Satan's affliction in ayat 38:41-42
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peace,
You may find the following helpful http//www.quran434.com/wife-beating-islam.html#part1
(best read on above site, but copied here also)
Wa khuth bi yadika dighthan fa idribbihi wala tahnath = And take with your hand a bundle, then strike with it, and do not break your oath
According to traditonal interpretations 3844 was a symbolic strike by Job/Ayyub (upon his wife) with blades of grass, meaning a light/negligible strike was used.
M. Asad's note
In the words of the Bible (The Book of Job ii, 9), at the time of his seemingly hopeless suffering Job's wife reproached her husband for persevering in his faith "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die." According to the classical Qur'an-commentators, Job swore that, if God would restore him to health, he would punish her blasphemy with a hundred stripes. But when he did recover, he bitterly regretted his hasty oath, for he realized that his wife's "blasphemy" had been an outcome of her love and pity for him; and thereupon he was told in a revelation that he could fulfill his vow in a symbolic manner by striking her once with "a bunch of grass containing a hundred blades or more". (Cf. 589 - "God will not take you to task for oaths which you may have uttered without thought."Ibn Kathir (1301-1372 CE)
Reference online article taken from this book
In this version, it is implied Job promises to strike his wife a hundred stripes simply for her asking why he doesn't call upon God to remove his affliction. This seems a natural question to ask and at most, perhaps shows lack of steadfastness/patience by her, as note, she does not disbelieve in God, and even acknowledges only God can remove the affliction. Interestingly, Job effectively asks this very thing in 2183. Also, Job is described as a man of patience/sabr, but seemingly had no patience for his wife in this example. It should be noted that punishment for this type of alleged offence by his wife is nowhere to be found in The Quran, and it could be argued this would actually go against its principles. Lastly, when Job's family is returned to him it is described as a mercy in 2184 and 3843, i.e. implying it is a positive, making it even less likely that his wife played a negative role in his situation.Tafsir Al-Qurtubi (1214-1273 CE)
Reference Vol. 15, p. 212 of this book
In this version, it is said during the ailment of Job, his wife used to beg for him and Satan told her a word of disbelief to say and she told her husband Job, so he became angry with her and took an oath to strike her one hundred lashes, so God ordered Job to fulfil his oath by striking her with the bundle of thin grass.Tafsir Al-Jalalayn (authors 1459 & 1505 CE)
Reference altafsir.com
In this version, it contradicts the above two accounts, and says it was when she was late in coming to him once. This seems an overly harsh punishment to administer for such an incident, and does not befit the character of Job as described in The Quran.Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas (authors 687 & 1414 CE)
Reference altafsir.com
In this version, it says it was because she said something that displeased God, hence the punishment. It should be noted strongly, that punishment for allegedly saying something that displeases God is completely unheard of in The Quran, even though there are many examples in it of people ridiculing the prophets, God and The Quran. Therefore, this seems highly unlikely.It should be noted that NONE of the above contradicting authors cite any Traditional narrations/ahadith to give weight to their interpretations. This could be because no such Traditional narrations/ahadith exist for this verse, and if they do not, then it is unclear where exactly these stories originated from. It is possible they were an embellishment or simply made up to explain the verse. This can be further confirmed by the Biblical account where there is no mention of this incident. It should also be noted that even though The Quran mentions Job briefly (4163, 684, 2183, 3841-44), some aspects of his story are not mentioned in the Biblical version and vice versa.
The traditional interpretation is also problematic for another significant reason if true, it would be the only example of an oath being expiated by way of symbolic gesture in The Quran. In 589 and 2224-225 it clearly states that God will not hold us to account for thoughtless words in our oaths, or those not intended by the heart. And provides us ways to redeem if we break earnest/sincere oaths, e.g. by charity, abstinence/fasting.
Some commentators have used the traditional story of Job to rationalise the interpretation of "beat lightly" in 434 even though the circumstances are entirely different.So, is there an alternative translation and understanding of 3844? Since DRB and "dighthan (~bundle/handful)" have multiple meanings, there are several possibilities according to Classical Arabic dictionaries, however, upon closer examination of the story of Job in The Quran, the most probable answer is actually contained therein
And Job when he called unto his Lord "I have been afflicted with harm, and you are the most merciful of the merciful."
So We responded to him, and We removed what was with him of the harm, and We brought him his family and like thereof with them as a mercy from Us and a reminder to those who serve.And recall Our servant Job, when he called upon his Lord "The serpent/cobra* has afflicted/touched me with distress/difficulty and suffering/punishment."
