Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English): Difference between revisions

From WikiIslam, the online resource on Islam
Jump to navigation Jump to search
[checked revision][checked revision]
(Added a hadith about Muhammad using the f-word.)
 
(28 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=3|Content=3|Language=3|References=3}}
{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=3|Content=3|Language=3|References=3}}
{{Quran|15|9}} declares that the [[Qur'an]] is [[Allah|Allah's]] [[revelation]] and that he promises to preserve it and protect it from corruption. In {{Quran|16|103}}, {{Quran|44|58}} and {{Quran|54|22}}, [{{Quran-url-only|54|32}} 32], [{{Quran-url-only|54|40}} 40], it is emphasized that the Qur'an was revealed in straight forward, easy to understand, and pure Arabic. Islamic scholars agree that all that which is fundamental to Islam (particularly most of Islamic law) which is not contained in the Quran must have been preserved in the form of hadiths. However, translations of these scriptures have not always been rendered faithfully, particularly in recent times and especially when the audience concerned is that of a developed, first-world variety which likely holds to advanced notions of human rights and liberty.   
{{Quran|15|9}} declares that the [[Qur'an]] is [[Allah|Allah's]] [[revelation]] and that he promises to preserve it and protect it from corruption. In {{Quran|16|103}}, {{Quran|44|58}} and {{Quran|54|22}}, [{{Quran-url-only|54|32}} 32], [{{Quran-url-only|54|40}} 40], it is emphasized that the Qur'an was revealed in straightforward, easy to understand, and pure Arabic. Sunni Islamic scholars agree that all that which is fundamental to Islam (particularly most of Islamic law) which is not contained in the Quran must have been preserved in the form of hadiths. However, translations of these scriptures have not always been rendered faithfully into other languages such as English, particularly in recent times and especially when the audience concerned is that of a developed, first-world variety which likely holds to modern notions of human rights and liberalism.   


Some of the most prominent and officially recognized English translators of the Qur'an (like Yusuf Ali, Dr. Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Asad), however, have often mistranslated the most controversial and problematic verses in Qur'an. That these inaccurate translations are most common with verses that would be considered barbaric, unscientific, or crude in the West suggests that these mistranslations were not unintentional or due to some unique difficulty of the Arabic words used in these verses. Similar mistranslations have been observed in translations of the hadiths as well as in translations of other key Islamic texts, such as legal manuals.  
Some of the most prominent and officially recognized English translators of the Qur'an (like Yusuf Ali, Dr. Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Asad), in particular, have often (seemingly deliberately, given their knowledge and skill) mistranslated the most controversial and problematic verses in the Qur'an. That these inaccurate translations are most common with verses that would be considered contrary to modern liberal values in the West suggests that these mistranslations were not unintentional or due to some unique difficulty of the Arabic words used in these verses. Similar mistranslations have been observed in translations of the hadiths as well as in translations of other key Islamic texts, such as legal manuals.  


==Quran==
==Quran==
Line 8: Line 8:
===(4:34) Wife-beating===
===(4:34) Wife-beating===
{{Main|Wife Beating in the Qur'an}}
{{Main|Wife Beating in the Qur'an}}
{{Quran|4|34}} famously instructs men to beat their wives and forms the basis of the Islamic legal ruling which permits as much. The below translation is taken from Yusuf Ali.
{{Quran|4|34}} famously instructs men to beat their wives and forms the basis of the Islamic legal ruling which permits as much.


{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).}}
This verse states that men are in charge of women with what they spend on them, and have the right to direct them in life. Also in the same verse, women are told to obey men and if they don’t, then men have the authority to admonish them, refuse to share beds and beat them. Many translators added words like "first", "next" and "last" so that beating your wife appears to be the last resort. In addition, they added the word “lightly” in brackets after “beating them”, despite the fact that this word or connotation is not found in the source text.  


This verse states that men are in charge of women with what they spend on them, and have the right to direct them in life. Also in the same verse, women are told to obey men and if they don’t, then men have the authority to admonish them and if they persist in disobedience (or, read more literally, if the husband simply ''fears'' disobedience), then men may proceed to beat them. Yusuf Ali, a prominent translator of the Qur'an, adds the word “lightly” in brackets, after “beating them”, presumably to reduce offense.
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Saheeh International:''' Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allāh has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allāh would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - '''[first]''' advise them; '''[then if they persist]''', forsake them in bed; and '''[finally]''', strike them '''[lightly]'''. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted and Grand.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Al-Hilali & Khan:''' Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allâh orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them '''(first)''', '''(next)''', refuse to share their beds, '''(and last)''' beat them '''(lightly, if it is useful)'''; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allâh is Ever Most High, Most Great.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them '''(first)''', '''(Next)''', refuse to share their beds, '''(And last)''' beat them '''(lightly)'''; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).}}Mustafa Khattab's translation includes the aforementioned problems. Besides, he mistranslated beat (ٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ) as "discipline".{{Quote|{{Quran|4|34}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with. And if you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them '''˹first˺''', '''˹if they persist,˺''' do not share their beds, '''˹but if they still persist,˺''' then '''discipline''' them '''˹gently˺'''. But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great.}}


===(23:14) Fetal development===
===(23:14) Fetal development===
{{Quran|23|14}} presents a schema regarding the development of the human fetus. The following translations are taken from Pickthall an Yusuf Ali.
{{Main|Embryology in the Quran}}
{{Quran|23|14}} presents a schema regarding the development of the human fetus. The following translations are taken from Pickthall and Yusuf Ali.


{{Quote|{{Quran|23|14}}|'''Pickthal:''' Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators! <br>
{{Quote|{{Quran|23|14}}|'''Pickthal:''' Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, '''then''' clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!}}


'''Yusuf Ali:''' Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|23|14}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones '''and''' clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!}}


This verse is often used as an example of how translators (in this case Yusuf Ali, who is authorized by the Saudi Islamic authority and Al-Azhar University) have often attempted to distort verses in order to make them appear less objectionable to Western audiences.  
This verse is often used as an example of how translators (in this case Yusuf Ali, who is authorized by the Saudi Islamic authority and Al-Azhar University) have often mistranslated verses in ways that appear less objectionable to liberal, Western audiences.  


