Two different groups of people in 2:184?
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Peace,
I was wondering about the substitution of sayam in 2184. Those who are ill or travelling can substitute other days, this much I understand. The second part I am having difficulty with as there are a number of different translations that to me give a variety of different possibilities.
The phrase has been translated as
"those who can (fast), but with difficulty can ransom/substitute by feeding a poor/needy person"
and
"those who can afford it shall ransom/substitute by feeding a poor/needy person"
These are not any specific translations, but rather what I have understood from a number of translators. To me the Arabic seems to be saying that in addition to substituting other days, if you can afford it, you should also feed the poor. However, most translations give the impression that it is implied that this is a separate group of individuals who are neither ill or travelling, but find it difficult and therefore have a different substitution.
I would really like to see what others understand from this verse.
God bless you all.
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Qur'aan is for the entire globe.
One is a travellor from Pakistan to USA.
Another is travelling from US to Pakistan.Who can conveniently fast despite being in travel? The one who can fast coneniently but takes advantage of general permission should feed one person.
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I'm sorry, I didn't really understand your example Mazhar.
I have looked up the root of the word "yuqnahu", TTa Wow Qaf, and it is said to have a number of meanings. In my mind two of these meaning are exact opposites and this is where the differences in interpretation and translation come in.
The two definitions I found to be used in most translations are
Ability, power, strength; to be able to, to have the strength to do a thing
or
to find extremely hard and difficult to bear, to do a thing with great difficulty
Now, in 2184 "alladhina yuqnahu" could, in my current understanding mean only one of several things.
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Those who are ill or travelling substitute other days AND if they are able to feed a poor person.
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Those who are ill or travelling and find it difficult to substitute other days can feed a poor person.
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Beyond the people who are ill or travelling there is a group that finds it difficult to carry out the fast and they are allowed to substitute feeding a poor person because fasting is always difficult for them, irrespective of the specific time.
It is interesting in 2185 it repeats about those who are ill or travelling and does not repeat the second statement. This makes me think that the meaning of the the phrase in question is more likely to be either option 1 or 2.
I hope this is clearer than my previous post.
Look forward to peoples thoughts.
Peace.
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I'm sorry, I didn't really understand your example Mazhar.
The duration of Fast is not by the watch time. Its termination is with the sunset. Travelling from Pakistan to US while fasting is almost impossible since the Sun is not going to set.
But while travelling from US towards Pakistan the day will get shorten and the fasting becomes still easier.
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Now, in 2184 "alladhina yuqnahu" could, in my current understanding mean only one of several things.
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Those who are ill or travelling substitute other days AND if they are able to feed a poor person.
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Those who are ill or travelling and find it difficult to substitute other days can feed a poor person.
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Beyond the people who are ill or travelling there is a group that finds it difficult to carry out the fast and they are allowed to substitute feeding a poor person because fasting is always difficult for them, irrespective of the specific time.
The text of languages is typically divided into three categories
- Word
- Phrase
- Sentence
And "reading" means to identify the words and their relationships to know the meanings of the text. You seem following the translations and deriving meanings merely by reading individual words. All three divions first need to be identified to know the thought contained in the text.
One of the simplest sentence is made confusing by going only in the sequence of the words from right to left. The sentence is inverted nominal sentence-the last three words are the subject-topic of discussion and the first words are relating to the elided predicate being more than obvious from the subject.
"And mind it that compensatory feeding a destitute is incumbent upon those who have the strength to bear that-the disease or journey for availing of exception. ".
The subsequent advice makes it crystal clear that in such bearable situations the exception should better not be availed even on feeding a person. Fasting should be preferred instead of availing the relaxation.
"Therefore, whoever made himself adopt a better course, thereat that is much benefiting for him. And remember that should you observe fasting it would be far better for you people, if you people have understood/comprehended it" .
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