"Strike with your foot, this is a cool spring to wash with and drink."
And We granted his family to him and like thereof with them as a mercy from Us; and a reminder for those who possess intelligence.
"And take with your hand a handful, then put forth / fling with it**, and do not incline towards falsehood***". We found him patient. What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was oft returning.
*Arabic shaytan, root Shiin-Tay-Nun, English satan.
** Arabic bihi (with it). "hi" refers to a masculine and the closest preceding masculine is the cool spring. Interestingly, "Dighthan" can also mean "wash without cleansing" as well as "handful", thus likely refers to rubbing/washing with the spring water. 3844 is connected to previous context by "waw/and" and likely refers to the washing mentioned in 3842, giving a perfect self-contained explanation. Also possible, but lesser likely, is that DRB could also mean "fashion or put a cover", i.e. a dressing or pressure bandage, with a handful of something.
***When researching the word "tahnath" (Root Ha-Nun-Thaa) in Classical Arabic dictionaries, as this form of the word is only used once in The Quran, a common meaning was "incline towards falsehood", "say what is untrue", hence Maulana Ali's rendering for example "And take in thy hand few worldly goods and earn goodness (i.e. traffic) therewith and incline not to falsehood"."shaytan" is not often translated as serpent/cobra, but it is a well known Classical Arabic meaning. In the entire Quran, there are 88 occurrences of shaytan (loosely translated as 'opposing force' be it from oneself or elsewhere), but only two occurrences in which shaytan is the one doing the afflicting/touching (Root Miim-Siin-Siin), and they are 3841 and 2275. In both occurrences, the meaning of shaytan strongly points to serpent/cobra
Those who consume usury, they do not stand but as one might stand whom the serpent/cobra confounded* from its touch. That is because they have said "Trade is the same as usury." While God has made trade lawful, and He has forbidden usury. Whoever has received understanding from His Lord and ceases, then he will be forgiven for what was before this and his case will be with God. But whoever returns, then they are the people of the Fire, in it they will abide eternally.
i.e. their footing/position/mentality/reasoning is weak, in disorder, corrupted, they cannot think/speak sensibly etc.
*root Kha-Ba-Tay, also has a meaning of "touch with a hurt so as to corrupt/disorder and render one insane".Further, 3841 is the only occurrence where shaytan is the cause of either distress/difficulty (Nun-Sad-Ba) and/or suffering/punishment (Ayn-Thal-Ba), implying this is a unique usage. If we also couple this with knowledge of the usual methodology applied by shaytan which is false promises, deceit, temptation, delusion etc we can see that 3841 and 2275 are different, i.e. shaytan is applying a different methodology here, so the obvious question is to ask why? The evidence points to because in these two occurrences it means serpent/cobra. The Quran also uses this meaning for shaytan in 3764-65 ("It is a tree that grows in the midst of Hell. Its sheaths are like the heads of serpents/cobras".
However, the strongest evidence is the perfect sense it makes within the context of 3841-44, and what Job was asked to do, all of which are commonly recommended after a snake bite
- wash - i.e. the wound and/or oneself, which helps calm oneself, lessen risk of infection and possibly reduce any symptoms of fever.
- drink water - this may help slow down heart rate, rehydrate from exhaustion or lost fluids, help calm oneself, and possibly increase rate of venom washout from the body.
- wash the wound with handfuls of water, or apply a pressure bandage to prevent venom spread or dressing to prevent infection.
- do not incline towards falsehood - a snakebite victim may often become delusional or not think clearly afterwards, hence this advice. This is also shown by 2275.
However, the last point may also mean "do not fail in your oath/duty" after recovered, because Job was likely travelling in the land when this happened to him, probably spreading God's message, thus God is effectively telling him to not be deterred from continuing in this once recovered.
Also, the words "patient" and "oft-returning" at the end of the verse do suggest a recovery period, and are thus appropriate for the context of a snakebite.Another interesting discovery is that even in the story of Job in The Bible, "satan" is referenced as inflicting a physical harm, Chapter 27 " So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot even unto his crown." After this part, his friends came to him, and implies he was in pain/grief and in a recovery period and did not speak (perhaps on purpose, i.e. "do not incline towards falsehood", after which he showed signs of despair, like giving up, but eventually his condition was restored, and became blessed again. Quite often, The Quran corrects myths, the story of Job is perhaps just another example.
To conclude, the understanding presented here for the story of Job fits the grammar, the Arabic, Classical Arabic meanings, logic, cross-referencing and is a self-contained explanation.
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Thank you very much brother wakas.
If we consider that satan
/ devil, all that is hidden from the human being like the thoughts / the ego / or the permanent mental noise that can be source of suffering, without the historical context assigned to these verses, how can we use the job story in our life ?
Does it makes sens? -
Cobra finds mention in Grand Qur’ān
وَٱذْكُرْ عَبْدَنَآ أَيُّوبَ إِذْ نَادَىٰ رَبَّهُۥٓ
Moreover, you the Messenger mention Our Sincere Allegiant, Ayub . Mention this episode when he called upon his Sustainer Lord, saying —
أَنِّـى مَسَّنِىَ ٱلشَّيْطَٟنُ بِنُصْبٛ وَعَذَابٛ .3841٤١
"It is a fact that I am in pain, (desert) Cobra has bitten me causing fatigue and pain".
ٱرْكُضْ بِرِجْلِكَۖ
Allah the Exalted responded, advising, "You prod the ground with your heel/ foot. —
هَـٰذَا مُغْتَسَلُۢ بَارِدٚ وَشَرَابٚ .3842٤٢
This is cleanser/cleansing location . It gives cooling-soothing effect . It is also drinkable".
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُۥٓ أَهْلَهُۥ وَمِثْلَـهُـم مَّعَهُـمْ رَحْـمَةٙ مِّنَّا
-- And Our Majesty gave him-let him meet his family, and others like of family with them, for showing the mercy from Our Grace .
وَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِـى ٱلۡأَلْبَٟبِ .3843٤٣
And to make mention of this episode as a piece of advice for men of wisdom who look into matters and conduct objectively without overlapping it with emotions/ prejudices/ whims/ conjectural fascinating myths --.
وَخُذْ بِيَدِكَ ضِغْثٙا فَٱضْـرِب بِّهِۦ وَلَا تَحْنَثْۗ
"And take hold with your hand palm curved as bucket a handful of cleansing cool water, thereby strike exposing-separating the bite-venom with it (cool cleansing water). Mind it, you should not desist-deviate this advice in quickly doing it".
إِنَّا وَجَدْنَٟهُ صَابِرٙاۚ
It is a fact that We had found him coolly perseverant.
نِّعْمَ ٱلْعَبْدُۖ
What a remarkable sincere allegiant/subject was he!
إِنَّهُۥٓ أَوَّابٚ .3844٤٤
Certainly he was maintainer of sincere righteous orientation towards Allah the Exalted.
Detailed analys
Detailed analysis3841-44
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Thank you brother Mazhar.
If it's a snake or cobra, the word thu3ban exists in the story of Moses.
In the quran, we read that satan exists among humans and djinn.
Bite in arabic is عضة.That is right that exact word for bite is that. But Allah swt has translated verbatim in Arabic what he had said. The word used Cobra has struck/afflicted/harmed me, What was suggested to him is washing the wound, therefore, I used 'bite'. The other type of harm is when cobra sprays poison from a distance that effect eyes.
Cobra or serpent
It is clarified in the link given in earlier post.
إِنَّـهَا شَجَرَةٚ تَخْرُجُ فِـىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِـيـمِ .3764٦٤
It is a fact that it (Az-Zaquem) is a female tree. It emerges in the bottom of Hell-Prison.
طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٟطِيـنِ .3765٦٥
The fruit bearing Spathe of her exemplifies alike if it were the heads/hoods of Cobras —.
Exemplification of an unseen or unknown object is done to let the reader or listener perceive it by mentioning its similarity with some object that is already in his perception. The exemplification is never of two objects both of which are not within the perception of the listener or reader.
http//haqeeqat.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.%20Individual%20Ayaat/037/Black%20Cobra%20Snake%20(2).jpg
http//haqeeqat.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.%20Individual%20Ayaat/037/Spathe%20Date.jpg
http//haqeeqat.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.%20Individual%20Ayaat/037/4546353420_69de0294a5_o.jpg
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Can we currently treat a venomous bite with cold water?
Satan is created from fire, we are created from clay. The image of the tree in hell is perfect.
Wash; pain reliever. First aid sort of thing in some remote place, may be also because of iodine content.
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Thank you very much brother wakas.
If we consider that satan
/ devil, all that is hidden from the human being like the thoughts / the ego / or the permanent mental noise that can be source of suffering, without the historical context assigned to these verses, how can we use the job story in our life ?
