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  4. 4:34

4:34

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Questions/Comments on the Quran
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  • U Offline
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    unknownuser
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    peace

    those of knowledge, translate this verse for me.

    thanks

    God Bless

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      arnoldyasin
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Peace,

      If you refer to the beating them, here is an explanation of that by Edip Yuksel, also here are some verses

      QXP 434 Men are the protectors and maintainers of women. They shall take full care of women with what they spend of their wealth. Allah has made men to excel in some areas and women to excel in some areas. Men must see to it that women are provided for, and that they are able to stand on their feet in the society. So, righteous women are obedient to Allah?s Ordinances and guard their moral values even in privacy, the Values that Allah Commands to be guarded. If you experience rebellion from women, and they stand up against you, apprise them of possible consequences. Next, leave them in their resting places apart from you. And keep admonishing them with examples that they stop rebelling. If they pay heed to you, seek not a way against them. Allah is Most High, Great.

      I will post a comment made on this verse by Ahmed Ali, he also shows that daraba can also mean having sex, so he translated it here, to have sex with them when willing. But as if i'm correct, daraba is almost always used with leaving/seperating in the Quran.

      Ahmed Ali 434. Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous are obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women you feel are averse, talk to them suasively; then leave them alone in bed (without molesting them) and go to bed with them (when they are willing). If they open out to you, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is sublime and great.

      Freeminds also uses daraba as leave them.

      BEATING WOMEN, OR BEATING AROUND THE BUSH, OR....

      Edip Yuksel

      "Verse 434 of the Quran orders believers to beat their wives; so, Islam is a male dominant religion." Many of us have heard this criticism from Christians, atheists, agnostics, etc. Personally, every time I read 434, I felt that something was wrong. How does God, the Most Wise order us to beat our women? What kind of solution is that? It is in contrast to the verses in which God describes marriage

      "Among His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other. He places in your heart love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are signs for people who think." (3021)
      Obviously, this mixed messages have bothered many contemporary translators of the Quran. To avoid the moral and intellectual problems, they tried to soften the word "beat" when they translate the verse 434. For instance, Yusuf Ali uses a merciful parentheses after "beat" to save women

      ". . . As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly). . ." (434)
      Many tried to "beat" around the bush to "beat" the problem generated by the "beat" of 434.
      When I finished the Turkish translation (1991), this verse was on the top of my orange list to study carefully. Whenever I encounter a problem regarding the understanding of a Quranic verse, I remember 20114 and pray accordingly "Most Exalted is God, the only true King. Do not rush into (understanding) the Quran before it is revealed to you, an say, 'My Lord, increase my knowledge.'"

      Almost all of the translations have mistranslated the four key words or terms of this particular verse. These are "Qawwamune," "Faddallallahu ba'dahum ala ba'd," "Nushuzehunne," and "Fadribuhunne." In our late book, "Errors in Turkish Translations" (Istanbul, 1992) we have discussed the real meaning of these words and the motivation and reasons for mistranslating them. Here, we will focus on the last word, "Fadribuhunne."

      A Famous Multi-Meaning Word

      The problem comes from the word "Idribuhunne" which we used to translate as "beat them". The root of this word is "DaRaBa". If you look at any Arabic dictionary you will find a long list of meanings ascribed to this word. That list is one of the longest list in whole Arabic dictionary. It can be said that "DaRaBa" is the number-one multi-meaning word in Arabic. It has so many different meanings, we can find numerous different meanings ascribed to it in the Quran.

      To travel, to get out 3156; 4101; 3844; 7320; 2273
      To strike 260,73; 7160; 812; 2077; 2431; 2663; 3793; 474
      To beat 850; 4727
      To set up 4358; 5713
      To give (examples) 1424,45; 1675,76,112; 1832,45; 2435; 3028,58; 3678; 3927,29; 4317; 5921; 6610,11
      To take away, to ignore 435
      To condemn 261
      To seal, to draw over 1811
      To cover 2431
      To explain 1317
      As you see, in Quran alone we can witness the verb "DaRaBa" having at least ten different meanings. "DaRaBa" has also other meanings which are not mentioned in the Quran. For example, in the Arabic language, you do not print money--you "DaRaBa" money, you do not multiply numbers--you "DaRaBa" numbers, you do not cease the work--you "DaRaBa" the work. In Turkish we have many verbs similar to DaRaBa, such as "tutmak", "calmak", "vurmak" etc. In English we have two verbs which are almost equivalent to "DaRaBa". These are "strike" and "beat".
      Webster's Dictionary gives fourteen meanings to the verb "strike" hit (against); ignite; (of snake) bite; (of plants) (cause to) take root; attack; hook (fish); sound (time) as bell in clock etc.; affect; arrive at, come upon; enter mind of; discover (gold, oil etc.); dismantle, remove; make (coin); cease work as protest or to make demands. The same dictionary gives eight meanings to the verb "beat" strike repeatedly; overcome; surpass; stir vigorously with striking action; flap (wings); make, wear (path); throb; sail against wind.

      In the beginning of this article (underlined) I deliberately used "beat" in three different meanings in a single statement just to show the variety of meanings in a single word. In English, when we order someone to "beat it" we mean "get out". Similarly in Arabic, when we order someone with the commend form of "DaRaBa", that is "iDRiB", we mean "get out".

