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QUL

 

 

ANALYSIS AND QUESTIONS BY MEMBER:

 

Wazir1961

 


Received October - November 2011

 

Dear brother Joseph,

 

I am emailing to you instead of using forum is that to explain my point I need to support it by attached documents. I observed common practice among us to recite Sura-Ikhlas on many occasions including 'Namaz'. So I thought, you may shade some light on my confusion. And if I have valid point, I request you to add the article on topic for benefits of others.

 

We, Muslims, widely recite Sura – Ikhlas in prayer, dua or at many other occasions. This and many other sura starts with word “Qul” translated as “Say”.

 

While reading grammar book “The Essential Arabic: A learner’s Practical Guide” by Rafi’el – Imad Faynan (Professor of Arabic at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi), I came across conjugation of word “Qala” and grammar rules of imperative verb. 

On page no. 98, author provides conjugation of word ‘Qala’ (I took only three forms relevant to our discussion) which are as follow:

 

‘Qul’ (Say) is a 2nd person masculine singular imperative verb (fi’lul-amri)

‘Aaqoolu’ (I say) is a 1st person singular present tense verb (al-mudaari’u)

‘Naqoolu’ (We say) is a 1st person plural present tense verb (al-mudaari’u)

 

 

 

 

On page 53 of book, author writes:

Imperative verb’ is called “ fi’lul-amri ”. It is a verb through which we order or request someone to do something. For example:

 

 

 

Go (Order) or Please go (Request).

In other words: One (Speaker) orders / requests someone (listener) to do something (to go)

'

Now, let me apply this rule to Sura – Ikhkas to demonstrate the problem, if we recite it 'as it is'.

One (Allah SWT) orders someone (Prophet SAW) to do something (to say - i.e. recite or convey to his followers - :  “He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.”) This is perfect construction with reference to Quran. But problem arises when we recite ‘as it is’ in prayer, dua or at many other occasions.

 

Now, imagine when we recite Sura- Ikhlas ‘as it is’ what will be scenario considering the listener in this case is Allah SWT.

One (who recites the Sura Ikhlas) requests someone (who listens - Allah SWT) to do something (to say: “He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.”)

 

In other words, we are requesting Allah SWT to say that “Allah SWT (another one?)” is He who is One and so on.

 

Isn’t this scenario problematic?

What is solution to this problem?

We have other two conjugations: “Aaqoolu” mean “I say” and “Naqoolu” mean “We say”

 

So, will it not be appropriate to replace word “Qul” with “Aaqoolu” when reciting individually and “Naqoolu” when reciting in congregation?

Note: I am not suggesting in any way to replace word in Quran, I am saying that when we recite this type of sura in namaz, dua or at any other occasion, Will it not proper to be mindful of language?

 

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Regards,

Wazir