Yusuf Ali, in his translation, replaces the word "then" with "and". He also replaces “the best of creators” (plural) with “the best to create” (singular). The difference in the meaning is crucial because the word “then” suggests another and separate phase, while the word “and” means bones and flesh form simultaneously or during one phase, which conforms to modern science. However this does not appear in the original Arabic text.   
Yusuf Ali, in his translation, replaces the word "then" with "and". He also replaces “the best of creators” (plural) with “the best to create” (singular). The difference in the meaning is crucial because the word “then” suggests another and separate phase, while the word “and” means bones and flesh form simultaneously or during one phase, which conforms to modern science, even though this does not appear in the original Arabic text.   


Likewise, the plural form of “creators” seems to affirm the existence of ''multiple'' creators (''of whom'' Allah would be the best), which appears to contradict the key Islamic doctrine of ''tawḥīd'' (توحيد) regarding the oneness of Allah, the ''only'' creator. Similar mistranslations are given by the Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Saad translations. By contrast, the Pickthal translation is more accurate in this case, conforming to the original Arabic text.  
Likewise, the plural form of “creators” seems to affirm the existence of ''multiple'' creators (''of whom'' Allah would be the best), which appears to contradict the key Islamic doctrine of ''tawḥīd'' (توحيد) regarding the oneness of Allah, the ''only'' creator. Similar mistranslations are given by the Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Saad translations. By contrast, the Pickthal translation is more accurate in this case, conforming to the original Arabic text.  
Line 32: Line 37:


===(18:86) Sun sets in a muddy spring===
===(18:86) Sun sets in a muddy spring===
{{Main|Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring}}
{{Main|Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part One}}
{{Quran|18|86}} describes the story of Dhul-Qarnayn (Alexander the Great) wherein he is said to arrive at a location where he observes the sun setting in a muddy spring.
{{Quran|18|86}} describes the story of Dhul-Qarnayn (often identified with Alexander the Great) wherein he is said to arrive at a location where he observes the sun setting in a muddy spring.
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|86}}|'''Pickthall:''' Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.}}
 
Modern Islamic scholars have argued that the verse describes a visual representation of what Dhul-Qarnayn saw as the sun set into the “horizon”. Such explanations are frustrated by authoritative sources, themselves represented by the likes of ''Tafsir Al-Jalalayn'' (p. 251), and numerous classical authorities (which explain that the setting of the sun is in a well containing a murky mud). The same interpretation is found in al-Tabari’s commentaries (p. 339) as well as in the ''Concise Interpretation of al-Tabari'' (p. 19 of part 2) in which he remarks that the well in which the sun sets "contains lime and murky mud". The words “apparent” or “looks like” do not appear in classical explanations or commentaries. Indeed, the verse appears to reflect the [[Cosmology of the Quran|cosmological views]] [[Muhammad]] would have been expected to have in seventh century Arabia. Furthermore, since the earth is in fact round, [[Flat Earth and the Quran|not flat]] (as the Qur'an appears to suggest), Dhul-Qarnayn could never have reached some "farthest point", since no such point exists on a globe. 


{{Quote|{{Quran|18|86}}|Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.}}
The al-Azhar site confronts this challenge by mistranslating this verse, specifying that the "muddy spring" is in fact the Atlantic Ocean, which ''appeared to Dhul-Qarnayn'' as a muddy spring.
The Saheeh International translation inserts a parenthetical [as if] which does not exist in the original Arabic text and is nowhere implied.


Modern Islamic scholars have argued that the verse describes a visual representation of what Dhul-Qarnayn saw as the sun set into the “horizon”. Such explanations are frustrated by authoritative sources, themselves represented by the likes of ''Tafsir Al-Jalalayn'' (p. 251), and numerous classical authorities (which explain that the setting of the sun is in a well containing a murky mud). The same interpretation is found in al-Tabari’s commentaries (p. 339) as well as in the ''Concise Interpretation of al-Tabari'' (p. 19 of part 2) in which he remarks that the well in which the sun sets "contains lime and murky mud". The words “apparent” or “looks like” do not appear in classical explanations or commentaries. Indeed, the verse appears to reflect the [[Cosmology of the Quran|cosmological views]] [[Muhammad|Muhammad]] would have been expected to have in seventh century Arabia. Furthermore, since the earth is in fact round, [[Flat Earth and the Quran|not flat]] (as the Qur'an appears to suggest), Dhul-Qarnayn could never have reached some "farthest point", since no such point exists on a globe. Other modern Islamic scholars have suggested that it was Dhul-Qarnayn's “opinion” and not the Qur'an's.  
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|86}}|'''Saheeh International:''' Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it '''[as if]''' setting in a body of dark water, and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."}}


The al-Azhar site confront this challenge by distorting the translation of the verse, which states that the "muddy spring" is in fact the Atlantic ocean, which ''appeared to Dhul-Qarnayn'' as a muddy spring. A similar tactic is employed by the Sahih International translation.  
Mustafa Khattab mistranslated "he found it" (wajadaha) as "which appeared to him".


{{Quote|{{quran|18|86}}|Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|86}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' Until he reached the setting ˹point˺ of the sun, '''which appeared to him''' to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people. We said, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Either punish them or treat them kindly.”}}


===(86:5-7) Semen production===
===(86:5-7) Semen production===
Line 47: Line 57:
{{Quran-range|86|5|7}} states that sperm originates from an area between the breastbone and the backbone.  
{{Quran-range|86|5|7}} states that sperm originates from an area between the breastbone and the backbone.  