Does it makes sens?Please ponder over the following point made
"shaytan" is not often translated as serpent/cobra, but it is a well known Classical Arabic meaning. In the entire Quran, there are 88 occurrences of shaytan (loosely translated as 'opposing force' be it from oneself or elsewhere), but only two occurrences in which shaytan is the one doing the afflicting/touching (Root Miim-Siin-Siin), and they are 3841 and 2275. In both occurrences, the meaning of shaytan strongly points to serpent/cobra
We can easily apply the lessons from the story of Job in our life. For example if we are in a remote location and bitten by a snake we can do the things recommended, we can take the lesson of patience in adversity and being mindful of God and strive to be of those oft-returning to Him.
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The afflicting/touching/ massaniya (Root Miim-Siin-Siin) is used in other verses
7188 Say "I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm, except what God wills. And if I could know the future, then I would have increased my good fortune, and no harm would have come to me / [massaniya alsoo-o. I am but a warner and a bearer of good news to a people who believe."
1554 He said "What good news can you bring me when old age has come upon me / massaniya alkibaru ? Is that your good news?"
2183 And Job when he called his Lord I have been afflicted with harm / massaniya alddurru, and You are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy!"
Agree nusbin / ilness / bite, harm, old age touch us physically.
Please ponder over the following point made
We can easily apply the lessons from the story of Job in our life. For example if we are in a remote location and bitten by a snake we can do the things recommended, we can take the lesson of patience in adversity and being mindful of God and strive to be of those oft-returning to Him.Agree.
245 And seek help through patience and through the Connection. It is a difficult thing / great (lakabeeratun), but not so for / (only) upon the humble.
There is another possible application, I will share it later if God willing.
2678 "The One who has created me, He will guide me."
2679 "And He is the One who feeds me and gives me to drink."
2680 "And if I am sick, He is the One who cures me." -
Peace....
Yes some translated or given the meaning of snake bite.. For some time in the past I thought it is right... But not now.. But I am not convinced either.. But not taking it as snake bite... But take as below verse...
Verse 1012 "And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues as if he had never called upon Us to an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing"
I think above verse may help to comprehend on that... Coz all key words are here... For me it seems Ayyub was affected with suffering for a quite long period... So he approached God's help....
I prefer not to take as snake bite... For me personally it does not give meaning... One is bitten by snake and calls God and God cures that is simply freaky thing to be included in Quran... Has no value for the reader... That's my understanding... But while studying Quran people may get various idea... But I won't say the root doest hsve the meaning of snake as well...
If I'm not mistaken I hve seen one mentioned that malak and Satan apear same number of time in Quran... So.. If we consider two of those to be snke then that's waste of those tally...
Anyhow.. No harm.. This verse won't make our belief weak... -
Peace....
Yes some translated or given the meaning of snake bite.. For some time in the past I thought it is right... But not now.. But I am not convinced either.. But not taking it as snake bite... But take as below verse...
Verse 1012 "And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues as if he had never called upon Us to an affliction that touched him. Thus is made pleasing to the transgressors that which they have been doing"
I think above verse may help to comprehend on that... Coz all key words are here... For me it seems Ayyub was affected with suffering for a quite long period... So he approached God's help....
I prefer not to take as snake bite... For me personally it does not give meaning... One is bitten by snake and calls God and God cures that is simply freaky thing to be included in Quran... Has no value for the reader... That's my understanding... But while studying Quran people may get various idea... But I won't say the root doest hsve the meaning of snake as well...
If I'm not mistaken I hve seen one mentioned that malak and Satan apear same number of time in Quran... So.. If we consider two of those to be snke then that's waste of those tally...
Anyhow.. No harm.. This verse won't make our belief weak...As per my personal research and comprehensive study of Quran so far, Satan and malak is status not physical creature... Status given in to a physical creature...
Malika is always positive and peaceful and rightly guided... On the other hand Satan is negative and always evil and wrongly guided..
Satan can be in Men and Jin... 6112
So.. It is not necessary that Ayyub was affected by Jin Satan, it could be human Satan who afflicted Ayyub and family ... From all such affliction God saved them... -
Also never consider that Satan cannot afflict harm to human...
5810 Private conversation is only from Satan that he may grieve those who have believed, but he will not harm them at all except by permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely"
So under certain circumstances Satan can physically harm people.. But Satan always waiting to whisper evil to us... But physically harming is not beyond possibility... That's in fact possible.. That's why Men approach Jin for help as mentioned in chapter 72
If you read all Satan verses you definitely find that Satan is not always Satan we perceived but Satan of Human is also there...
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Part 4 to 8 should be translated, i really wan't to read the rest of Ayman's PDF's.
