What are all the meanings of "Al Zinna"?
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As far as I know, most translators translate Al Zinna (which occurs in 1732) as either "Adultery" or "Fornication", but I was going through a thread in this forum in which somebody ascribed additional meanings to it like "A married couple having sex in public". Does Al Zinna mean that as well? What is the evidence that it does?
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I do not know arabic, however, IMHO if you are having sex in a place where other people can plainly see you I feel that goes against God's instructions to maintain modesty as said in 2430 and 2431.
Tell the believing men that they shall subdue their eyes (and not stare at the women), and to maintain their chastity. This is purer for them. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything they do.
And tell the believing women to subdue their eyes, and maintain their chastity. They shall not reveal any parts of their bodies, except that which is necessary. They shall cover their chests, and shall not relax this code in the presence of other than their husbands, their fathers, the fathers of their husbands, their sons, the sons of their husbands, their brothers, the sons of their brothers, the sons of their sisters, other women, the male servants or employees whose sexual drive has been nullified, or the children who have not reached puberty. They shall not strike their feet when they walk in order to shake and reveal certain details of their bodies. All of you shall repent to GOD, O you believers, that you may succeed.I suppose one could argue a married couple could have sex in public without taking off their clothes but I feel it still goes against being modest.
However, there are many situations where a married couple could be out and about away from the privacy of their home, (the woods, a deserted beach, a secluded parked car...use your imagination!) If no one can see, there is no one to offend.
Peace
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Zay-Nun-Ya = to mount, the mounting upon a thing, to commit fornication/adultery, fornicator/adulterer.
http//www.studyquran.co.uk/28_ZAY.htm
There is also a discussing going on that Zeena refers to rape and not fornication.
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Salam,
This may help shed some light on the word zana from a Semitic stand point
From The Theological Word Book of the Old Testament
0563 - zana
Hebrew Word zana
Strong's Cross Reference 2181
Definition commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot. (ASV and RSV similar.)Derivative TWOT Number 563a
Derivative Transliteration Ze nunim
Derivative Strong's Cross Reference 2183
Derivative Definition fornication.Derivative TWOT Number 563b
Derivative Transliteration ze'nut
Derivative Strong's Cross Reference 2184
Derivative Definition fornication.Derivative TWOT Number 563c
Derivative Transliteration taznut
Derivative Strong's Cross Reference 8457
Derivative Definition fornication.KB identify a second root using these consonants, meaning "be angry" (Jdg_192). Evidence for understanding this one usage to mean "be angry," when "play the harlot" is quite possible, is lacking. Most authorities (BDB included) hold to one root only. The verb appears eighty-nine times in the Qal stem, once in the Pual, and nine times in the Hiphil. Five of the Hiphil instances call for the causative meaning. The basic idea of the word is "to commit illicit intercourse" (especially of women).
This verb is used in both literal and figurative senses. Figuratively, the thought may concern forbidden intentional intercourse, of one nation (especially Israel) having dealings with other nations It may also refer to religious intercourse, of Israel worshipping false gods.
The literal meaning is illicit heterosexual intercourse. The word regularly refers to women; it refers only twice to men (Exo_3416; Num_251). The participial form is regularly used to designate the harlot (Gen_3431). Such persons received hire (Deu_2319), had identifying marks (Gen_3815; Pro_710; Jer_33), had their own houses (Jer_57), and were to be shunned (Pro_2327). Rahab, who hid the spies sent by Joshua, is called by this term. The contention that she was merely an innkeeper is based on finding, the root of this participal in zun "to feed," rather than zana; but for this little evidence exists.
Certain distinctions exist between zana and the parallel root na'ap "to commit adultery." na'ap commonly refers to men rather than women. na'ap connotes sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his/her spouse (Lev_2010). The two words are set in significant contrast in Hos_413-14, where "daughters" are said to "commit whoredom" (ASV and RSV "play the harlot," zana) and "spouses" to "commit adultery" (na'ap). A few times the woman, with whom the act is done, is definitely identified as married (Lev_2010; Jer_2923). Never is the person said to be unmarried. The words are sufficiently parallel, however, that they can be used for the same person (Hos_31, Hos_33, concerning Gomer; Eze_1632-36, concerning Israel as an unfaithful nation). A third distinction is that na'ap is not used to designate the professional prostitute. A similarity between the two roots is found in the fact that both are used in a figurative as well as a literal sense; and also that, in the figurative, they are employed for the same basic concepts.
zana also refers figuratively to Israel as committing national harlotry (Eze_1626-2. Tyre (Isa_2317) and Nineveh (Nah_34) are also mentioned in this way. The thought seems to be of having relations with these nations for the sake of political and monetary benefit, although in the case of Nineveh the added element of alluring, deceitful tactics leading on to oppressive dominance is implied.