{{Quote|{{Quran|86|5-7}}|5. Now let man but think from what he is created!<BR>  
{{Quote|{{Quran|86|5-7}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' 5. Now let man but think from what he is created!<BR>  
6. He is created from a drop emitted- <BR>  
6. He is created from a drop emitted- <BR>  
7. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs}}
7. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs}}
Line 53: Line 63:
The al-Azhar site translates the origination point of sperm as from "between the pelvis and breast bone".
The al-Azhar site translates the origination point of sperm as from "between the pelvis and breast bone".


===(2:10) Sickness in the heart of disbelievers===
===(22:52) Satanic verses===
{{Quran|2|10}} states that unbelievers are creatures with sickness or disease in their hearts and that Allah increases that malady. The al-Azhar translation distorts the verse, presumably to exonerate Allah from playing this role.
{{Main|Satanic Verses (Gharaniq Incident)}}
{{Quran|22|52}} is said to have been revealed after the incident with respect to the Satanic Verses. This verse absolves Muhammad of responsibility for the Satanic Verses. The verse says that Satan influenced the recitations of all previous prophets. The text literally says "when he recited Satan threw (something) into his recitation." (إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ)
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|52}}|'''Saheeh International:''' And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allāh abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allāh makes precise His verses. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.}}
 
*إِذَا (''itha'') - when
*تَمَنَّىٰٓ (''tamannaa'') - he recited
*أَلْقَى (''alqaa'') - threw
*ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ (''ashshaytanu'') - Satan
*فِىٓ (''fee'') - in
*أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ (''omniyyatihi'') - his recitation
 
Some translations try to cover up Satan's influencing of recitations. For example, by suggesting that Satan influenced people's understanding of the verse.
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|52}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' Whenever We sent a messenger or a prophet before you ˹O Prophet˺ and he recited ˹Our revelations˺, Satan would influence ˹people’s understanding of˺ his recitation. But ˹eventually˺ Allah would eliminate Satan’s influence. Then Allah would ˹firmly˺ establish His revelations. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|52}}|'''T. Usmani:''' We did not send any messenger before you nor a prophet, but (he faced a situation that) when he recited (the revelation), the Satan cast (doubts in the hearts of his opponents) about what he recited. So, Allah nullifies what the Satan casts, then Allah makes His verses firm, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|52}}|'''M.A.S. Abdel Haleem:''' We have never sent any messenger or prophet before you [Muhammad] into whose wishes Satan did not insinuate something, but God removes what Satan insinuates and then God affirms His message. God is all knowing and wise:}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|22|52}}|'''M. Pickthall:''' Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before thee but when He recited (the message) Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise;}}
 
===(3:54) Allah the best of deceivers===
{{Main|Allah, the Best Deceiver (Qur'an 3:54)}}
In {{Quran|3|54}}, {{Quran|7|99}}, {{Quran|8|30}}, {{Quran|10|21}} and {{Quran|13|42}} Allah is called the best of deceivers (خير الماكرين).
 
{{quote |{{Qtt|3|54}}|
'''Arabic:''' ومكروا ومكر الله والله خير الماكرين
 
'''Transliteration:''' Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru almakireena
 
'''Literal:''' And they cheated/deceived and God cheated/deceived, and God (is) the best (of) the cheaters/deceivers.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/3/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 3. Ali-Imran - The Family Of 'Imran (سورة آل عمران) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref>}}This has been mistranslated as the best of plotters/planners/schemers in various translations.{{Quote|{{Quran|3|54}}|'''Saheeh International:''' And they [i.e., the disbelievers] planned, but Allāh planned. And '''Allāh is the best of planners.'''}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|54}}|'''Al-Hilali & Khan:''' And they (disbelievers) plotted to kill ‘Îsâ [(Jesus) عليه السلام], and Allâh plotted too. And '''Allâh is the Best of those who plot.'''}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|3|54}}|'''M.A.S. Abdel Haleem:''' The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; '''God is the Best of Schemers.'''}}
 
===(9:29) Fight people until they pay the jizya willingly while they are humbled===
{{Main|Jizyah}}
{{Quran|9|29}} tells Muslims to fight the People of the Book until they pay [[Jizyah|jizya]] with their hands (عَن يَدٖ) ('an yadin) while they are humiliated/belittled (صَٰغِرُونَ) (Saghiroon).
Several translators mistranslate 'an yadin as willingly and Saghiroon as humbled.
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|29}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, '''willingly submitting''', fully '''humbled'''.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|29}}|'''Saheeh International:''' Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah '''willingly''' while they are '''humbled'''.}}
 
===(10:5) Moon is a (reflective) light===
The Quran calls the moon a light (نُورٗا) in {{Quran|10|5}}. In reality, the moon only reflects sunlight. Some translators have tried to incorporate this in their translation, but it is not mentioned in the Arabic.
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|10|5}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a '''reflected light''', with precisely ordained phases, so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Allah did not create all this except for a purpose. He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|10|5}}|'''Saheeh International:''' It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a '''derived light''' and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.}}


===(39:6) Fetuses in stomachs===
===(4:11) Inheritance===
{{Quran|39|6}} states that humans are created in the ''stomachs'' of their mothers.
{{Quran|4|11}} concerns the laws of inheritance. This verse contains a linguistic mistake. It says that if there are more than two daughters (فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءٗ فَوۡقَ ٱثۡنَتَيۡنِ), they should get two thirds of the estate. However, the author of the Quran meant to say 'two or more daughters'. In {{Al Tirmidhi||4|27|2092}} Muhammad divides the estate after the verse of inheritance was supposedly revealed. He gives two thirds to the two daughters.
The following translations cover up the mistake.


