Questions/Comments on the Quran

The detailed explanation by some one taking pain and time to understand the real message in Quran is really time worth spent. bravo The careful choice of words is required from the wives of all in positions of authority even today as people opposing them are looking for reasons to create an atmosphere negeting all good done by the people in authority. This negetive smearing is a potent tool of anti media in the modern day as well. This brings to us a very valid issue in the understanding of the Al Qur an. We try to fit the understanding of the meanings to all words based on the meanings felt to be correct by our forefathers ( cookie cutter phenomenon ). For some reason we feel that if we critically analyse the meanings established by few of our forefathers, we will be committing a sin. We can improve our understandig of the script, the writing techniques of prophets ( S ) companions, including the understanding of signs like Gezm, Shadda, etc, and we will realize that there is a lot more in the timeless message of the Holy Book rather than preconceived understanding of social and all issues. The rules of grammar in the Arabic language were all written later based on the Al Qur an script and a great number of Arabic scholars had written books on grammar and lexiconolgy based on the Quranic script tecniques long ago. These are now easily available to us (thanks to the internet), both in Arabic and in English by great scholarly work of people like William Wright for his great translation of Grammar rules elaborated by previous Arab scholars and people like Edward Lanes who spent more than 30 years of his life translating the great work of Arab scholars in lexiconology. These are the translations of the great books by Arab scholars, who wrote these Arabic books to preserve the understanding of the Quran as in the time of the Prophet, fearing that the grammatical rules and lexical meanings may get lost and get changed with the evolution of the language as happens with any language and thus convey a different message. Since the script is preserved forever by our Creator as promised by him, we need to go back to the scholarly work done by these great scholars who spent their lives preserving the understanding of the script techniques of the Prophets (S) companions (peace be upon them). I humbly suggest to all readers to go over in great details the concepts of Gezm, Shadda and all other signs used over and under the Quranic words and verses with the help of books such as those by William Wright and Edward Lanes, which are translations of great Arab scholars, and easily available in print and on line, and see if we can better understand the timeless message from our Creator. There is no sin to improve our understanding, but it is probably a bigger sin to stay fixed in our understanding and fail to correct ourselves, if it truly is a correction. We should not feel shy to try to understand each and every word over and over again with the help of these great works mentioned above. True understanding may bring our glory back. This long statement is not in response to the topic above only, but is applicable to the understanding of the book as a whole. Best regards

Peace Brothers, I also use a java Quran software on my symbian phone N70... It is the tool which I use most of the time, because it remains with me wherever I am, even at work... And since it let you do research by word (english and arabic)... I find it one of the most important tools in my toolbox... Anyone doing similar here? Regards

Pl quote any principal from any book in support of such an understanding. The object of focus is min kitabin, and wa la is the continuation not to be given meanings independent of the construction of the sentence. It will be read in continuity what earlier is said and not in isolation. It cannot be a continuation because the Pronoun 'HOU' attached to verb 'takhouttou' cannot refer back to 'Min Kitaabin' as I already explained above, 'min kitaabin' is not definite. Pronouns are used for definite persons/objects. So, the pronoun HAA is for AL-Kitaab mentioned in 2947, and since this kitaab was being in revelation process, it was something being done in the present and not the past.

3442 So today, none of you can help or harm one another. And We will sayto the transgressors ?Taste the retribution of the Fire that you used to deny.? "SAYTO" IS MISSING A SPACE CHARACTER BETWEEN "SAY" AND "TO" 3539 HeistheOnewhomadeyousuccessorsontheEarth. Subsequently, whoever disbelieves, then to him is his disbelief... SPACE CHARACTERS MISSING AT BEGINNIG OF VERSE 384 And they were surprised that a warner has come to them from among themselves. And the rejecters said ?This is amagician, a liar.? SPACE IS NEED BETWEEN "A" and "MAGICIAN" 3333 You shall settle down in your homes, and do not go about like in the olden days of ignorance. You shall hold the communion, and contribute towards betterment, and obey God and His messenger. God wishes to remove any affliction from you, O people of the Dwelling, and to purify you completely. 9125 As for those who have a disease in their hearts, it only increased foulness to their foulness, and they died as rejecters. 7162 Those who were wicked amongst them altered what was said to them with something different; so We sent to them an affliction from the sky because they were wicked. THE WORD TRANSLATED AS FOULNESS IN 9125, IS IT THE SAME AS THE ONE TRANSLATED AS AFFLICTION IN 3333 and 7162

