Messages

1

General Discussions / Re: Translation error?

« on: October 24, 2019, 02:58:59 PM »

Salam Brother,

I am not good in Arabic, but I will still take a little attempt, if it helps you. I am directly, quoting from the the book "Lughat-Ul-Quran" (Dictionary of Quran).

The word used here (18:27) is, "Multahada" from root lam-ha-dal. It indicates a sanctuary/place of safety where people goes by shunning his usual way. It also means a underground bypass/tunnel.

A similar word from same root is used in 7:180 -"And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them. And leave [the company of] those who practice deviation ("yulhidina") concerning His names. They will be recompensed for what they have been doing."

According to the book I am referring, Quran defines each attributes of Allah and also describe the balance between those (for example, he is forgiver also he is the one who does justice. He does it in most balanced way). We need to not only practice Allah's attributes in our behavior but also in the proper proportion. Thus we can be a good human being as well as we will not disrupt the proper balance of society as a whole. "mulhid" is NOT someone who denies the existence of the God. But it is he, who upsets the balance of any of his attributes.

This part is from me: Just read the previous verse. 18:26- "... No guardian have they apart from Him, since He allots to no one a share in His rule ("hukum")!"[Muhammad Asad's translation]. This is the attribute of Allah. He has the whole share of "hukum". "Hukum" means command/authority/jurisdiction/rule etc. So, he described his attribute here ("authority of command") and also the proportion of this authority that he will not share it with anyone. Then, read the verse you quoted-

18:27--"AND CONVEY [to the world] whatever has been revealed to thee of thy Sustainer's writ. There is nothing that could alter His words; and thou canst find no "mul'taḥadan" other than with Him." [Muhammad Asad's translation]

So, if anyone takes any book other than what he revealed, it will be like deviating from usual way or taking an underpass. It will be deviating from the "proportion" of his this attribute (the solo authority of giving commandment). So, you will go to a sanctuary (the other book you will follow), that is not what Allah revealed as sanctuary (Quran). Quran is the source of comfort, as said in-

20:2-"We did not bestow the Qur'an on thee from on high to make thee unhappy/distressed"

I think, RK's translation is not a literal word to word translation, but gives the proper meaning.

And Allah knows the best. I hope, someone more knowledgeable will give you more accurate answer. 

N:B: I am not follower of Rashed Khalifa.

2

Women / Re: Women's clothes and rape?

« on: September 11, 2019, 02:20:30 PM »

Salam Brother Tausif,

I am also a newbie here and haven't read all of Joseph's articles. But I believe, you have misunderstood his views about it. I have found 2 forum thread about this topic. please read from there for more clarification. In one of it, he said, "In my humble view from a Quranic perspective, a bridal due (ujur) would be a pre-requisite to establish the contract of marriage (4:24; 60:10)."

http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=1023.0

http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=2431.0

3

Women / Re: Prophet Job/Aiyub beating his wife (38:44)

« on: September 05, 2019, 12:04:56 AM »

Walaikum Salam Truth Seeker,

I am well aware of all the controversies about Rashed Khalifa. I am looking for a proper understanding of a verse from all available translation (and haven’t got any satisfactory answer yet), and this search is not biased to any person's other theories.

Jajakallahu khairan for replying. I understand your concern.   I am keen to hear opinions and be respectful to other's opinion, while seeking guidance to God to take the best meaning.     

4

Women / Re: Prophet Job/Aiyub beating his wife (38:44)

« on: September 04, 2019, 02:53:45 PM »

Salam Brother Wakas,

May Allah bless you for your time to reply my query. I went through your website and will keep following inshallah.

The explanation you gave is in concordance with 2 available translations, hence your translation must has credibility. You can check it in islamawakened.com.
38:41 (Shabbir Ahmed): "And remember Our servant Job, when he called upon his Lord, "Behold, the serpent has bitten me and I am in distress and suffering."  .
38:44 (Ahmed Ali's): "Take a handful of herbs," (We said to him), and apply and rub them, and do not make a mistake." We found him patient in adversity, an excellent devotee, always turning in repentance."

