Questionnaire on Qur'an Translations: Your Paricipation is Urgent
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Peace ameen,
I've been meaning to do this but have been too lazy, thanks for the reminder. Here goes
Your Age 28
Your Nationality Pakistani
Your Education Bachelors/DBA
Languages you speak other than English Urdu/partial punjabi
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Learnt quran at school, currently living in the mid-east.- What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Quran?
A literal, that is, a word for word translation.
- What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?
Accuracy (literalness) and lack of own opinions/thoughts/interjections pushed into it. (Footnotes at the end are fine, they shouldn't expect me to read their opinions whilst I'm reading the verses themselves or on every page please!)
- Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Quran to be good or not?
Comparing different translations plus various dictionaries and seeing who is more accurate and keeping to the bare bones of the original, without deciding to do their own jaunt into the realms of personal opinion. This way, I can do my own study on, say someone's article, without having to research the quran first while trying to see if the translation is actually correctly translated from the original or not.
- What would you like to see in translations of the Quran, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?
You mean IF it does not already exist? Hmm. Well support on existing translations or updating their translations or patching it as in software terms is always cool to see. Using new and trendy (tasteful too!) ways to advertise their quran translations rather than pitching it to us with camels, sandals and sandstorms in the background. That stuff really is centuries old now. I would like to see modern/current packaging and advertising for a book which is for all times.
- What is the Quran translation you use? Why?
Mohd. Ahmad's literal translation.
- Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Quran, or computers version?
Both. They both have their advantages and are used for particular situations.
- What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Quran? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation etc.
If it's being advertised as the second coming of jesus christ then yeah, I'll take a look. Otherwise, word of mouth or type of hand does not really seem to move me too much. The thing that galvanised me into seeking out the translation I use is that it's mostly free of 'personalities' and concentrates more on what is actually written, which works for me.
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Quran?
Excessive flights of fancy, detracting from the original words and filling in themselves, having the translator's picture on the front or back. Heh.
- Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Quran? If so, why?
I don't use QXP. I think because I'm used to literal and simple translations, this is like an overload. I would only read it once or twice for his thoughts on things never for research, so I stopped using it altogether eventually.
- Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Quran or does one have to learn Arabic?
In a cursory examination, a good translation and a general explanation might do. In cases where one needs to research contradictions and may be going for a deeper examination, then one needs to go to the dictionaries and learn the meanings/grammar etc.
What is the premise of your thesis?
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Salaam All,
Here is my translation of the first verse of the Holy Koran
(I begin) with the name of God, the unconditional Mercy, the eternal Mercy.
Why? As God is ar-Rahman and ar-Raheem. And He is not bound with time and space. He is ar-Rahman and ar-Raheem for eternity.
The usual translation
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
This i s my small contribution for a great task you all are planning to take. Wish you all luck. My recommendation would be to keep away from the biblical translation and biblical English.
Mohamed
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Please state how long it takes you to complete this questionnaire Approx. ---- mins.
Your Age 24
Your Nationality Indian
Your Education MBBS(Undergraduate)
Languages you speak other than English Hindi,Malayalam
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) From Sunni Mulla I was taught to read the script but was not taught to understand the meaning.
If Qur?an isn?t its translation ?
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What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an?
To understand the real meaning of the Message Allah wants us to know.. -
What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?
Unbiased word for word translation.. which does not contain extra Words and does not contain Brackets explaining the Verses.. The explanations and other Notes can be added as notes as a Different section so as it does not interfere with the translation -
Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not?
Well Not really.. Because I don know the ABCD of Arabic.. Now started to learn slowly becuase i think it is neceassary to learn.. But doing it mostly along with understanding of verses.. Not seperate attempt to Learn Arabic.. And to know whether a translaion is good or bad what i now do is to compare and contrast different translations in http//yaqb.org -
What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?
Word for Word meaning.. Like this Bismi/ In the name of illahi/ Allah rrahmani/The Almighty Raheem/ The most merciful
What i mean is a literal translation..
Also and Appendix with all the word roots used in Quran with all the possible meanings of that particular Roots.. -
What is the Qur?an translation you use? Why?
Mohammed Muhsin/Hilali Khan = The Noble Quran from King Fahd Complex -
Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version?
Hard Copy version because computer versions it is difficult to access.. First you have to turn on the computer etc.. strain to the eyes and a lot.. -
What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc.
My experience reading that translation and comparing and my understanding that it is a good translation.. And of coz I would rather check it whether it is a good one if someone tell me from free minds or from other Quran alone sites that this is a good one etc..
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an?
Brackets.. I hate all Brackets.. Voe to those who put Brackets and distort the Meaning-
Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why?
Well.. I thought I would discard all the malayalam translations. due to lack of exact tranlsation for certain words.. I prefer English translations -
Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic?
Never.. I think One has to learn Arabic... If possible
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Your Age 29
Your Nationality American
Your Education second grade lol
Languages you speak other than English pig latin & limited arabic
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Community & work
If Qur?an isn?t its translation ?
- What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an?
An unbiast approach
- What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?
If a certian arabic term cannot be translated by using ONE word use more than one eg. Nur = light/brightness
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Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not?
truley I ask Allah to guide me to the best understanding -
What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?
good translations do exsis
- What is the Qur?an translation you use? Why?
Literal, QXP
- Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version?
Online because I have access to more translations
- What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc.
the exsistanc of it
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an?
inclusion of hadiths
- Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why?
Muhsin Khan because he adds hadiths to his translation and although they are in parenthasis they are still confusing to the average newcomer to Islam
- Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic?
