Messages

31

Islamic Duties / Re: For those who find it hard to fast......Quran 2:184

« on: July 14, 2014, 06:04:38 AM »

Thank you brother Joseph for the response. I completely agree with your translation. My concern however was more on why other translators (most) chose to interpolate (e.g hardship in this case) into the verse when its not there (and in many similar verses). This is not a question I am expecting you to answer, it is just something that was bothering me and I thought I would share.

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Islamic Duties / For those who find it hard to fast......Quran 2:184

« on: July 12, 2014, 07:55:32 AM »

“allatheena yuteeqoonahu” in Quran 2:184 is translated as
1.   “those who find it hard to fast”
2.   “those who afford it”
3.   “those who are able”

Most translators choose the first option with the least choosing the third option. It becomes really hard for believers to understand what the message is when all those translations give a completely different picture. However we would be inclined to choose the first option simply because most translators have chosen it. If there is no hardship mentioned in the Quran, why are most translators opting for that??

Sahih International Quran 2:184:
[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. AND UPON THOSE WHO ARE ABLE [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

allatheena yuteeqoonahu ……….

Muhammad Asad:   those who can afford it
M. M. Pickthall:  and for those who can afford it
Shakir:   and those who are not able to do it
Yusuf Ali:   For those who can do it (With hardship),
Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar: for those who cannot fast
Wahiduddin Khan:  For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty,
T.B.Irving: For those who can [scarcely] afford it
[Al-Muntakhab]:   for those who experience hardship caused by fasting,
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition):  for those who can do so but with difficulty
Abdel Haleem:  For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty,
Abdul Majid Daryabadi:   for those who can keep it with hardship
Ahmed Ali:  those who find it hard to fast
Aisha Bewley: For those who are able to fast,
Ali Ünal:   for those who can no longer manage to fast
Ali Quli Qara'i:   Those who find it straining
Hamid S. Aziz:   those who can do it with hardship
Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali:   and against the ones who can afford it
Muhammad Sarwar:   Those who can afford a redemption.
Muhammad Taqi Usmani:   those who have the strength, (still, they do not opt for fasting,)
Shabbir Ahmed:  For those who can go through Abstinence only with hardship
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition):  As for those who can do so but with difficulty,
http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Twq#(2:184:16): those who can afford it

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General Discussions / Re: What is a Muslim to do under oppression?

« on: July 11, 2014, 12:13:33 PM »

Thank you brother Joseph for your response and the links you shared.

For example, considering the case of Gaza. I think emigrating and leaving it all to Israel might be their only solution. What do you think?

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General Discussions / What is a Muslim to do under oppression?

« on: July 10, 2014, 12:44:57 PM »

 Quran 4:97
"Lo! as for those whom the angels take (in death) while they wrong themselves, (the angels) will ask: In what were you engaged? They will say: We were oppressed in the land. (The angels) will say: Was not God's earth spacious that you could have migrated therein? As for such, their habitation will be hell, an evil journey's end"


From the above verse, emigration is the solution...but are we allowed to fight and wage war or is that only for those who fight you? (2:190 "Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you..."). It seems to me that fighting is only against those that fight you.

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General Discussions / Re: Reading Quran for rewards

« on: June 14, 2014, 08:58:11 PM »

Is there any hadith that encourages believers to contemplate and understand the Quran other than a reward or point based incentive?

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General Discussions / Reading Quran for rewards

« on: June 14, 2014, 08:24:59 PM »

The hadiths claim we get a certain amount of rewards for reading Quran. Is there any article or forum topic that debunks these claims? Thanks in advance

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General Discussions / Quran translations

« on: May 03, 2014, 10:16:22 AM »

Salam all

Is there a complete translation of the Quran done by Joseph Islam?

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Discussions / Articles on this site

« on: November 27, 2013, 04:56:43 PM »

As salaam alaikum....is it possible to have the articles on this site in other languages....especially Arabic? Thanks
 

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General Discussions / Re: Space exploration?

« on: September 13, 2013, 09:48:57 AM »

God in the Quran invites us to consider, think, examine, reflect, ponder on various verses of the Quran. In the early centuries of Islam, the Muslims in their effort to understand the Quran made significant leaps in science, democracy, freedoms etc. However today, we have the hadiths, tafsirs etc that do the thinking for us. There is no need to ponder on these verses since the hadiths have fully explained them. For example 55:33 is explained as “if you, mankind and the Jinns, try to escape on the Day of Resurrection, then the angels, including those among them who guard Hellfire, will bring you back by directing smoke of fire and molten brass on you.”

Well, putting that aside, I feel the verse is talking about a possibility for us to traverse the entire cosmic space of the heavens. This penetration may not be a physical penetration, but one of knowledge....such as mapping the entire cosmic space. We have only managed to map a very small portion of the Universe and as of recently, we have only managed to send something beyond our solar system. By mapping the entire space, we would be able to know where the boundaries of existence are and whatever lies beyond. Now this would be a great scientific achievement for mankind. Am no physicist or anything but I think I see an award right there!

