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Offline Reader Questions

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Understanding the Best Translation for 14:34
« on: April 18, 2012, 09:58:48 PM »
Salam Br Joseph
 
Following are two translations of 14:34. Most translators use the word "All you ask of Him" and a few "Something out of what you be asking of Him". Reality shows that humans do not get all that they may be praying for. Which, in your opinion is a better rendering?
 
Muhammad Asad
And [always] does He give you something out of what you may be asking of Him; and should you try to count God's blessings, you could never compute them. [And yet,] behold, man is indeed most persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ingrate!   

M. M. Pickthall
And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the bounty of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate.z
    
Thanks as always.

Offline Joseph Islam

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Re: Understanding the Best Translation for 14:34
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2012, 10:00:24 PM »
Salamun Alaikum,

I read the preposition particle 'min' as 'from' / 'something from' / 'some of' / 'something out of' / 'out of'. It carries the nuance of some part.

This verse (14:34) is very deep as you will no doubt appreciate and much can be written with regards it.

Mankind's prayer can be quite contradictory. For example, if a person asks for God to protect their choices so that no harm comes to them and then on another occasion they ask for a dangerous sports car which they are not experienced to drive (which would cause them to become disabled in an awful crash), then which pray will God answer? If they are not able to get the car even though they prayed for one, can they truly conclude that God did not fulfil their prayers even though He did by fulfilling the first?

It is not so simple.

017:011
"Man prays for evil as he prays for good, for man was ever hasty"

The verse must be read in context of at least verse 14:31 onwards in the context of those who have 'believed' and who put their faith completely in God and appreciate the depths of the conscious and the subconscious 'want'. I am sure you will appreciate this anyway.

I hope that helps, God willing.

Regards,
Joseph
'During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act' 
George Orwell