Its important to learn arabic but I don't believe you have to learn arabic to understand Quran. It just makes it easier
15 minutes
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salam,
here is the questionnaire, for those of you who wish to complete it directly on here, instead of downloading it first
Please state how long it takes you to complete this questionnaire Approx. ---- mins.-
Your Age 28.
Your Nationality Slovenian.
Your Education Film Academy.
Languages you speak other than EnglishSlovenian.
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school)
If Qur?an isn?t its translation ? -
What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an?
I expect that we finally get the right translation, because we need it really, really fast. -
What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?
The Truth, The Right Translation. -
Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not?
The words must match other words elsewhere in the Book, correct? -
What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?
I think it should contain the Timeline of Islam or maybe the entire human race, what do you say? -
What is the Qur?an translation you use? Why?
Bosnian, because i got no other one, sure, there's Slovenian but it's not that good. -
Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version?
It doesn't matter, as long as it is lasting and correct translation. -
What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc.
Anything, as long as i get the right translation.
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an?
In my Bosnian translation they narrate hadith at the end and that bothers me and also in the begining there's the preword, like that is necessary.-
Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why?
Well, lovenian tzranslation bothers me because instead of the word The Lord, they use mister or sir, like we use to address men. -
Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic?
I think a person should learn at last a little Arabic, at least some words if nothing.
This was a good idea, congratulations.
Peace.Peace.
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Your Age 21
Your Nationality Iran
Your Education In College
Languages you speak other than English Farsi
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Very little
If Quran isnt its translation
- What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Quran?
Pure, closest to the arabic as possible, no bias in translation, no parenthesis other than articles of language like "the" "these" and etc.
- What is it that you prefer most in any given translation?
Accuracy and consistancy.
- Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Quran to be good or not?
I compare it to the other translations and to farsi. Then I try to see what the "tafseer" is to get an understanding of the position of the translator, to see if he has a point to make with his "tafseer" Not that i follow the tafseer, just to understand where the translation is coming from.
- What would you like to see in translations of the Quran, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations?
Translated by a Moslem, not a shia or sunni. Nor a 19-er. or a christian or anyone besides a Moslem believer.
- What is the Quran translation you use? Why?
khalifa, yusuf, pickthall at the same time. Khalifa easy to understand, Yusuf Ali Old Time translations, Pickthall He's the middle of Old Time translation and modern easy to understand, he's pretty much there as a control.
- Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Quran, or computers version?
Both.
- What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Quran? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation etc.
Do not know.
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Quran?
These and ( ) and superscripts which "explain" the verse, or the "meaning". The meaning of the Quran is what it says.
- Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Quran? If so, why?
Sometimes Khalifa, he was an idiot. I really dont trust them all 100%. Which is why inshaAllah I will read all 16 translations.
- Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Quran or does one have to learn Arabic?
The meaning of the Quran is what it says, "Dont kill", simple. There is no "extra meaning" or "tafseer".
It is we who will collect it into Quran.
Once we recite it, you shall follow such a Quran.
Then it is we who will explain it.Allah explains Quran, its made simple to follow, there is no need for extra explanation other than historical background that is in the Quran or names.
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Your Age 25
Your Nationality Canadian
Your Education Law School
Languages you speak other than English Somali
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Parents worked in the M.E. and I went to an Islamic school in Canada
if Qur?an isn?t its translation
What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an? An accurate translations (no additions)
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What is it that you prefer most in any given translation? Most accurate translation of the Arabic text
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Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not? In general, yes just from the knowledge I gained from growing up
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What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations? Most accurate translation is all I'm interested in.
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What is the Qur?an translation you use? Yusuf Ali
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Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version? Both. CD would make it easier to search out certain keywords or verses.
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What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc. We've always had Yusuf Ali translation. I dont know whether it was on purpose, but I am content with this translation so far.
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an? That some of the translators differ in their translations. For example, one the verse about hijab..one would add in brackets to include covering of teh hair, neck, shoulder, etc when that's not what it actually says in the Quran. Leave your interpretations out of the translation!
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Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why? No, it's just been available to me.
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Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic?I believe Allah created us to speak variety of languages, and at the time, Prophet Mohammed was an Arabic speakers and the Quran was revealed to him. I think if we have accurate translation of the Quran, to the best of our knowledge, without our own additions of how we understand certain words, we should be able to open up the Quran and find our answers in there.
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Your Age 25
Your Nationality Albanian
Your Education Business Administration
Languages you speak other than English Albanian and little Serbo-croatian
Exposure to Arabic (e.g mother-tongue of parents / learning at school) Very little or not at all.
if Qur?an isn?t its translation
What do you expect from a translation of the Holy Qur?an? Accuracy
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What is it that you prefer most in any given translation? An unbiased translation without any preconception.
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Do you know how to judge a translation of the Holy Qur?an to be good or not? No
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What would you like to see in translations of the Qur?an, as it does not already exist and is lacking in current translations? Accuracy is what I would like to see.
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What is the Qur?an translation you use? Yusuf Ali and Free-minds
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Do you prefer hard-copy (printed) versions of Qur?an, or computers? version? Both
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What would make you seek to buy or find a specific translation of the Qur?an? For example, you hear of a new translation, a friend told you about his favourite translation ?etc. Hearing that the translation is the most accurate one.
8 ) What do you dislike most in any given translation of the Qur?an? That some of the translators differ in their translations. Putting ones interpratation inside the translation.
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Have you ever decided not to use a particular translation of the Qur?an? If so, why? No.
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Do you think that translations and translated explanations are enough to understand the meanings of Qur?an or does one have to learn Arabic? I believe one has to learn the Arabic language to have a better understanding of the Great Reading.
Peace
FJ -