{{Quote|{{Quran|39|6}}|He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in '''the wombs''' of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)? }}
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|11}}|'''Mustafa Khattab:''' Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female. If you leave only '''two ˹or more˺ females''', their share is two-thirds of the estate. [...]}}


The word ''butun'' which is translated in this verse as "womb" means "stomach".
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|11}}|'''Saheeh International:''' Allāh instructs you concerning your children [i.e., their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, '''two or more''', for them is two thirds of one's estate. [...]}}


===(9:29) Killing disbelievers===
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|11}}|'''M.A.S. Abdel Haleem:''' Concerning your children, God commands you that a son should have the equivalent share of two daughters. If there are only daughters, '''two or more''' should share two-thirds of the inheritance, if one, she should have half. [...]}}
{{Main|The Meaning of Qatal}}
One of the most frequently mistranslated words in the Quran is the Arabic word [[The Meaning of Qatal|''qatal'']], which means to "kill", "massacre", or "slaughter". Yusuf Ali correctly translates it in An-Nisa’ {{Quran|4|157}} as "We ''killed'' Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they ''killed'' him not", but then distorts the same word as "fight" in At-Tawbah {{Quran|9|29}}, "''Fight'' those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day.", whereas the Arabic text reads "''Kill'' those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day" (emphasis added). Yusuf Ali reproduces this translation in Al-Anfal {{Quran|8|39}} and several other verses.


===(67:5) Shooting stars===
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|11}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, '''two or more''', their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. [...]}}


{{Quran|67|5}} discusses the [[Jinn]] (mythical creatures that are described in Islamic scriptures as living among humans)<ref>Mawdudi, Sayyid Abul Ala, Tafhim ul Quran, Markazi Maktaba Islami, Delhi, 1995, vol. 6, p.110</ref> and stars from the "lowest heaven" which are used as missiles against any mischievous jinn that attempts to eavesdrop on conversations between angels.<ref>"...''The Jinns would go to the lowest heaven and listen to the Angels conversing amongst themselves about events of the Future which they heard from Allah. The Jinns would then inform the fortune-tellers. This is why before the time of the Prophet (saws) many fortune-tellers were very accurate in their predictions. However, upon the Prophet's arrival the heavens were guarded intensely by the Angels, and any Jinn who tried to listen was attacked by meteors (shooting stars)''..." - [http://www.islamawareness.net/Jinn/world.html The World of Jinn] - Invitation to Islam, Issue 4, January 1998</ref>
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|11}}|'''Al-Hilali & Khan:''' Allâh commands you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, '''two or more''', their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. [...]}}
 
=== (67:5) Shooting stars===
{{Main|Shooting Stars in the Quran}}
{{Quran|67|5}} discusses the [[jinn]] (mythical creatures that are described in Islamic scriptures as living among humans)<ref>Mawdudi, Sayyid Abul Ala, Tafhim ul Quran, Markazi Maktaba Islami, Delhi, 1995, vol. 6, p.110</ref> and stars from the "lowest heaven" which are used as missiles against any mischievous jinn that attempts to eavesdrop on conversations between angels.<ref>"...''The Jinns would go to the lowest heaven and listen to the Angels conversing amongst themselves about events of the Future which they heard from Allah. The Jinns would then inform the fortune-tellers. This is why before the time of the Prophet (saws) many fortune-tellers were very accurate in their predictions. However, upon the Prophet's arrival the heavens were guarded intensely by the Angels, and any Jinn who tried to listen was attacked by meteors (shooting stars)''..." - [http://www.islamawareness.net/Jinn/world.html The World of Jinn] - Invitation to Islam, Issue 4, January 1998</ref>


{{quote |{{Qtt|67|5}}|وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
{{quote |{{Qtt|67|5}}|وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
<br>'''Transliteration:''' Walaqad zayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wajaAAalnaha rujooman lilshshayateeni waaAAtadna lahum AAathaba alssaAAeeri<br>'''Literal:''' And certainly We have beautified the heaven (ٱلسَّمَآءَ, ''as-samaa'a'') nearest (ٱلدُّنْيَا, ''ad-dunyaa'') with lamps (بِمَصَٰبِيحَ, ''bi-masaabeeh'') and We have made them (as) missiles (رُجُومًا, ''rujooman'') for the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment(of) the Blaze.<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=67&verse=5 Word-by-Word Grammar - Verse (67:5)] - The Quranic Arabic Corpus</ref>}}
<br>'''Transliteration:''' Walaqad zayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wajaAAalnaha rujooman lilshshayateeni waaAAtadna lahum AAathaba alssaAAeeri<br>'''Literal:''' And certainly We have beautified the heaven (ٱلسَّمَآءَ, ''as-samaa'a'') nearest (ٱلدُّنْيَا, ''ad-dunyaa'') with lamps (بِمَصَٰبِيحَ, ''bi-masaabeeh'') and We have made them (as) missiles (رُجُومًا, ''rujooman'') for the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment(of) the Blaze.<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=67&verse=5 Word-by-Word Grammar - Verse (67:5)] - The Quranic Arabic Corpus</ref>}}  


*ٱلسَّمَآءَ (''as-samaa'a'') means heaven or sky<ref>https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/</ref>
*ٱلسَّمَآءَ (''as-samaa'a'') means heaven or sky.<ref>https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/</ref>
*ٱلدُّنْيَا (''ad-dunya'') is translated "the world" or "the lower". The world" is called "the lower", because according to Islamic cosmology the heavens appear one atop the other and the earth is the lowest in this structure.
*ٱلدُّنْيَا (''ad-dunya'') is translated "the world" or "the lower". The world" is called "the lower", because according to Islamic cosmology the heavens appear one atop the other and the earth is the lowest in this structure.
**So ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا can be understood as "the lowest heaven", "the heaven right above this flat earth", "the sky above The Lower".
**So ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا can be understood as "the lowest heaven", "the heaven right above this flat earth", "the sky above The Lower".
*بِمَصَٰبِيحَ (''bi-masaabeeh'') - this word means "lamps" and is still used as such in modern Arabic (see Google images for مصابيح)
*بِمَصَٰبِيحَ (''bi-masaabeeh'') - this word means "lamps" and is still used as such in modern Arabic (see Google images for مصابيح).
*رُجُومًا (''rujooman'') - it is from the same root as رجم (''rajm''), meaning "[[Stoning in Islamic Law|stoning]]", which is the Islamic punishment for sex outside marriage (Satan, or Iblis, is known as ''al-Rajeem'' or "the stoned one" ''-'' الرجيم in Arabic).
*رُجُومًا (''rujooman'') - it is from the same root as رجم (''rajm''), meaning "[[Stoning in Islamic Law|stoning]]", which is the Islamic punishment for sex outside marriage (Satan, or Iblis, is known as ''al-Rajeem'' or "the stoned one" ''-'' الرجيم in Arabic).