      How Can We Find The Appropriate Meaning

      When we encounter a multi-meaning word, we select the proper meaning according to the context, forms, and common sense. For instance, if we had have translated "DaRaBa" in 1317 as "beat" instead of "explain", the meaning would be ridiculous
      . . . God thus beats the truth and falsehood." (1317)

      Another example of mistranslation of "DaRaBa" can be found in the translation of 3844. All the translations (except Dr. Khalifa's translation) inject a male-made story to justify their silly translation. Here is how Yusuf Ali translates the verse about Job

      "And take in the hand a little grass, and strike therewith and break not (the oath)."
      Yusuf Ali, in the footnote narrates the traditional story "He (Job) must have said in his haste to the woman that he would beat her he is asked now to correct her with only a wisp of grass, to show that he was gentle and humble as well as patient and constant."
      However, without injecting this story, we can translate it as the following

      "Now, you shall travel the land to fulfill your pledge (that is to deliver the message)." We found him steadfast. What a good servant! He was a submitter. (3844)
      Let's turn back to 434
      Additionally, the word "Nushuz" which is generally translated as "opposition" has another meaning which can be translated as degrees of disloyalty ranging from flirtation to sexual liaison. If we study 434 carefully we will find a clue that leads us to translate that word as "flirting or cheating" or "extramarital affair" (Any word or words that reflect the range of disloyalty in marriage). The clue is the phrase before "Nushuz" as reads ". . . and observe God's commandments, even when alone in their privacy." This phrase emphasizes the importance of loyalty in marriage life.

      Furthermore, the same word "Nushuz" is used in 4128, but it is used to describe the misbehavior of husbands not wives as was in 434. So, the traditional translation of "Nushuz", that is, "opposition" will not fit here. In vertical relations, "opposition" cannot be a double-edged behavior. So, translators try to avoid this contradiction by ascribing just the opposite meaning of "opposition", i.e., "oppression" in verse 4128. However, the meaning of "Nushuz" as "disloyalty" is appropriate for both cases described in 434 and 4128.

      A Coherent Understanding

      When we read 434 we should not understand "idribuhunne" as "beat those women". We must remember that this word has many meanings. God gives us three ways of dealing with extra-marital-affair. In the beginning stage of such misbehavior husband should start from giving advice. If it does not work and she goes further and commit a proven adultery, that time husband has the right to strike them out (434 & 651).

      Let's present our suggestion for the translation of verse 434

      "Men traditionally take care of women, since God has endowed each of them with certain qualities and men spend from their financial resources. The righteous women are obedient (to God) and during the absence (of their husband) they honor them according to God's commandment. As for those women whom you are experiencing a fear of disloyalty from, you shall first advice them, then (if they continue) you may desert them in bed, then you may strike them out. If they obey you then don't transgress against them. God is Most High, Supreme." (434).
      Beating women who are cheating is not an ultimate solution; but "striking them out" from your house is the best solution. And it is fair too.

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        wildguest1956
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Some interesting links

        http//www.islamicperspectives.com/Quran-4-34.htm
        http//www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/study_res/islam/gender/abusulayman_nowifebeating.html
        http//www.irfi.org/articles/articles_251_300/does_the_quran_allow_beating_of.htm

        Peace

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        • U Offline
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          unknownuser
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          peace arnoldyasin and All

          Yes, I was aware of Edip's understanding (which is what I abide by) But the problem I had is so many people (In my opinion) mistranslated this verse I went and checked a lot of the translations and almost all said 'beat' (even some quran-aloners) which really distrubed me, So I was wondering which translations had them right, which are the ones I'd want to read. So Arnold which translations do you like in particular, Thanks for the reply and God Bless

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          • WakasW Offline
            WakasW Offline
            Wakas
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            peace ik,

            I strongly suggest reading the past threads on 434 in this forum. Some of the info is superb.

            No translation is perfect, I prefer a selection literal, progressivemuslims, shakir, yusuf ali, qxp etc.

            All information is correct to the best of my knowledge only and thus should not be taken as a fact. One should always seek knowledge and verify for themselves when possible: 17:36, 20:114, 35:28, 49:6, 58:11.

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              unknownuser
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              peace

              alright, thank you brother. And I defiinitely agree no translation is perfect.

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              • A Offline
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                arnoldyasin
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                peace arnoldyasin and All

                Yes, I was aware of Edip's understanding (which is what I abide by) But the problem I had is so many people (In my opinion) mistranslated this verse I went and checked a lot of the translations and almost all said 'beat' (even some quran-aloners) which really distrubed me, So I was wondering which translations had them right, which are the ones I'd want to read. So Arnold which translations do you like in particular, Thanks for the reply and God Bless

                Peace,

                I use several, parwez, Ahmed Ali, QXP, Freeminds, Muhammed Asad. My findings coincide mostly with QXP, but i use all those mentioned plus my own research.

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                • WakasW Offline
                  WakasW Offline
                  Wakas
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  ik,

                  for ease of reference

                  http//www.free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=877
                  http//www.free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=4010

                  All information is correct to the best of my knowledge only and thus should not be taken as a fact. One should always seek knowledge and verify for themselves when possible: 17:36, 20:114, 35:28, 49:6, 58:11.

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                    phoenix1
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    peace

                    why does Edip Yuksel use english slang ("beat it&quot to translate that verse??????????

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                    • A Offline
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                      arnoldyasin
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      For you young kids....

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                        phoenix1
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        peace

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                          unknownuser
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          For you young kids.... D

                          HAHA

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