AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies, Volume 10. Number 2. May 2026 Pp.128-146
Department of English and Literature
Qassim University, Saudi Arabia
This study examines how Elden Ring discursively frames religious elements and to what extent these discourses are consistent with Islamic values. It examines the ideological framing of divinity and worship in the game’s dialogues and assesses these discourses from an Islamic perspective. The aim of the study is to analyze the construction of categories such as divinity, worship, fate, sin, and purpose in the game’s dialogues and evaluate their compatibility with Islamic teachings. The importance of this study is to respond to the increasing phenomenon of narrative-based video games as cultural texts that can impact religious beliefs among Muslims. For that, the study employs a qualitative approach that utilizes Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and an Islamic framework based on the Quran and Sunnah. It analyzes specific dialogues containing religious references at the textual, discursive, and social practice levels. The findings show that the game portrays divinity as attainable, fate as controllable, and the concepts of worship and sin within a mythological framework. These portrayals contradict some of the major teachings of Islam, such as the oneness of Allah and associating partners with Allah. The study concludes that translators can address theological issues that may arise in localized gaming environments by making linguistic and narrative changes that are sensitive to local culture, while preserving creative freedom and accommodating Islam.
Alkhalifah, L. A. (2026). Examining Elden Ring’s Dialogues: A Critical Discourse Analysis from an Islamic Perspective. Arab World English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies 10 (2):128-146
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Lyan Alkhalifah is currently an MA student with a strong academic focus on Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies, with a particular interest in the role of artificial intelligence in language learning. She welcomes future academic and professional collaborations in Localization and Translation Studies, technology-enhanced learning, and Discourse Analysis.
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7435-7115