Verse 21:112 - Qala or Qul? (Say or He Said)?

[Reader Questions]

Sallam Brother
 
In Surah 21, Verse 112, the word is 'Qala'. Some translators write this as 'say' (Qul) in english and others as 'He said' or 'He says' (Qala).

What is the meaning of 'Qala'?
 
Thank you and Sallam

[Joseph Islam]

Salamun Alaikum.

‘Qala’ in Arabic means ‘He said’. However, words such as these need to be understood in the Quranic narrative style where the reference can be of a future event or one that has passed but narrated in the present. If it is referring to a future event, then one may find a translator render it as ‘He will say’. Of course, the translator only tries to give their best interpretation according to what they understand from a context.

Believers are asked to listen to the Word and extract the best meaning from it. Therefore, context is key and it is clear from the following verse that not everyone is expected to agree on one rendition. Otherwise, there would be no purpose of saying ‘Get the best meaning from X’. So some degree of flexibility is acknowledged to obtain the best meaning.

039:018
"Those who listen to the Word (the Quran) and follow the best meaning in it / best of it (Arabic: fayattabi'una ahsanahu) those are the ones whom God has guided and those are the one's endowed with understanding
 
039.055
"And follow the best of what is revealed to you from your Lord, before the penalty comes to you suddenly while you do not perceive!”

I hope that helps, God willing.
Joseph.