Why free-minds has translated Qur'an 2:171 differently?
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I was going through comparative translations of the verse 2171 of Al Baqara until I found a translation by free-minds as well as Rashad Khalifa which was beyond the conventional translations of this verse.
I was doing so because I found most of the translations or almost all of them to be problematic due to following reason
- Almost all translations go like this
The likeness of those who disbelieve is as the likeness of one who shouts to that which hears nothing, save a call and a cry; deaf, dumb, blind -- they do not understan.d
According to these translations, the verse begins with giving a parable of "those who disbelieve" but then ends up giving their likeness to "the one who shouts", here the one who shouts refers to the Prophet or someone Who calls disbelievers to truth, and this is what sounds absurd.
This issue has been raised in Tafsir Al Mizan
]It appears that there is a sort of reversal in this parable. Although it begins as a parable of those who disbelieve, it changes to describe the shepherd, the caller to guidance; it is in fact the likeness of the Prophet not of those who were being called by him to the right path. But as the three adjectives deducted from it (deaf, dumb blind, so they do not understand) were attributes of the disbelievers - not of him who was calling them to the truth - it was highly appropriate to ascribe the parable to the disbelievers, and not to the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.). Thus, there appears to be a reversal in the parable
But, Out of all translations available on internet, only two or three of them seem to provide a different but something that sounds logical to me.
These translations are by The Monotheist - Free Minds and Rashad Khalifa.
I'm not a fan of Khalifa because of his 19-theory and his eventual heresy of calling himself a messenger, I simply don't believe in his claims.
But sometimes I find his translations quite impressive.
Like this one,
So my question is why Rashad Khalifa and Qur'anist organisations like free-minds have translated this verse as
"The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand." (Khalifa)
and
"And the example of those who disbelieve is like one who repeats what he has heard of calls and shouts; deaf, dumb, and blind, they do not understand." (free-minds)
This translation sounds reasonable to be, as it avoids such problematic implications of those conventional translations as this translation likens the disbelievers with one who repeats the inputs from external stimuli without questioning them, this doesn't only sound logical but also it has resemblence with the previous verse.
But my question is,
What are the substantial basis for these translations? especially for the words like "repeat" - I couldn't find that word "yanAAiqu" derived from roots Nun-ayn-Qaf can mean "repeat", according to project root list and classical dictionaries like lane Lexicon means "shout"
Nun-Ayn-Qaf = to cry out to (sheep), bleat, call out, halloo, urge on with shouts, incite.
na'aqa vb. (1) impf. act. 2171
Lane's Lexicon, Volume 8, pages 288, 289 ## http//ejtaal.net/aa/#q=n3q
So anyone here capable to help me out, I'll be very grateful for your help.
Peace be unto you.
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As I have looked at the dictionnary, it give first sounds emmitted by animals, ravens, sheep, and it gives screech and they cry but rather as something that animals do.
So the simil is like those who screech something which is not heard except as a call, they are deaf, dum and blind and do not think (or reason)
Seems congruent with the previous aya. They sort of repeat automatically what has been infused in them also automatically.
Salaam
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Salam brother,
Can you give me some reference?
The classical dictionaries I looked in mention meanings such as "Shouting at herds of animals like a shepherd",
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Salam brother,
Can you give me some reference?
The classical dictionaries I looked in mention meanings such as "Shouting at herds of animals like a shepherd",
Right now with me I only have the dictionnary Wehr.
Also in spanish translations they say about the cries of the shepherd, but I do not see any shepherd around, and the shephers I know do ot imitate animals, so that is what I get from the text-
Salaam
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Salam all,
Recently I happen to do translation comparisons of verse 2171 and I would like to understand the reasons behind the difference.
Majority of translations are like below
2171 The parable of those who disbelieve is that of someone who calls upon someone who hears nothing except screaming and yelling. Deaf, dumb, and blind—they do not understand.FM translation is as below
2171 And the example of those who disbelieve is like one who repeats what he has heard of calls and cries; deaf, dumb, and blind, they do not comprehend.From meaning perspective, to me FM translation is more coherent (in previous verse, the verse is informing us that some people refuse to follow what God revealed because they just follow what their fathers are doing) but I cannot seem to find the meaning of "repeat" in PRL.
Really appreciate if anyone can help on the explanation.