====Accurate translations====
==== Accurate translations====


Below are the three most popular and readily available translations of the verse from Islamic sources.
Below are the three most popular and readily available translations of the verse from Islamic sources.


{{Quote||'''Pickthal:''' And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Pickthal:''' And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.}}
 
{{Quote||'''Shakir:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for the Shaitans, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}


{{Quote||'''Yusuf Ali:''' And we have, (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.}}The below translations from non-Islamic sources are also generally accepted, albeit not frequently cited in Islamic circles.{{Quote||'''Arberry:''' And We adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and made them things to stone Satans; and We have prepared for them the chastisement of the Blaze.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Shakir:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for the Shaitans, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}


{{Quote||'''Palmer:''' And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to pelt the devils with; and we have prepared for them the torment of the blaze!}}  
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Yusuf Ali:''' And we have, (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.}}The below translations from non-Islamic sources are also generally accepted, albeit not frequently cited in Islamic circles.{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Arberry:''' And We adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and made them things to stone Satans; and We have prepared for them the chastisement of the Blaze.}}


{{Quote||'''George Sale:''' Moreover We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and have appointed them to be darted at the devils, for whom We have prepared the torment of burning fire:}}  
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Palmer:''' And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to pelt the devils with; and we have prepared for them the torment of the blaze!}}  


{{Quote||'''JM Rodwell:''' Moreover we have decked the lowest heaven with lights, and have placed them there to be hurled at the Satans, for whom we have prepared the torment of the flaming fire.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''George Sale:''' Moreover We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and have appointed them to be darted at the devils, for whom We have prepared the torment of burning fire:}}  


A further twelve translations confirm the above translations.<ref>{{Quote||'''Abdel Haleem:''' We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them [missiles] for stoning devils for whom We have also prepared the torment of a blazing fire.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Ahmed - Samira:''' We have adorned the lowest sky with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, for whom We have prepared a torment of most intense fire.}}{{Quote||'''Qaribullah:''' We have adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and We made them a stoning for the satans, We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze for them.}}{{Quote||'''Faridul Haque:''' And indeed We have beautified the lower heaven with lamps, and have made them weapons against the devils, and have kept prepared for them the punishment of the blazing fire.}}{{Quote||'''Syed Vickar Ahamed:''' And indeed, We have decorated the lowest heaven with lamps, and We have made them (like) missiles to drive away the Satans, and have prepared for them the penalty of the blazing Fire.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Taqi Usmani:''' And We have decorated the nearest sky with lamps, and have made them devices to stone the devils, and We have prepared for them the punishment of Hell.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Sarwar:''' We have decked the lowest heavens with torches. With these torches We have stoned the devils and We have prepared for them the torment of hell.}}{{Quote||'''Hamid S. Aziz:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for Satan, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali:''' And indeed We have already adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them outcast (meteorites) for Ash-Shayatin (The ever-vicious "ones", i.e., the devils) and We have readied for them the torment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Ali Quli Qara'i:''' We have certainly adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Abdul Majid Daryabad:''' And assuredly We have bedecked the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for satans: and for them We have gotten ready the torment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Sher Ali:''' And verily, WE have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and WE have made them the means of driving away satans, and WE have prepared for them the punishment of the blazing Fire.}}</ref>  
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''JM Rodwell:''' Moreover we have decked the lowest heaven with lights, and have placed them there to be hurled at the Satans, for whom we have prepared the torment of the flaming fire.}}A further twelve translations confirm the above translations.<ref>{{Quote||'''Abdel Haleem:''' We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them [missiles] for stoning devils for whom We have also prepared the torment of a blazing fire.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Ahmed - Samira:''' We have adorned the lowest sky with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, for whom We have prepared a torment of most intense fire.}}{{Quote||'''Qaribullah:''' We have adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and We made them a stoning for the satans, We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze for them.}}{{Quote||'''Faridul Haque:''' And indeed We have beautified the lower heaven with lamps, and have made them weapons against the devils, and have kept prepared for them the punishment of the blazing fire.}}{{Quote||'''Syed Vickar Ahamed:''' And indeed, We have decorated the lowest heaven with lamps, and We have made them (like) missiles to drive away the Satans, and have prepared for them the penalty of the blazing Fire.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Taqi Usmani:''' And We have decorated the nearest sky with lamps, and have made them devices to stone the devils, and We have prepared for them the punishment of Hell.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Sarwar:''' We have decked the lowest heavens with torches. With these torches We have stoned the devils and We have prepared for them the torment of hell.}}{{Quote||'''Hamid S. Aziz:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for Satan, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}{{Quote||'''Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali:''' And indeed We have already adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them outcast (meteorites) for Ash-Shayatin (The ever-vicious "ones", i.e., the devils) and We have readied for them the torment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Ali Quli Qara'i:''' We have certainly adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Abdul Majid Daryabad:''' And assuredly We have bedecked the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for satans: and for them We have gotten ready the torment of the Blaze.}}{{Quote||'''Sher Ali:''' And verily, WE have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and WE have made them the means of driving away satans, and WE have prepared for them the punishment of the blazing Fire.}}</ref>


====Distorted translations====
====Mistranslations====


The following two translations distort the idea of stars being used to stone jinn by describing the missiles as being made out of/from the stars, but not being the stars themselves.
The following two translations distort the idea of stars being used to stone jinn by describing the missiles as being made out of/from the stars, but not being the stars themselves.


