A Ponder upon the Meaning of the words Turanj in Chapter Yusuf in the Holy Qur’an (Analysis of Lexical, Translational, Exegetical, Traditional, and Literary Approaches)

A comprehensive understanding of the multi-faceted aspect of the word - as the cornerstone of the text - holds particular significance in the translation of the Holy Quran. Especially when faced with "polysemous words," the translator must be aware of all these meanings to select the essential meaning based on the text's context. However, considering the possibility of the word being "foreign and alien" is crucial, an approach often overlooked in the Persian translation of the term "متکا" in Surah Yusuf, verse 31. In a part of this verse which narrates the confrontation of the Egyptian women with Yusuf which was an invitation by the Emir of Egypt’s wife, it is mentioned that "واعتدت لهن متکا" meaning Zulaykh gave them متکا meaning repast and then furthers that she gave them a knife. While the literature depicts the presence of oranges or citrus fruits in the hands of Egyptian women in the story of Yusuf in the Persian poetry and prose of Persian since the time of Rudaki until now, Persian translations commonly neglect this. A survey of 63 Persian translations of this verse revealed only 5% (3 translators) translated the term as "ترنج" (Citrus), while 95% (60 translators) translated it as a seat, gathering place, fruit, or a type of food. A review of 168 Arabic books on interpretation, hadith, and dictionaries showed that 101 considered "متکا" a Hebrew word, interpreting it as "ترنج" (Citrus) or orange. Therefore, the best equivalent for "متکا" in this verse is "ترنج" or orange, emphasizing the need to expand the semantic scope of polysemous words to identify non-Arabic words in the Holy Quran and highlighting the importance of aligning Persian translations with the text's context and logic.