religious texts despite the growing body of research. Guided by the PRISMA framework, it systematically reviews 15 Scopus-indexed studies published between 2011 and 2025 to identify recurring patterns, strengths, and gaps. The findings reveal that explicitation is the most frequently applied strategy, followed by functional equivalents, which together ensure cultural clarity and acceptability. Other strategies such as transference, calque, and literal translation are also used to maintain cultural and linguistic identity. Qur’anic translation, however, requires greater sensitivity to rhetorical devices, euphemisms, and lexico-semantic nuances. Although machine and neural-based translation tools show potential, they still require human post-editing to safeguard theological accuracy. Overall, this review maps the evolution of strategies from traditional to technology-assisted approaches and underscores their pedagogical and practical implications. It also highlights directions for future research, including expansion beyond Qur’anic texts, integration of cognitive and reader-response perspectives, and critical evaluation of AI-assisted translation in balancing accuracy with cultural fidelity.