Quran words conflicting meanings
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Peace.
My question is the following
According to the Quran, Arabic was chosen as a language because it's clear, without ambiguity and it will enable us to understandQuran We have sent it down an Arabic Quran, perhaps you will comprehend.
Quran An Arabic Quran, without any ambiguity, that they may be righteous.
Quran We have made it into an Arabic Quran, perhaps you may understand.
Quran In a clear Arabic tongue.
Now when it comes to translating words from Arabic to other languages, the same exact words are rendrerd totally different
for example the verseQuran
http//www.submission.org/efarsi/arabic/Surat24_files/24_31a.gif
http//www.submission.org/efarsi/arabic/Surat24_files/24_31b.gifTranslationQuran
And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and keep covered their private parts, and that they should not show-off their beauty except what is apparent, and let them place their covers over their chests. And let them not show-off their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or fathers of their husbands, or their sons, or the sons of their husbands, or their brothers, or the sons of their brothers, or the sons of their sisters, or their children that come after them, or those who are still their dependants, or the male servants who are without need, or the child who has not yet understood the composition of women. And let them not move their hips in a manner that reveals what they are keeping hidden of their beauty. And repent to God all of you believers that you may succeed.The highlighted words are the one in question in both, the Arabic key word here is "Daraba" which means so many things to many people!!
What I'm talking about now is not the obvious multi-meaning of words in languages in general use.. this is about the Quran... the ultimate Guide for all humanity..What's the idea behind having a multi meaning word, does this explain why it's going to be impossible for people to ever agree on the single meaning of a particular verse?
Another example, verses and two exactly similar words "darban" mean leave on one and strike on the other!
Doesn't this make the whole Arabic Clear and non ambiguous a bit contradictory, and much more difficult to understand as it depends on people choice of translated words?
Best regards
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Peace
My question is the following
According to the Quran, Arabic was chosen as a language because it's clear, without ambiguity and it will enable us to understandDoesn't this make the whole Arabic Clear and non ambiguous a bit contradictory, and much more difficult to understand as it depends on people choice of translated words?
No contraction and has little to do with Arabic being a perfectly clear language.
121-2 alif-lam-ra these signs/verses the book the clear; we truly we descended it a reading/recitation an Arabic so that you may (2nd person masculine plural) understand.
How else would they understand if not delivered in their plain speech; in Latin perhaps?
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The highlighted words are the one in question in both, the Arabic key word here is "Daraba" which means so many things to many people!!
What I'm talking about now is not the obvious multi-meaning of words in languages in general use.. this is about the Quran... the ultimate Guide for all humanity..What's the idea behind having a multi meaning word, does this explain why it's going to be impossible for people to ever agree on the single meaning of a particular verse?
Another example, verses and two exactly similar words "darban" mean leave on one and strike on the other!
Doesn't this make the whole Arabic Clear and non ambiguous a bit contradictory, and much more difficult to understand as it depends on people choice of translated words?
Best regards
I think we have to take the best meaning out of it. I mean we have to reject contradictory understanding and follow the meaning that suits the other similar verses of the Koran.
Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best (meaning) in it those are the ones whom Allah has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding.
http//www.islamawakened.com/Quran/39/18/default.htm
peace
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These verses are discussed in www.Quran434.com
Fa ragha AAalayhim darban bi al yameeni = then he turned upon them striking with the right hand
Some use "smiting". In this example, Abraham turned upon man-made idols, breaking them into pieces, see 2158. Since they were likely stone idols, it is unlikely to mean "beat" as this would be an impractical and very difficult way of breaking/smashing idols, hence no translator used this translation. For similar reasons, literally striking WITH the right hand is also unsuitable, unless understood properly. Even though nearly all translators use "striking" it is important to note that this doesn't really give the full picture of what likely happened. If someone is right-handed, they can easily lift one statue up and slam it on the ground or against a rock or other statues, in order to break them into pieces. This is the most likely scenario. This interpretation is encapsulated in many sources. The following Classical Arabic dictionaries (Lisan ul 3arab; Al-Sah-haah fil lugha; Al Qamoos al-Muheet and Maqayees allugha) have three renditions
1- With might and right
2- By his right hand
2- By his oath, as per 2157 where he made an oath to destroy the idols.M. Asad sees the phrase in question as a metonym for "with all his strength". Tanwir al-Miqbas min Tafsir Ibn Abbas (see altafsir.com) perhaps recognised a problem with the literal translation, as it states he used an axe! Mustansir Mir says it is an idiom meaning "strike with full force".
As we can clearly see, a literal "striking with the right hand" e.g. punch, karate-chop, slap etc is problematic and not the only understanding. Therefore, are there any Classical Arabic meanings of DRB that possibly fit better IF this verse is taken literally? The following could be used casting forth, flinging/throwing, putting forth.
It may also be interesting to note that if it is taken as a literal striking/hitting, then DRB on its own is unlikely to mean with hand. If it did, there would be no need to mention what to DRB with in this case.DRB fee al ard = journey in the land/earth
Some translators use "go out", "move about".
wala yadribna bi-arjulihinna = and let them not strike/stamp/move with their feet
M. Asad translates it as "swing their legs", and in his notes says The phrase yadribna bi-arjulihinna is idiomatically similar to the phrase daraba bi-yadayhi fi mishyatihi, "he swung his arms in walking" (quoted in this context in Taj al-'Arus), and alludes to a deliberately provocative gait.
This expression seems to effectively imply any movement of the feet that would result in revealing beauty that is meant to be hidden is not allowed (see the full verse of 2431). It may be interesting to note that to restrict its meaning to strike/stamp would still allow hidden beauty to be revealed by other types of feet movement, thus one could argue for a simpler translation such as move about, put/cast forth, propound, set. See 3842 as a comparison, which more clearly implies a specific/literal usage of the feet. -
There are 28 words used in Qur'aan made from this Root, occuring 58 times. There is no such thing in Arabic "multiple meanings of a word". When you find many words mentioned in a dictionary at the start of the Root, those are meanings of many words, and not of one word. Addition of consonants and vowels to the base consonants add new dimension, connotation, meanings to the base meanings of the Root.
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=9601186.0.
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Doesn't this make the whole Arabic Clear and non ambiguous a bit contradictory, and much more difficult to understand as it depends on people choice of translated words?
Best regards
Peace foralgerian,
By design all human languages are ambiguous including the Arabic language. The difference is that the Arabic language is most efficient language there is. It is significantly better than all other languages to convey Allah?s message to the worlds. As soon as you translate it to other language you lose value. Say the value lost is 10%. If the Quran was revealed in another language, say English, then the loss of value would have been much greater than 10%. That why Arabic is clearer than other languages. Arabic is the most optimal language for the revelation. There is NO contradiction!