Wassalam,
Ade -
Peace ade_cool.
My understanding of 2171 is connected to 2170 and convey how some humans maintain the same system of relying and believing their parents/scholars...and repeating the same "words" and understanding as their parents and scholars...etc without checking and researching the real meaning of what is said to them,. Parrots do the same,they are taught words and phrases and repeat them right with no understanding of what they are saying!
2170
When they are told, "Follow what God has revealed herein," they say, "We follow only what we found our parents doing." What if their parents did not understand, and were not guided?
وَإِذا قيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعوا ما أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ قالوا بَل نَتَّبِعُ ما أَلفَينا عَلَيهِ ءاباءَنا أَوَلَو كانَ ءاباؤُهُم لا يَعقِلونَ شَيـًٔا وَلا يَهتَدونَ
2171
The example of such disbelievers is that of parrots who repeat what they hear of sounds and calls, without understanding. Deaf, dumb, and blind; they cannot understand.
وَمَثَلُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا كَمَثَلِ الَّذى يَنعِقُ بِما لا يَسمَعُ إِلّا دُعاءً وَنِداءً صُمٌّ بُكمٌ عُمىٌ فَهُم لا يَعقِلونَ .The word "Yaniku" in 2171 in Arabic is closer to the meaning of "Mimicking" which is repeating in a broader sense.
A clear example is "Salla Allah Alaihi Wa Sallam". Many repeat these saying when they hear the name of the prophet. It has no meaning whatsoever and does not benefit or harm or save anyone, yet we "parrot" such phrases because our parents/scholars have done so.
The real meaning ,when one studies and ponders is simple. The word "Nabi" in Qoran applied to the prophet when he was alive., Hence "Sallu Alahi Wa Sallimu Taslima" was an instruction to that generation of Mumineen to help and support the Nabi like GOD and His Angels are helping and supporting him. i.e The Nabi is no longer with us,hense we cannot "Salli Alaihi…."
Just the same as we cannot higher our speech/voice above his when he is speaking or when we are speaking in his presence.Actually traditional Islam is full of parroting the same words and understanding of parents.
GOD bless you.
Peace. -
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَـرُوا۟
And the instance of those people who have disavowed —
كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَآءٙ وَنِدَآءٙۚ
Is like he who shepherds a herd by that sounds which he listens nothing meaningful except calls and whoops.
صُـمُّۢ بُكْـمٌ عُمْىٚ
They people are deaf dumb, blind —
فَهُـمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ .2171١٧١
Thereby, they do not reflect-recognize-differentiate.
يَنْعِقُ Verb Imperfect; Third person; singular; Mood Indicative; Transitive; Subject pronoun hidden and مصدر-نَعْقٌ Verbal noun.
Lane's Lexicon He hallooed them on to fight, etc. One who drives away the beasts, and cries out after them. -
Salam,
I am close to Mazhar translation and the remark of "Good logic" is good to link this ayat with the previous (2170) and from a rhetorical analysis it is also linked to ayats (2163-164) and (21.
My translation of 2171
- First part of the ayat
The example of those who deny is the image of the one whose is beating the drum (bringing/rounding up) and hears only calls and clamor. - Second part of the ayat
Deaf, dumb, blind, they do not understand.
Linguistic explanations
(1) (21716) - yanʿiqu - Root nūn ʿayn qāf (ن ع ق)
=> How the arab used this root ? "for the shepherd to scold or talk harshly to the herd in order to drive it forward.
In french the best word to translate is Rameuter (by using the voice with insistence and repetition).(2) One of the meaning of the root qāf rā hamza (ق ر أ) (from whitch is derived the word " l-Qur'ānu" is (like in all semitic language) shouting, calling...
Rhetoric explanations
(1)
The first part of the ayat (2171) is linked to- (2170) And if they are told "Follow what God has sent down,"...
Follow what ? Which Call/Shout ? Answer here
- (2163) And your divinity is but One divinity, there is no divinity except He;
the All-full-of-benevolence-and-protection, the-inexhaustible-benevolent-protector.
(2)
The second part of the ayat (2171) is linked to- the first part of the ayat (2171)
- The ayat (2164) connected with "blind, they do not understand"
- The ayat (21..
Peace.
- First part of the ayat