{{Quote||'''Umm Muhammad (Sahih International):''' And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.}}  
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Umm Muhammad (Sahih International):''' And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.}}  


{{Quote||'''Ali Ünal:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven (the heaven of the world) with lamps (stars), and made (out of) them missiles to drive away devils; and for them We have prepared (in the Hereafter) the punishment of the Blaze.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Ali Ünal:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven (the heaven of the world) with lamps (stars), and made (out of) them missiles to drive away devils; and for them We have prepared (in the Hereafter) the punishment of the Blaze.}}


Another two translations include their modifications without using brackets, giving the impression that their understanding of the verse was already, in essence, conveyed by the original Arabic.
Another two translations include their modifications without using brackets, which is even more misleading giving the impression that this text is literally part of the Arabic original:


{{Quote||'''Aisha Bewley:''' We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made ''some of them stones'' for the shaytans for whom We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Aisha Bewley:''' We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made ''some of them stones'' for the shaytans for whom We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze.}}


{{Quote||'''Al-Muntakhab:''' And We decorated the lowermost heaven with lamps (or heavenly bodies), ''some of them adapted'' to be like weapons in pursuit of the evil ones for whom We have prepared torture in the blazes of Hell.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Al-Muntakhab:''' And We decorated the lowermost heaven with lamps (or heavenly bodies), ''some of them adapted'' to be like weapons in pursuit of the evil ones for whom We have prepared torture in the blazes of Hell.}}


In two other translations, the lamps and the projectiles used against the devilish jinn are referred to as separate entities, though this disagrees with the Arabic text in which there is a pronoun used to refer to the "projectiles" whose clear antecedent is the plural word "lamps".
In two other translations, the lamps and the projectiles used against the devilish jinn are referred to as separate entities, though this disagrees with the Arabic text in which there is a pronoun used to refer to the "projectiles" whose clear antecedent is the plural word "lamps".


{{Quote||'''Khalifa:''' We adorned the lowest universe with lamps, and guarded its borders with projectiles against the devils; we prepared for them a retribution in Hell.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Khalifa:''' We adorned the lowest universe with lamps, and guarded its borders with projectiles against the devils; we prepared for them a retribution in Hell.}}


{{Quote||'''Progressive Muslims:''' And We have adorned this universe with lamps, and We made it with projectiles against the devils; and We prepared for them the retribution of the blazing Fire.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Progressive Muslims:''' And We have adorned this universe with lamps, and We made it with projectiles against the devils; and We prepared for them the retribution of the blazing Fire.}}


====Reinterpretations presented as translations====
====Reinterpretations presented as translations====
Line 122: Line 184:
The following translations depart entirely from the classical interpretations of the verse and, it would appear, the very wording of the verse itself.  
The following translations depart entirely from the classical interpretations of the verse and, it would appear, the very wording of the verse itself.  


{{Quote||'''Maulana Ali:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We make them means of conjectures for the devils, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Maulana Ali:''' And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We make them means of conjectures for the devils, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.}}


{{Quote||'''Shabbir Ahmed:''' And indeed, We have beautified the sky of the world with shining lamps. And made them objects of futile guesses for the satans. (15:17), (37:6-9), (72:8). And for them We have prepared the doom of blazing flames.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Shabbir Ahmed:''' And indeed, We have beautified the sky of the world with shining lamps. And made them objects of futile guesses for the satans. (15:17), (37:6-9), (72:8). And for them We have prepared the doom of blazing flames.}}


Another three translations go a little further, asserting that the "devils/evil ones" refer to evil human cohorts and not to the jinn.
Another three translations go a little further, asserting that the "devils/evil ones" refer to evil human cohorts and not to the jinn.


{{Quote||'''Asad:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame –}}  
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Asad:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame –}}  


{{Quote||'''Farook Malik:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Farook Malik:''' And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame.}}


{{Quote||'''Amatul Rahman Omar:''' We have, certainly, adorned the lowest heaven with (stars-like) lamps and We have made them as means of conjecture for the evil ones (and the astrologers who invent good or bad omens from the movement of the stars). (Remember) We have prepared for these (soothesayers) the punishment of the blazing Fire.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Amatul Rahman Omar:''' We have, certainly, adorned the lowest heaven with (stars-like) lamps and We have made them as means of conjecture for the evil ones (and the astrologers who invent good or bad omens from the movement of the stars). (Remember) We have prepared for these (soothesayers) the punishment of the blazing Fire.}}


====Incorporation of modern science into translation====
====Incorporation of modern science into translation====


The following translation attempts to incorporate modern science into its reading of the verse, though makes it a point to use brackets to differentiate this interpretation from the words of the verse.
The following translation attempts to incorporate modern scientific understandings of cosmology into its reading of the verse, though makes it a point to use brackets to differentiate words inserted to facilitate this understanding from the original Arabic text itself:


{{Quote||'''Bijan Moeinian:''' God has adorned the lowest universe with the sources of light [probably a reference to the Quasars], being used as missiles against the devils [perhaps the reference is to anti-matter which will be destroyed immediately in contact with the matter] and prepared for them a blazing fire.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|'''Bijan Moeinian:''' God has adorned the lowest universe with the sources of light [probably a reference to the Quasars], being used as missiles against the devils [perhaps the reference is to anti-matter which will be destroyed immediately in contact with the matter] and prepared for them a blazing fire.}}


==Hadith==
==Hadith==
=== The sun will rise "in the West" ===
A sign of the last hour that appears in numerous hadiths is often mistranslated as the sun rising "in the West". This mistranslation occurs throughout the English translation of Sahih Bukhari by Muhsin Khan and sometimes in the translation of Sahih Muslim by Abdul Hamid Sadiqqui.
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|421}}|Narrated Abu Dhar:


===Aisha's age at consummation===
The Prophet (ﷺ) asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come '''and so it will rise in the west'''. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah: "And the sun Runs its fixed course For a term (decreed). that is The Decree of (Allah) The Exalted in Might, The All- Knowing." (36.38)}}
 
While the Arabic word al maghrib was commonly used to mean the West in general, in fact a much more specific form occurs in these hadiths. In every hadith narration of this prophecy, the Arabic phrase is always ''min'' ''maghribi-ha'' (مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا), which means that the sun is told to go and rise "from its setting place", without the definite article (''al'' for 'the') and with the possessive suffix.
 