40

General Discussions / Re: Qur'an 11:71 Isaac and Ishmael

« on: September 02, 2013, 06:44:52 PM »

As salaam alaikum brother Joseph, thank you for your response.

However, your contention also supports the perspective that the vision therefore could not have been from God but one which was possibly misunderstood as being from God. After all, why would God rescind on a promise He had made earlier and one which guaranteed his son's life at least till the point he had offspring?

One would be inclined to ask, is this why Prophet Abraham asked the son’s opinion due to some element of doubt that had arisen in his mind as to the origin of the dream?  Or was his seeking of an opinion narrated to show the difference between the Biblical perspective which pictures the son as largely unawares of the what was about to transpire till the last moments. What is its purpose?

I am glad that you agree with me that the contention I put forward raises the above issues. But its important to note that these issues only arise if one believes the sacrificial son was Isaac. I find this conflict a big problem because it imparts directly on the “character/attributes” of Allah swt. However, there would be no conflict if the son was Ishmael.

In the story regarding Prophet Abraham and his son, if we are to take verses 37:101 -113 and understand them to capture three personalities, i.e. Prophets Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, why does the Quran only mention the blessing on two personalities at the end of the narrative (i.e. Prophets Abraham and Isaac - 37:113)?

In your article you asked  “ why a name would be necessary in 37.112 when it is absent in 37.101, if both verses are capturing the birth of new children. ” Since I agree with your point that 37.112 is not capturing a birth but an announcement of Prophet hood, the question to you then is  “ why a name would be necessary in 37.112 when it is absent in 37.101, if entire narrative is talking about the same child.” I find a name is introduced halfway the narrative so we can switch focus from one child to another. If it were the same child the entire narrative, then a name would arguably not be necessary in 37.112. This also shows that all three personalities are rewarded. Abraham and Ishmael in 37.110 “Indeed, We thus reward the doers of good.” and Isaac in 113.  I think this cannot be ruled out from a Quranic perspective.


Like you quoted, it doesnt matter to a Muslim if the son was Isaac or Ishmael as both opinions are valid. But in following the best meaning, I find choosing Isaac imparts directly on Gods "character/attributes" (major sin?) while Ishmael doesn't.


Thank you again for your response and I appreciate this opportunity to  share our views.

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General Discussions / Re: Qur'an 11:71 Isaac and Ishmael

« on: August 30, 2013, 12:30:45 PM »

Brother Joseph in the article also says
Furthermore, if the contrary position is to be accepted (i.e. the sacrificial son was Prophet Ishmael (pbuh)), it becomes difficult to reconcile why a name would be necessary in 37.112 when it is absent in 37.101, if both verses are capturing the birth of new children

I find the name is necessary because its referring to two different children.  Brother Joseph implies that if the verses are capturing the birth of a child, then both verses should have a name. However we see two other verses referring to births, one with a name the other without:
37:101 "So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy." This is referring to a birth.....no name is given.
11:71 "And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob." This is also referring to the birth of a child...but a name is given.

Also is it likely that the two verses quoted above are referring to the birth of the same child?? Two completely different situations and different times....also considering the wife is surprised by the news.

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General Discussions / Re: Qur'an 11:71 Isaac and Ishmael

« on: August 30, 2013, 11:51:51 AM »

And a comment to 8pider, I see your point when you take in the bible into effect with this verse you mentioned.
Genesis 17:19 God says “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”.

I thought that was smart thinking. But I think taking the Quran alone is a safer way to get the right answer and you might then see the article with a different view.

Thanks for sharing your view Hamzeh.....I agree with you that taking the Quran alone is safer. My basis was on the Quran verse 11:71 but not from the Bible. The Bible is only quoted to show the similarity. The verse in the Quran is 11:71 "And his Wife was standing, and she smiled. Then We gave her good tidings of Isaac and after Isaac, Jacob." God states to Abraham that he will have a son called Isaac, and Isaac will have a son called Jacob. How is it possible then that Isaac could be the sacrificial son (as the article on here states) when he hasn't yet had Jacob?

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General Discussions / Re: Qur'an 11:71 Isaac and Ishmael

« on: August 26, 2013, 07:57:03 AM »

Salaam Saba. God tells us the vision is complete, you say it is not. If you cannot believe Gods word, how can you believe mine or anyone else  for that matter? I think its best we leave it at that. Thanks for the discussion though...hopefully the original point (Isaac or Ishmael) is not lost in all of this. 

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Discussions / Re: intolerance at epic proportions

« on: August 26, 2013, 07:51:22 AM »

Whats even sadder is reading the comments. Their is no criticism of this barbaric act and some think its justified.

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Discussions / Re: intolerance at epic proportions

« on: August 25, 2013, 06:52:55 PM »

This is terrible. Its just too disheartening! May God help us! Do you know why the flag says Allah Rasul Muhammad and not Muhammad Rasull Allah?