Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked:

Question:

“Oh Virtuous Shaikh, what is the ruling on translating the Qur’an and explaining it word for word in other than Arabic?”

Answer:

“I ask you: is it possible to translate the Qur’an word-for-word? It is not possible ever. So the issue is supposed, [and] not a reality because the languages other than Arabic differ from Arabic. They are not like Arabic in structure nor in expression. So like this, it is not possible to translate word for word. As for a translation by meaning such that a person takes a verse and translates its meaning, then there is no harm in this. Rather it is obligatory for the one who needs to understand it like that” End translation. [Liqaa Baab al-Maftooh no. 50]

Translated by

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan