47:4 - Analysis required.

burhan

Salaam All,

474 contains some multiple meaning words.

fadarba alrriqabi

What does this mean?

Bad translators have already translated this to mean "smite their necks", even though "Their" or "them" pronouns don't appear.

Allah is called Raqeeb, ie. Someone who watches over - A Guardian.
and it follows a Riqab is someone who is being watched ie. A Captiave.

Neck appears to be a synonym for captive and not the body part.

As in "head hunt" means scouting for sought after employees. Not hunting humans for their heads.

Riqab means war captive in other verses of the Quran.

If fi-rrirqab means the process of ransoming slave then could
fadarba-alrriqabi mean the process of raiding and arresting.

FM do a slightly better translation, but "formation" and the use of "their" doesn't add up.

474 So, if you encounter those who have rejected, then strike their formation until you capture them, then bind them securely. You may either set them free or ransom them, until the war ends. And had God willed, He alone could have beaten them, but He thus tests you by one another. As for those who get killed in the cause of God, He will never let their deeds be put to waste.

Peace.

hafeez_kazi

peace Burhan

(All meanings from AL MAURID, AL WAFI, ATLAS and HANS WEHR dictionary)

O ye who believe! when ye meet the unbelievers ADVANCING never turn your backs to them. 815

O ye who believe! when ye meet a FORCE be firm and call Allah in remembrance much (and often); that ye may prosper. 845

Therefore when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight) smite at their necks; at length when ye have thoroughly subdued them bind a bond firmly (on them) thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded) but if it had been Allah's Will He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you some with others. But those who are slain in the way of Allah He will never let their deeds be lost. 474

D.ARB AR- RIQAAB = BEAT the captives
H.ATTAA 'IDHAA ATHKHANTUMO -HUM = until WHEN you have given them a sound BEATING
FA- SHUDDO AL- WATHAAQ = Then you fetter / shackle / tie them up
FA- 'IMMAA MANN(AN) BAcDU = then (release them) be it (with) graciousness
WA- 'IMMAA FIDAA' = or be it (with) ransom

If it is KILLING of DISBELIEVERS then whom shall the Muslims RELEASE with RANSOM? THE DEAD BODIES THE DISBELIEVERS?

There is no NECK in the above verse. For NECK please read the following verses with AcNAAQ

?FA- ID.RIBO FAWQA AL- AcNAAQ WA- ID.RIBO MIN -HUM KULL BANAAN 812

? So SMITE them above the NECK and SMITE of them every fingertip. 812

135 1443 1713 1729 264 3433 368 3833 4071

(The traditional translations are misguiding)

Thanks

Wakas

peace brother burhan,

"faidriboo fawqa al aAAnaqi" has been translated as "smite their necks" in 812, as a comparison.

My concordance gives the following info

raqabah n.f. (pl. riqab) = a neck/slave

2177, 492, 589, 960, 474, 583, 9013

Interestingly, 474 is the only sign translated as 'neck', the rest state 'slave'.
You could be onto something...

Wakas

Zlatan

Salam

Bad translators have already translated this to mean "smite their necks", even though "Their" or "them" pronouns don't appear.

maybe it would be more appropriate to say non-literal translators....

except if there is a proof that non-literal translations are generaly bad

best wishes, Zlatan

ayman

Peace brother Burhan, all,

Looking at it closely I feel "striking the necks" is the correct translation.

I think that perhaps some of the difficulties noted on this thread are not due to the word "RiQAB" but due to "striking" being the wrong translation for "DhRB". The word "DhRB" is used to mean "seperate" and not "strike" throughout the great reading.

Here is the translation

So when you meet those who rejected, separate the necks/the captives so that/until when you overpower them then bind the bond. Then it is either setting free or exchange until the war lays down its burdens. And had The God willed He would have directly gotten victory over them but this is to test some of you with others. And those who were killed in the path of The God, He will not let their deeds be lost.

If "RiQAB" is understood as captives then we can deduce that the captives must be separated from the battle. This means, for example, that the captives cannot be used as human shields.

I hope this helps.

Peace and all best wishes,

Ayman.

Wakas

peace all,

I think the evidence suggests the word riqab does indeed refer to slaves/captives. This in turn may lead to questioning of DaadRaBa.

Wakas

Grourself

Peace,

The meaning of

is basic and clear, mukhamat, in 1424 and similar verses. Dharaba is used by God not as a physical striking or hitting. Though this word has many meanings we should only be concerned with what the author (God) means when He uses it. If we consistently keep that meaning throughout the reading we get a clearer understanding of mutashabiha verses. Try it and see.

In 37 The word mutashabiha literally means similar or consistent. It is also found in 3923 to indicate God revealed the ahsanal hadithsi kitaban mutashabihan (which literally means the Qur?aan is the best hadith in a form of a book that is consistent) to indicate the instruction of any particular subject spread all over the Qur?aan is self explanatory.