Still a third figurative meaning is found in Isa 121, where the Israelites' departure from God's approved moral standards is called harlotry. The three derivatives are used as almost exact synonyms, each being employed both literally and figuratively. The third (taznut) is unusual in that it is employed only by Ezekiel, and that in only two chapters 16 (nine times) and 23 (eleven times). Although Ezekiel uses also the other two derivatives (total of five times), his preference for taznut is clear.
Bibliography Brooks, Beatricea., "Fertility Cult Functionaries in the Old Testament," JBL 60 227-53. Gordis, Robert, "Hosea's Marriage and Message A New Approach," HUCA 25 9-35. Rabinowitz, Jacob J., "The 'Great Sin' in Ancient Egyptian Marriage Contracts," JNES 1873. Richardson, TWB, p. 16. Rowley, H. H., "The Marriage of Hosea," BJRL 39 200-33. Tushingham, Douglas A., "A Reconsideration of Hosea, Chapters 1-3," JNES 12 150-59. Wiseman, D. J., "Rahab of Jeficho," Tyndale House Bulletin 14 8-11. TDNT, VI, pp. 584-90. L.J.W.
Hebrew Word ze'nunim
Strong's Cross Reference None
Definition See no. 563a.Hebrew Word ze nut
Strong's Cross Reference None
Definition See no. 563b.From Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words
zanah (H2181), "to go a whoring, commit fornication, be a harlot, serve other gods." This is the regular term denoting prostitution throughout the history of Hebrew, with special nuances coming out of the religious experience of ancient Israel. The word occurs approximately 90 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. It is used for the first time in the text at the conclusion of the story of the rape of Dinah by Shechem, as her brothers excuse their revenge by asking "Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?" (Gen_3431).
While the term means "to commit fornication," whether by male or by female, it is to be noted that it is almost never used to describe sexual misconduct on the part of a male in the Old Testament. Part of the reason lies in the differing attitude in ancient Israel concerning sexual activity by men and women. The main reason, however, is the fact that this term is used most frequently to describe "spiritual prostitution" in which Israel turned from God to strange gods. Deu_3116 illustrates this meaning "And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them."
Zanah became, then, the common term for spiritual backsliding. The act of harloting after strange gods was more than changing gods, however. This was especially true when Israel went after the Canaanite gods, for the worship of these pagan deities involved actual prostitution with cult prostitutes connected with the Canaanite shrines. In the Old Testament sometimes the use of the phrase "go a whoring after" gods implies an individual's involvement with cult prostitutes. An example might be in Exo_3415-16 "Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods....And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons,and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods."
The religious theory behind such activity at the Canaanite shrine was that such sexual activity with cult prostitutes, both male and female, who represented the gods and goddesses of the Canaanite fertility cult, would stimulate fertility in their crops and flocks. Such cult prostitutes were not designated as prostitutes but rather "holy ones" or "set-apart ones," since the Semitic term for "holy" means, first of all, to be set apart for a special use. This is illustrated in Deu_2317 "There shall be no cult prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a cult prostitute of the sons of Israel" (RSV; KJV, "whore of the daughters of Israel" and "sodomite of the sons of Israel". This theme of religious harlotry looms large in the prophets who denounce this backsliding in no uncertain terms. Ezekiel minces no words as he openly calls both Judah and Israel "harlots" and vividly describes their backsliding in sexual terms (Eze_166-63; 23).
The Book of Hosea, in which Hosea's wife Gomer became unfaithful and most likely was involved in such cult prostitution, again illustrates not only Hosea's heartbreak but also God's own heartbreak because of the unfaithfulness of his wife, Israel. Israel's unfaithfulness appears in Hos_91 "Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor."Salam,
Arnab -
Thanks Arnold, and thanks Arnab. In another thread, a member of this forum (I've forgotten their handle) said that Zinna can mean "Open lewdness" only. They quoted the following verse to support their claim
Only if they produced four witnesses (you may believe them). If they fail to produce the witnesses, then they are, according to GOD, liars.
Also, it's interesting that Al Zinna doesn't occur in 419. It says that women can be forced to give back the dowry that was given to them only if they commit a proven Fahisha. So it seems Fahisha can be done secretly as well as openly (thus making it Zinna). 425 and 55 suggest that Zinna is different from taking secret lovers, thereby indicating that Zinna is something that is done openly.
God uses the words Yateena Bifahisha (which means "Evident lewdness" in 651 in place of Zinna, but I don't think Yateen is ever used in conjunction with Zinna because Zinna is by its very nature "A witnessed act" (witnessed by atleast 4 reliable and honest people). I'll search for the link to the thread in which the aforementioned person talked about the meaning of Zinna.
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Here's the link to the thread I was talking about http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=12031.75
I conclude that Zinna means "Fornication", "Adultery", or "Public sex between a married couple". Zinna is Fahisha that is witnessed by atleast 4 people. Fahisha doesn't have to be witnessed to be Fahisha.
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For info purposes, from
http//www.studyquran.co.uk/PRLonline.htmZay-Nun-Ya = to mount, the mounting upon a thing, to commit fornication/adultery, fornicator/adulterer.
zana vb. (I)
yazni impf. act. 2568, 6012zina n. vb. 1732
pcple. act. (zani f., zaniyah) 242, 242, 243, 243, 243, 243
Lane's Lexicon, Volume 3, pages 426
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There is also a discussing going on that Zeena refers to rape and not fornication.
Salaam Yasin, all
It definitely does not mean rape, otherwise all rapist will get away with their crime because no one, let alone 4 witnesses, will witness their crime. It will also make the victim unable to complain, otherwise she will be punished for slander for not being able to present 4 witnesses. Unfortunately this is what's going on in some Muslim countries where the victim is heavily punished. Rape is a crime that can be proven by any possible means.
Therefore, Zina is public sex since it has to be confirmed by 4 witnesses, and it does not matter if the couple are married to each other, to some third party or single. The punishment is for acting in public.
The only exception for the presenting of 4 witnesses is if someone accuses their spouse. The 4 witnesses are replaced by 4 oaths in front of a judge or an authority. The accuused will not be punished if they uttered 4 counter oaths (denying tat such a thing happened).
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Salaam Yasin, all
It definitely does not mean rape, otherwise all rapist will get away with their crime because no one, let alone 4 witnesses, will witness their crime. It will also make the victim unable to complain, otherwise she will be punished for slander for not being able to present 4 witnesses. Unfortunately this is what's going on in some Muslim countries where the victim is heavily punished. Rape is a crime that can be proven by any possible means.
Samia is right this is what happend during ziaul huq time women were asked to produce 4 witnesses and were punished when they failed to produce witnesses.
D
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudood_Ordinance
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Salaam Yasin, all
It definitely does not mean rape, otherwise all rapist will get away with their crime because no one, let alone 4 witnesses, will witness their crime. It will also make the victim unable to complain, otherwise she will be punished for slander for not being able to present 4 witnesses. Unfortunately this is what's going on in some Muslim countries where the victim is heavily punished. Rape is a crime that can be proven by any possible means.
Therefore, Zina is public sex since it has to be confirmed by 4 witnesses, and it does not matter if the couple are married to each other, to some third party or single. The punishment is for acting in public.
The only exception for the presenting of 4 witnesses is if someone accuses their spouse. The 4 witnesses are replaced by 4 oaths in front of a judge or an authority. The accuused will not be punished if they uttered 4 counter oaths (denying tat such a thing happened).
This is my understanding too regarding the issue.
peace
siki
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"Zina" is an act performed by the mutual consent and pleasure of both the parties, male and a female. Don't go near Zina. Zina occurs only by mutual wish and desire. Rape is not Zina. It is sexual assault by a man on woman or by a woman upon the man without other party's desire/consent; instead is done by force. Therefore for Zina four witnessess are needed; had it been not so anyone desirous of illict obliging by the neigbour could keep raising allegation of Zina on some pious lady. 4 witnesses are prescribed to protect the privacy of people and avoidance of slandering and wrong allegations.
A virgin can be made pregnant even without her being aware of it. Therefore even pregnancy is not an evidence against a woman that she committed Zina if she pleads innocent in the absence of four witnesses.
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A virgin can be made pregnant even without her being aware of it. Therefore even pregnancy is not an evidence against a woman that she committed Zina if she pleads innocent in the absence of four witnesses.
I completely agree with this (as well as with your entire post)
