38:44 - 1400 years of misinterpretation solved?
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peace all,
As part of my re-analysis of Daad-Ra-Ba. See here for previous thread.
Wa khuth bi yadika dighthan faidribbihi wala tahnath = And take with your hand a bundle, then strike with it, and do not break your oath
According to tradtional 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)
Reference online article taken from this book (http//www.islamguiden.com/arkiv/stories_of_the_prophets.pdf)
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. Also, it should be noted that punishment for this type of alleged offence is nowhere to be found in The Quran, and it could be argued this would actually go against its principles.Tafsir Al-Qurtubi (1214-1273)
Reference Vol. 15, p. 212 of this book (http//www.archive.org/details/al-jami_li-ahkam_al-qurtubi)
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)
Reference www.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)
Reference www.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 authors cite any Traditional Ahadith to give weight to their interpretations. This could be because no such Traditional 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 aspect in its account. 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, fasting.
So, is there an alternative translation and understanding? Since DRB and "dighthan (~bundle)" have multiple meanings, there are several possibilities according to Classical Arabic dictionaries, some of which are shown below
And take with/by your hand a bundle (of twigs, herbs, firewood, grass/stalks, worldly goods) then strike/travel/mix/collide/DRB with/by it...
DGhTh means a bamboo-like plant used in making mats, or used as tent-peg/pin. Thus, it could mean he is ordered to take this plant and set up a tent, as this verse follows the return of his family, and a well known meaning of DRB is to set up tents and/or strike tent-pegs (e.g. a camp is madrad).
When researching the word "tahnath" (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", thus Maulana Ali's rendering is also plausible And take in thy hand few worldly goods and earn goodness (i.e. traffic) therewith and incline not to falsehood...
An alternative, and perhaps most likely could be since according to Lane's Lexicon DGhTh by itself can mean firewood, and we already know by DRB's usage in The Quran that it primarily means put forth and/or when used with a physical object it means striking/movement, thus this expression can mean to light a fire, giving And take with your hand firewood, then strike with it, and do not incline towards falsehood
The reason for the above two is that the ultimate mission of all prophets/messengers is to deliver the message, thus when Job recovered from his affliction it is very likely he would continue in this task since he is described as an excellent servant. Also, a fire is literally and metaphorically used in The Quran as a source of illumination/light/guidance and a gathering place for giving information/guidance. See 217, 2010, 277-8. This seems to have been a common custom for the time. This latter understanding fits the grammar, the Arabic, Classical Arabic meanings, logic, cross-referencing and is a self-contained explanation.
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3844 "Take in your hand a bundle and travel with it, and do not break your oath." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was obedient. (QRT)
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3844 "Take in your hand a bundle and travel with it, and do not break your oath." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was obedient. (QRT)
All these writers, notwithstanding their work and following, they concocted conjectural stories and then tried to juxtapose it on the verse. It seems their habit that whenever plausible meanings did not come to their mind according to acceptable every day general knowledge of those days, they concocted a story to make their audience and clientle satisfied. And moreover they remained overpowered by "wife beating theory" therefore could little see beyond beating the meaning of "adhrib".
In 41 the complaint of Ayub alahissalam is reported and in 42 and 44 Allah's advice/treatment is told to him. He is reporting distress, weakness and pain on having been touched by Cobra in the desert. He was asked to wash and clean and wash the bitten place with water while making/rubbing the wound to open/make it evident-remove effect of necrosis and was advised not to delay/show any lethargy in quickly doing it. Delay and lethargy in taking measures after the bite of Cobra could be life threatening.
Allah confirms about him that he was coolly persevarent and coolly persevarent people do not undertake such stupid oaths of beating wives.
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Peace,
Of course the verse has nothing to do with the bizarre wife beating theories of those scholars,it
s completely meaningless,and Quran is precise about what to do in cases of taking oaths we cant keep in other clear verses. The interpretations you gave for the verse, Wakas are straighter and nearer to the logical structure of the Quran.I often wondered how would the devil/Shaytan afflict a human being with a material affliction such as disease? confused
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Thanks, but which dictionary, and which word are you using for cobra or cobra bite?
No brother; I am referring to 3841 read with 3765 to restrict to cobra only. The first aid is to immediately wash the point where cobra has touched and drink water to keep the blood diluted and to rub/make incisions-open/make evident the wound and keep washing it.
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No brother; I am referring to 3841 read with 3765 to restrict to cobra only. The first aid is to immediately wash the point where cobra has touched and drink water to keep the blood diluted and to rub/make incisions-open/make evident the wound and keep washing it.
Peace
Good point Mazhar ,thanks a lot.
Regards -
peace Mazhar, sa'adah, all,
I often wondered how would the devil/Shaytan afflict a human being with a material affliction such as disease?