Salam WayFinder, Thank you. That helps a lot. Just one more further query couldn't "la" also mean "do not" as used in Verse 2 of Surah Al-Kafirun I serve not what you serve (la-aq-buduma-taq-buduna)? Salaam, Happy you found it helpful... In surah kaafiroun, it is LAAA... ( LAM+Alif) ... Which carries the meaning of negation most of the time.... But in the Ayah you posted in first post... It is LA ... (LAM only with fatha) ... So they are both different and have diffferent meanings. Salaam

sorry i edited when you was replying, may be you could answer it again. Thanks. Sure thing. 297 Say "Who was an enemy to Gabriel, so that he descended it on your heart/mind with God's permission, confirming to what (is) between his hands, and (a) guidance and a good news to the believers." Say is addressed to last prophet (clear) Transmission medium is through Gabriel to the prophet?s mind with God?s permission (clear) Confirming to what between his hands (not clear) Guidance and good news to the believers (clear) 31-3 Alif-lam-meem Allahu la ilaha illa huwa alhayyu alqayyoomu God, no God except He, the alive, the of no beginning and self sufficient. Nazzala AAalayka alkitaba bialhaqqi musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi waanzala alttawrata waal-injeel He descended on you The Book with the truth, confirming to what (is) between His hands, and He descended the Torah and the Injeel. Now clear ?between His hands? is non literal meaning from God; cross reference for consistency http//www.searchtruth.com/search.php?keyword=lima+bayna+yadayhi&translator=6&search=1&start=0 Peace

Thank you, Wakas, for the article, I had not read it before. It has helped me define the words 'Momin' and 'Muslim' much better. Its sort of like asking "what came first the chicken or the egg". By reading that article and also reflecting on my own journey I agree that one must first submit before going to the next stage of certainty or faithfullness. This is what happened to me after I read through Dr. Khalifa's translation of the Quran, I thought 'all I must do is good works'. But then as I carried out this hypothesis, I wanted to increase the amount of good works I did in a day and decrease the bad works. I found that the only way that was possible was to observe salat and fast etc. so that there would be a constant reminder to me in the day - like a revision session of prioritizing good works before anything else. With this my faith increased as I started reading the Quran even more. Peace.

Could some explain what this ayat means, " God has sealed upon their hearts and upon their ears, and over their eyes are covers. They will incur a great retribution. " (27, http//www.free-minds.org/quran/PM/2/7) It seems like god is not giving the unbelievers a chance to find the right path by "sealing" them off. Any thoughts? Also, does some one know where I can buy/order the english translation of the Quran that is on this site http//www.free-minds.org/quran/ hail I have often wondered about this without a solution until now , i think. 288 They say, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word we need no more)." Nay, Allah's curse is on them for their blasphemy Little is it they believe. 4155 (They have incurred divine displeasure) In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; We need no more)";- Nay, Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe;- The word here is Tab?a and can mean stamp/imprint/brand/make to be dirty as well as to seal. So in 4155 it should be; ?Allah brands/makes to be dirty their hearts for their blasphemy? Which is now in agreement with 2.88 above. Simerlarly; 2.7 Put a stamp/imprint Allah on their hearts/understandings and on their hearing and on their eye?s overwhelming and for them a torment a great. So don't all the above aya'h go hand in hand now? And God Bless.

With the help of brother Wakas post's link, I refered and understand that Ghanim is used for loot, if I am not mistaken. But still not I am not sure. Salaam Khan According to PRL Online (brother Wakas? link) Gh-Nun-Miim has more than one meaning as shown below. How did you come to an understanding that Ghanim is used for loot? Is there any verse in Quran that permits taking loot? Gh-Nun-Miim = obtained, got, took (usually in reference to spoils or booties); acquisition without difficulties, regaining, sheep or goats collected together ghanima vb. (1) perf. act. 841, 869 (ghanimtum); see No. 1 ghanam n.coll. 6146, 2018, 2178 (ghanami, ghanamii, ghanamu) maghnam n.m. (pl. maghanim) 494, 4815, 4819, 4820 (maghaanimu, maghaanima) Lane?s Lexicon, Volume 6, pages 84, 85

Why do you single out black people and as if they are inferior? Hi Diem, Sory didn't mean it that way at all, i am not white neither peace But saying that is it strange or what looking around the world, the blacker the people the worse off they seem to be. The whiter people are the better off they seem to be hypno God Bless.