I would like to know your valuable opinion about 2 things:
1. Your opinion about Rashed Khalif's translation of 38:44- "Now, you shall travel the land and preach the message, to fulfill your pledge." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was a submitter".
He used the word "travel" to translate "Idrib" and "breaking pledge" to translate the word "tahnath", but I am not sure which word represent "dightan" in his translation.
2. And your opinion, whether "dightan" could be translated as bundle of follower (companion/sahaba). Hence God grants family/follower in previous verse and now telling him to take bundle of them with him to travel to preach. The pledge/duty of a prophet of God is to preach, right?

Thanks again for your kind response.

5

Women / Re: Prophet Job/Aiyub beating his wife (38:44)

« on: September 04, 2019, 02:28:34 AM »

Walaikum Salam Truth Seeker, May Allah's blessing be you and your family. I am a great fan of this website/forum also of brother Joseph. I am well aware of Quran-centric approach. I apologise for not being  able to clarify my query.

I understood that, this verse have been mistranslated due to the over reliance of the translators, on Hadith (mentioned by Ibne Kathir). I didn’t find any proper translation that can clarify the meaning according to context. 

I just wanted to know your opinion about the right translation or meaning of this verse (38:44) by avoiding that hadith.

Thanks for replying. 

6

Women / Re: Prophet Job/Aiyub beating his wife (38:44)

« on: August 17, 2019, 04:40:36 AM »

Dear Joseph,

I kept searching and have come with one more idea.

In 38:44, most translator translated "dightan" as bunch of grass/plants. By observing "dightan" in 12:44, 21:5, I assume, it means "A mixed group".

Another meaning of "idrib" is to "let out" or "finishing a lesson so that everybody becomes free from obligations" (synonyms: مكنه من الفرار, وسع الثوب, ضرب).

Can the translation of 38:44 be following, according to the context:
38:41 And remember Our servant Job, when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, Satan has touched me with hardship and torment."
38:42 [So he was told], "Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for] a cool bath and drink."
38:43 And We granted him his family and a like [follower???] with them as mercy from Us and a reminder for those of understanding.
38: 44 [We said], "And take in your hand a mixed group of follower (or hand full of follower) and finish educating them and do not break your pledge." Indeed, We found him patient, an excellent servant. Indeed, he was one repeatedly turning back [to Allah].

I think, the pledge here is "preaching", which is a common pledge for all prophet, with God.

Waiting for your valuable opinion. Thank you.

7

Women / Prophet Job/Aiyub beating his wife (38:44)

« on: August 15, 2019, 11:03:56 PM »

Dear Joseph,

Salam.

I am feeling that there is something wrong with the translation of Quran 38:44, in where prophet Job/Aiyub strike ("Idrib") a bunch of grass. Many translation says that, he actually struck his wife with it, mostly based on Ibne Kathir's Tafseer. Katheer describes a story that, prophet Job/Aiyub became angry with his wife for some reason and made an oath to lash her 100 times. So, Allah suggested her to tie 100 grasses together and strike her once (so that it becomes 100 lashes). In this way, his oath was fulfilled. I even didn't find this story in any authentic hadith book. My doubt about this translation is based on several facts.

1. This verse doesn't have the word "wife" in plain Arabic. It doesn't mention whom Job struck.
2. I think, there is also no feminine pronoun.
3. In your article where you wrote about "Daraba" in details, you said , whenever in Quran "idrib" means strike, it mentions both "(1)the object/body part to receive the strike" and/or the "(2)object, which is used to strike". You ruled out 4:34, according to this policy. I think, 38:44 should also be ruled out, if you consider that both (1) and (2) should be present. Hence, "idrib" means something else in 38:44 too.
4. I don't know Arabic well, so I used a translator app. I found that "idrib" also means "multiply" or "thresh" (removing grain by striking crop). According to both Quran (38:43) and Bible, Job used to own many cattle, servants and children before falling into distress and when these were given back to him, it was given by multiplying in number. Can "idrib" mean "multiply", in 38:44? Or can it mean "plant seed (by threshing the grain from the grass)" and thus starting a new farm-based life?

Thanks in advance.