Eng. Translations of the qur'aan
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Peace
How reliable are eng translations of the al qur'aan? I really need to start somewhere, but I think its might be better to read it in the language in which it was revealed. but i do not know Arabic at all (except for a few words here and there).. I am keen on learning it though. Reading and writing in Arabic looks pretty tough.. hehe.
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Peace
The thing with translations is the translators can make mistakes so how would we know what is really from god and what isn't so I think the best thing to do is try to learn the quran in it's orginal, does anybody here think that relying on translations would go against worshipping god alone since you are depening on other then god?
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Salaamun alaikum all,
FK ....Tell me about it...sometimes I wish God set the Quran in our minds in the language we spoke, so we'd know EXACTLY what God had to say
FK, most Arabs are as much at a disadvantage as us non-Arabs. Quranic words have undergone such a change in meaning that only a deep, unbiased study would clear the debris.
HRG The thing with translations is the translators can make mistakes so how would we know what is really from god and what isn't so I think the best thing to do is try to learn the quran in it's orginal, does anybody here think that relying on translations would go against worshipping god alone since you are depening on other then god?
Heheh, I'd never go as far as that! I do think however, than when you accept blindly something, you are worshipping that source.
By all means, study from a translation, but keep picking up the Arabic words and use it in YOUR daily life. You will find Al-Quraan leaping out from its pages, insha Allah.
Here's a resource that's helped me for years
http//www.toluislam.com/pub_online/exposition/expo.htm
Quranic words without hadithic accretions.
Also, if you can, get a 'word-for-word' (lafaziyyah) translation. It's available from www.halalco.com
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Salaamun alaikum Zenje,
Well said brother. I think there is a basic misconception here that if you understood arabic, you would understand the words of GOD.
Yeah, that's definitely not the case. I think at the end of the day, there's a kind of a 'non-verbal' level u enter where the words sort of wire themselves into your psyche. That's when you're seriously armed with some tools to decode the world...and yourself.
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Dear khadija if you are to go for the translations then I recomand you to study Muhamad Asad`s translation...imo its one of the best available outhere
I would like to second that. Asad provides a great deal of footnotes. However, unlike most footnotes that exclusively echo the translators interperation of Islam, Asad discusses issues related to the actual translation many times. He explains why he translated a verse in a particular way and also discusses alternative translations, and then offers reasons for his own translation.
This seemed relevant from another post...
As a non-Arabic speaker, I've wondered about this issue too - relying on translations. I would like to know what you all think about the following.
- The opening of Surah Baqara indicates the function of the Quran - it is a guidance. Does the Quran as a translation prevent this function? My feeling is that, indeed, certain elements are lost in the translations. Perhpas, the beauty of the rhythm is lost. However, this does not detract from the function of the Quran guide mankind.
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YUSUFALI This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah;- What do you think about
041.044
YUSUFALI Had We sent this as a Qur'an (in the language) other than Arabic, they would have said "Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (a Book) not in Arabic and (a Messenger an Arab?" Say "It is a Guide and a Healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness in their (eyes) They are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!"
This verse is particularly relevant since it addresses the hypothetical case of the Quran being in one's non-native tongue. As a foreigner to the language of the Quran, one might lament, "why are not its verses explained in detail?" (4144). When faced with the issue of the language of Quran, God stresses that the book "is a Guide and Healing to those who believe". Again, the function as a source of guidance is stressed. Further, this guidance is only apparent to "those who believe" (4144)
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I would like to second that. Asad provides a great deal of footnotes. However, unlike most footnotes that exclusively echo the translators interperation of Islam, Asad discusses issues related to the actual translation many times. He explains why he translated a verse in a particular way and also discusses alternative translations, and then offers reasons for his own translation.
Peace
Very well noticed , i am opinion the quality of his footnotes make almost all the difference between his and translations of others....while many others have slim footnootes or those that only reiterate what is being said in the translation, his footnotes are a book of itself and an exposition and par excellans! They contain many quality refferences to the dictionaries and diferent commentators, all this coloured with his own sensible contemplations, healty reasoning and common sense thinking.....inspite of being suni oriented his understandings are far far from being that....
Best wishes, Zlatan