what was the verse that talked about selling the revelations for petty gains

The question is, SHOULD al-malik be held as a title or attribute by men? If so, why not al-azeez? The Arabic title "al-malik" simply means the king or ruler. Since there were other nations that had leaders called kings, this is an actual title that can be applied to men. Of course it can be applied to men, just as al-azeez can be applied to men. Quran uses both the words al-malik and al-azeez for men. But does it use these words for God anywhere? It says al-malikul haqq and al-azeezur raheem etc. But why does it no say "al-malik" only, or "al-azeez" only, why not even once? Don?t make the mistake of translating before understanding the logic. Formulate first, see if the logic is in line with the rest of the Quran, put in the values/meanings later. Or else your understanding will be prejudiced. However, the attribute "al-azeez" means the powerful or the mighty, and this is an attribute that only God possesses. But the Quran uses it for a human. Why would it use it for a human if it was a divine attribute? The titles "al-azeez" and "al-malik" are completely different... Of course, all attributes are different. But both of these are human attributes. Why else are they not used on their own for God anywhere in the Quran? But bro, we have no Quranic evidence for that. This is FALSE. The Qur'an makes it clear that all power and might belong to God (2165; 671; 1065; 515. Since there is no power independent of God, then nobody else is fitting for the title "al-azeez", or the powerful. But don?t you see, that the quran also says that all mulk belongs to God, that there is no mulk independent of God either? But despite of that, the quran still uses the term al-malik for humans. Using the same logic, why can?t it also use the term al-azeez for humans?

""""""""""""""If you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down onto Our servant (Muhammad), then produce a chapter of the like thereof, and call your witnesses, supporters, who are apart from God, if you are truthful. (al-Baqara, 2.23)""""""""""" the challenge is not for us, but for someone that time who has doubts about Quran if theres some other book that existed, has surahs similar to Quran, if the challenge is for us we can easily copy it and says here I have something like Quran. Many of us has no clear idea about what Quran is all about. to me, its a guidance given to Mohammed and his men that time and for me, the message is GOD gave through Mohammed the guidance called Quran. The guidance is for the people then and there at that time. Seeking help from Quran and Hadiths for everything and ignoring the truths from events happenning so close now and near is bad. Its just seeing backwards and walking.. we have to believe in the GOD now who guides us with the events that surrounds us, if not then it means GOD's business is over by revealing the Quran.

Does anyone else understand the verse the way Mazhar does? restrain the hands of both two in the manner of handcuffing as a punishment, pvb, I have considered that the command be implemented/executed and have read with . Samia and brother Anwar could better explain the technicalities.

Mostly we air the same point of view but with a slight difference thinking we are making a totally different statement. Can bilal say what is devoting and then worshiping and then who God is? Finally combine all the three together for practical guidance in life? So that it helps one in his life out side of the mosque as Quran is the Guide for it. Quran as per sunnah, it is guidance to the mosque thus portraying quran as unsuitable for life outside of the mosque.

Peace be upon you Ahmad, Moses is present, so all that makes no sense as you stated. Further, all of the magicians could not be first, one would be second, third, etc. The "first" implies you now understand the ONENESS, thier really is no "second" once you awaken and see. You mean the magi (magicians)?

Peace, There are verses that are hard to understand but the Koran itself says it has secrets and hidden meanings. But the general message is extremely easy. I agree with this. The Qur'an mentions it's secrets, and the knowledge and understanding is grasped by those with pure minds and hearts, with God's guidance and mercy. However, the overall message in the scripture is to worship God ALONE, which is a pretty simple message, as long as the readers are willing to abandon all their various forms of idols. So, in this sense, the general message in the reading is extremely easy to understand and follow. Peace, Ahmad

Since we are on the topic of arabic words, can someone shed some light on the word "adultery" in the Quran? There are many places where the word is used but in 187 "Surely We have made whatever is on the earth and embellishment..." and 242 "The adulteress and the adulterer flog each of them a hundred stripes..." Is "zinah" in these two verses the same word or are they two different words? What is the grammatical structure?

well...it also says "mayyufsidufiha"..and david and moses were not of those who perpetrated "fasad"! -) ...so u might want to consider adding the fasad angle to the translation! -) i was missing u...ur originality in interpreting! -) salaams! So they didn't cause fasaad, look at what the queen is saying that kings do cause fasaad, who are we to argue! Qalat inna almulooka ithadakhaloo qaryatan afsadooha wajaAAaloo aAAizzata ahlihaathillatan wakathalika yafAAaloona Tahir ul Qadri ( &#1746 ( &#1740 Yousuf Ali She said "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave. Know she takes reasonable steps to avoid fasaad. And the Malaika where saying that the vicegerent will cause fasaad, So it doesn't mean they cause fasaad but may appear such to people. God Bless.

Yes. I believe that man can love more than one woman at a time. Whether it will be equal is another question. Man has a different love for wife, mother, sister, daughter. However, as far as marriage is concerned, the love will be their, but the level of love will no doubt be different. Maybe the question should of been Can a man love more than one woman at a time fairly/equally? A man can love more than one woman at once, but he cannot love them equally. Nobody loves two people equally. You'll always love somebody more than you love somebody else, no matter by how much it is. )