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I think it's important to recognize our enemy.
This is an interesting article to translate for English speakers
http//www.quran4peace.org/documents/Quran4peace-part7.pdf
I downloaded it is in Arabic PDF... Would someone send the English translation of this.. It seems like interesting since Sardar claim...
Btw... I would like to add few comment on affliction, harm Satan causes.. How it can be seen in reality...
Take the Yousuf story...
Read verses 125, 1242 & 12100 in which Satan is included... These cannot be human Satan... But Jin Satan...
Satan is master in making discord between good relationship and making a good thing a hardship... From the time Yousuf revealed his dream to his father Satan was active..
In 125 Yousuf father says not to disclose the dream to his brothers but involved Satan into picture... Yousuf didn't disclose but Satan already heard it... Plan started... Yousuf started suffering slowly coz of his brothers... Satan was active behind his brothers action...1242... Yousuf could have been released had that person passed the message.. But God Himself stated Satan made him forget... So Satan prefer Yousuf suffer and be in prison... That's harming a person without directly involving....
Then in 12100...Yousuf himself blamed Satan insted of his brothers... Discord was made by Satan between him and brothers... There started all suffering... But God saved Yousuf helped Yousuf and family...
But we should learn that Satan gave hardship to Yousuf and family....
This is affliction of hardship... In this way you can take lots of example in Quran...
In such way Satan could have afflicted harm to Ayyub... We don't know how he suffered but definitely Satan involved... So Ayyub rightly claimed Satan touched with affliction and harm on him...
That's my understanding... -
But God Himself stated Satan made him forget... So Satan prefer Yousuf suffer and be in prison...
Far fetched inference from otherwise straight forward statement.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَٟنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّۚ
Know about those who devour compound interest/incremental gain on lent money they stand not except like the standing of that person whom Cobra transforms confounded-diplopic, caused by bite.
ذَٟلِكَ بِأَنَّـهُـمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ۗ
This parable for their transformation is for the reason that they said to people; "The credit sale is just like the compound interest/incremental gain on lent money."
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قَالَ أَرَءَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَآ إِلَـى ٱلصَّخْرَةِ فَإِ نِّـى نَسِيتُ ٱلْحُوتَ
He replied, "Do you recall when we rested on the rock, thereat I forgot the fish —
وَمَآ أَنْسَٟنِيهُ إِلَّا ٱلشَّيْطَٟنُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُۥۚ
And none made me forgetful except Shaitaan that I should have mentioned that to you —
وَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِـى ٱلْبَحْرِ عَجَبٙا .1863٦٣
That fish found its way into the river in an amazing manner."
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I believe satan is the body's influence on the mind. It's not the body, it's not the mind, it is the influence itself. The way it takes over your mind, lead you into action or inaction, restricts your choices and alters your view of other things based on a false perception...It's a very complex thing that happens within, and it is refered to as "satan". And if people of old chose to think of it as a "demonic force" it's fine. But we have more knowledge today about it.
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the majority of diseases are of mental origin fear, anxiety, anguish, depression, burn out ...etc
Satan breathes thoughts into the human beings who are at the origin of these states.
We believe thoughts and we become a thought. Our energy is monopolized by thoughts.
An emotion is the body's reaction to thoughts.
We forget because the mind is monopolized by other thoughts.
Satan infused thoughts to incite Adam to disobey.
Satan has no power, his role is to seduce and embellish conjectures. It is the human being who adheres to these thoughts.
There are good and bad thoughts, it's up to everyone to make the right choice to lead a peaceful life.
Good thoughts are at the origin of excellent inventions. Bad thoughts are destructive.
Thought is at the origin of all that one creates.
God creates by the verb.
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I believe satan is the body's influence on the mind. It's not the body, it's not the mind, it is the influence itself. The way it takes over your mind, lead you into action or inaction, restricts your choices and alters your view of other things based on a false perception...It's a very complex thing that happens within, and it is refered to as "satan". And if people of old chose to think of it as a "demonic force" it's fine. But we have more knowledge today about it.
Dear Cereburus.....
Check below verse tally with your above statement....
727 O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe."
Btw concern here in this topic is snake ...do you think snake befit for this verse....
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Dear Cereburus.....
Check below verse tally with your above statement....
727 O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them. Indeed, We have made the devils allies to those who do not believe."
Btw concern here in this topic is snake ...do you think snake befit for this verse....
That verse provides nothing to understand satan and how it affects us.
this topic is not about snakes. Someone thinks satan is a snake that is unfortunate in my opinion.