In one narration in Sahih Muslim (which is accurately translated), there is in addition the phrase ''min maghribi-ki'' (مِنْ مَغْرِبِكِ), which means the sun is told to go and rise "from the place of your setting". Earlier in the same narration, the sun is usually commanded to rise ''min matli'iha'' (مِنْ مَطْلِعِهَا) which means "from its rising place". This uses the same word as occurs in the Dhu'l Qarnayn story (''see: [[Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part One]]''), in {{Quran|18|90}}, ''matli'a ash-shamsi'', "the rising place of the sun", and was not the word used throughout the Quran and hadiths to mean the East in general, which was ''al mashriq'' (ٱلْمَشْرِق).
 
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out '''from its rising place''' and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out '''from the place of your setting''', and it will rise '''from the place of its setting'''. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}}One can see the inconsistent way these terms have been translated on Quranx (and other sites) by searching for '[https://quranx.com/Search?Q=sun+place+setting&Context=hadith 'sun' 'place' 'setting']' in the hadith, compared to the {{Bukhari|4|54|421}} hadith.
 
===Aisha's age at consummation ===
{{Main|Aisha's Age}}
'Aisha lived with her parents before her marriage to Muhammad was consummated at the age of 9 ({{Muslim|8|3310}}). The following mistranslation is often presented as evidence that she reached puberty while she still lived there.{{Quote|{{Bukhari|1|8|465}}| Narrated `Aisha:
'Aisha lived with her parents before her marriage to Muhammad was consummated at the age of 9 ({{Muslim|8|3310}}). The following mistranslation is often presented as evidence that she reached puberty while she still lived there.{{Quote|{{Bukhari|1|8|465}}| Narrated `Aisha:


Line 153: Line 228:
The 'puberty' mistranslation also fails to achieve chronological sensibility. 'Aisha's father, Abu Bakr, was one of Muhammad's first followers. It would not have taken until puberty for 'Aisha to notice that her father followed the religion.
The 'puberty' mistranslation also fails to achieve chronological sensibility. 'Aisha's father, Abu Bakr, was one of Muhammad's first followers. It would not have taken until puberty for 'Aisha to notice that her father followed the religion.


==See Also==
=== Hadith in which Aisha menstruated===
{{Main|Aisha's Age}}
A mistranslated hadith has a comment from Abu Dawud supposedly about Aisha menstruating when she was nine. This is Sunan Abu Dawud 4915 (Ahmad Hasan numbering; 4933 Dar-us-Salam).
{{Quote|{{Abudawud||4915|hasan}}|Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) married me when I was seven or six. When we came to Medina, some women came. according to Bishr's version: Umm Ruman came to me when I was swinging. They took me, made me prepared and decorated me. I was then brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he took up cohabitation with me when I was nine. She halted me at the door, and I burst into laughter. Abu Dawud said: That is to say: I menstruated, and I was brought in a house, and there were some women of the Ansari in it. They said: With good luck and blessing. The tradition of one of them has been included in the other.}}
 
Ahmad Hasan mistranslates Abu Dawud's comment as "That is to say: I menstruated". Aisha's phrase "I burst into laughter" is fa-qultu heeh heeh (فَقُلْتُ هِيهْ هِيهْ), "And I said heh, heh". The Dar-us-Salam English-Arabic edition of Sunan Abu Dawud translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Hadith 4933) renders Aisha's words here: "She made me stand at the door and I started to breathe deeply".
 
Abu Dawud's comment is ay tanaffasat (أَىْ تَنَفَّسَتْ), which is "That is to say 'I breathed'". The verb nun-fa-sin is used here in Arabic form V with the ta prefix and shadda (doubled) middle letter, which Lane's Lexicon says means "breathed". Form I can mean menstruated, but that is not the form used in the hadith.<ref>nun-fa-sin - [https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/25_n/208_nfs.html Lane's Lexicon]</ref>
 
===Hit women without leaving a mark===
{{Main|Wife Beating in the Qur'an}}
Muhammad's 'Farewell Sermon' appears in various hadith collections and al-Tabari's History. A short version is found in ''Sunan Ibn Majah''. The Arabic words here translated 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are a mistranslation.
 
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||3|9|1851}}|Then he said: 'I enjoin good treatment of women, for they are prisoners with you, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds '''and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.'''}}
 
The highlighted phrase is fadribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrih (فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ). A literal translation is, 'then beat them, a beating without severity'. The last word is defined in Lane's Lexicon as violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence<ref>[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000219.pdf Lane's Lexicon] Book I page 182</ref>.
 
The same Arabic phrase appears in the other versions of the farewell sermon. The translators of Sunan Abu Dawud and al-Tabari's History both render it 'beat them, but not severely'.
 