It would be interesting to study further to see if there are any other examples in The Quran of such a thing. If not, this would give weight to the view of the meaning of serpant/cobra.
No brother; I am referring to 3841 read with 3765 to restrict to cobra only. The first aid is to immediately wash the point where cobra has touched and drink water to keep the blood diluted and to rub/make incisions-open/make evident the wound and keep washing it.
Thank you for clarifying. I think your suggestion is very possible. I did a little research on how to deal with a snake bite, and here is what I found
All sites recommend remaining calm
Some sites recommend washing the wound
Some sites recommend applying a pressure bandage of sorts (to reduce venom spreading in the bloodstream), or if the wound is spurting blood to apply pressure
The venom is apparently excreted in the urine, thus drinking water would indeed cause more urine, hence potentially quicker washout. Drinking water may also be related to relieving symptoms such as fever and/or helping to calm oneself.
All sites that I read do not recommend cutting the wound to bleed it (as it is not effective and increases risk of infection), so this part of your understanding may not be correct.
Interestingly after being told to wash and drink, a person would then apply the pressure bandage, which fits the sequence, taken from 3844
And take with your hand a bundle of something/grass/stalks, then cast / heal / fashion / mould / put a cover with it...
Also, interestingly, the root Daad-Ghayn-Thaa can actually mean "wash without cleansing" or "felt (by hand for a certain purpose)", thus could a possible translation be the following?
And take/hold with your hand a feel, and press/stamp with it... (i.e. using one's own hand as a pressure bandage)
OR
And take with your hand washing, and put forth / rub / collide with itDoes the "hi" in "bihi" refer to DGhTh only or could it refer to hand/yad or both?
It is also possible the cobra spat venom in the eyes, although with the use of massaniya/touched I'm not sure.
The only remaining question for me is why add the "wala tahnath"? It could just be a general advice for when recovered "and do not fail in your oath/duty", "do not incline towards falsehood".
Just some thoughts.
?
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The only remaining question for me is why add the "wala tahnath"? It could just be a general advice for when recovered "and do not fail in your oath/duty", "do not incline towards falsehood".
In the context and the flow of the sentence, "and do not refrain/abstain" from doing what you are told.
In Cobra bite cases incision is perhaps made and sloughs are excised.
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peace Mazhar, all,
Do you have a Classical Arabic dictionary reference for "and do not refrain/abstain"?
I just thought that it might seem reasonable to say "and 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. This would make it a good fit.
In Cobra bite cases incision is perhaps made and sloughs are excised.
Whilst that is a possibility, it would mean the person requiring to wash it again, which doesn't fit well with the sequence or Arabic. I think the applying of pressure or bandage is the more likelier of meanings with the present information.
In addition to my above question on the "hi" in "bihi", one other question which may shed light on which option of these it is is why use the singular "yad/hand"? Is it common in Arabic/Quranic expressions to state one hand when it is likely both would be needed, e.g. wrapping a bandage (unless the bite was on the hand/arm) or if it is rare to say one hand when two are needed, then it is likely it does indeed mean one hand which would make applying pressure the more likely.Perhaps someone with more knowledge of Arabic can help with this point.
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I used to support this understanding
Thus, it could mean he is ordered to take this plant and set up a tent, as this
But now I agree with Mazhar's rendition.
This is the first meaning of "shaytan" from lisaanul 3arab
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shaytan a serpent with a combAlso, verse 3843 rejects the story of an unsupportive wife
And We bestowed on him (again) his household and therewith the like thereof, a mercy from Us, and a memorial for men of understanding.yadrib bi mix, said for more than three things.
from lisaanul 3arab
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I would say make a small mat which would be used to immobilize the leg.
"hanatha" has two meanings to sin and to be embarrassed.My understanding would be take a bundle of straws, make a mat out of it (and use it to immobilize your leg) and don't be embarrassed.
This is a technique used in immobilizing dislocated bones and bone fractures in some parts of Africa and in Sudan. -
peace Samia,
Do you have a comment on the following
Does the "hi" in "bihi" refer to DGhTh only or could it refer to hand/yad or both?
why use the singular "yad/hand"? Is it common in Arabic/Quranic expressions to state one hand when it is likely both would be needed, e.g. wrapping a bandage (unless the bite was on the hand/arm) or if it is rare to say one hand when two are needed, then it is likely it does indeed mean one hand which would make applying pressure the more likely.
As a side note, I found this here
The main bite sites were foot (24%), leg (23%), hand (22%) and ankle (21%).
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This is the first meaning of "shaytan" from lisaanul 3arab
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shaytan a serpent with a combThanks Sister,
so it is a peculiar snake, now called cobra . And then appearance wise it is equated/examplified
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Cobras are characterized by inflatable neck hoods. The hood is the flap of skin behind the head of cobras, which can be used to make the snake appear bigger.