{{Quote|1=[http://sunnah.com/abudawud/11/185 Abu Dawud 10:1900]|2=Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do '''beat them, but not severely.'''}}
 
{{Quote|{{Tabari|9|pp. 112-113}}|"Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have [the right] that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms '''and to beat them, but not severely'''. If they abstain from [evil], they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are [like] domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from Allah, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of Allah, so understand and listen to my words, O people.}}
 
The versions of the farewell sermon found in {{Al Tirmidhi||5|44|3087}}, translated as 'and beat them with a beating that is not painful', and {{Al Tirmidhi||2|10|1163}}, translated as 'and beat them with a beating that is not harmful', consist of the same Arabic words as quoted above and found in other versions of the farewell sermon.
 
In his tafsir, al-Tabari quotes Qatada clarifying that the phrase means ''ghayr sha'in'' (that is, 'without being disgraceful/outrageous/obscene/indecent'),<ref>[https://tafsir.app/tabari/4/34 al-Tabari 4:34]</ref> while he records that Ibn Abbas explained it as 'Hitting with a siwaak and the like'. It appears that over time there were efforts to temper the abusive results of the Quranic verse. For further relevant hadiths and information see [[Wife_Beating_in_Islamic_Law#Additional_attempts_at_moderating_severe_beatings|Wife Beating in Islamic Law]].
 
===Abu Bakr insults a Meccan ambassador===
In a hadith found in Sahih Bukhari a Meccan ambassador at Hudaybiyyah tries to discourage Muhammad from fighting. In response Abu Bakr tells him to suck on al-Lat's clitoris (فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ امْصُصْ بَظْرَ اللاَّتِ). Muhammad did not rebuke Abu Bakr for this. The insult has been covered up in the English translation by Muhsin Khan. In this translation the incident is translated as 'Abu Bakr abused him'.
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|50|891}}|[...] Then `Urwa said, "O Muhammad! Won't you feel any scruple in extirpating your relations? Have you ever heard of anyone amongst the Arabs extirpating his relatives before you? On the other hand, if the reverse should happen, (nobody will aid you, for) by Allah, I do not see (with you) dignified people, but people from various tribes who would run away leaving you alone." Hearing that, '''Abu Bakr abused him''' and said, "Do you say we would run and leave the Prophet (ﷺ) alone?" `Urwa said, "Who is that man?" They said, "He is Abu Bakr." `Urwa said to Abu Bakr, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, were it not for the favor which you did to me and which I did not compensate, I would retort on you." [...]}}
 
===Muhammad uses foul language===
In the following hadith a man comes to Muhammad and confesses that he has committed adultery. Concerning the woman in question, Muhammad asks whether the man has f*cked her (أَنِكْتَهَا). The translation by Muhsin Khan does not include this foul language.
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|82|813}}|Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
 
When Ma'iz bin Malik came to the Prophet (in order to confess), the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Probably you have only kissed (the lady), or winked, or looked at her?" He said, "No, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" '''The Prophet said, using no euphemism, "Did you have sexual intercourse with her?"''' The narrator added: At that, (i.e. after his confession) the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that he be stoned (to death).}}
 
===Muhammad wears Aisha's garment/dress===
In the following hadith, Muhammad says divine inspirations do not come to him in any garment/dress (ثَوْبِ) except that of Aisha. Cross-dressing was condemned by Muhammad as can be seen in {{Abudawud||4087|hasan}}. To cover up the fact that Muhammad was cross-dressing, the word in question has been mistranslated to bed.
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|47|755}}|Narrated `Urwa from `Aisha: [...]
 
She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, "Talk to him till he gives you a reply." When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, "Do not hurt me regarding Aisha, as '''the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of Aisha.'''" [...]}}
 
===Muhammad says his aorta is being cut from poison===
In the following hadith from Sahih Bukhari Muhammad says he feels his aorta is being cut from the poisoned food he ate at Khaybar. This strongly implies Muhammad died because of poisoning. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan the words 'as if' have been added. As a result, the English translation doesn't imply as strongly as the Arabic text that Muhammad died because of poisoning. Yet, it says Muhammad experienced a lot of pain from the poisoning shortly before his death.
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|59|713}}|Narrated `Aisha:
 
The Prophet (ﷺ) in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel '''as if''' my aorta is being cut from that poison."}}
 
===Muhammad forbids imposing conditions found in the hadith===
In the following hadith Muhammad says people should not impose conditions which are not present in Allah's Book (كِتَابِ اللَّهِ), which is the Quran. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan this has been mistranslated to 'Allah's Laws' to justify imposing conditions which are found in the hadith.
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|34|364}}|Narrated `Aisha:
 
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and I told him about the slave-girl (Barirah) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is for the one who manumits." In the evening the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, "Why do some people impose conditions which are not present in '''Allah's Book (Laws)'''? Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in '''Allah's Laws''', then that condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for Allah's conditions are more binding and reliable."}}
 
===Satan lays eggs in the marketplace of Medina and hatches them===
The following hadith contains two narrations. The second of these has not been translated into English. It says that people should not be first to enter the marketplace, nor the last to leave it, because it is where Satan lays his eggs and hatches them.
 
{{Quote|[https://quranx.com/hadith/Saliheen/In-Book/Book-19/Hadith-1842/ Riyad As-Salihin 19:1842]|
Salman Al-Farisi (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
 
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not, if you can help, be the first to enter the market and the last to leave it because it is an arena of Satan and the standard of Satan is set there."[Muslim].There are other narrations with some variation in the wordings.}}
 
=== If ten Jews followed Muhammad, all Jews would embrace Islam===
In the following hadith Muhammad says that if ten Jews (عَشْرَةٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ) followed him, all Jews would embrace Islam. The hadith has been mistranslated by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui so that it says 'ten scholars of the Jews'. In Muhsin Khan's translation of a similar hadith 'amongst their chiefs' has been added in brackets.
 
{{Quote|{{Muslim|39|6711}}|
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
 
If '''ten scholars of the Jews''' would follow me, no Jew would be left upon the surface of the earth who would not embrace Islam.}}
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|58|277}}|
Narrated Abu Huraira:
 
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Had only ten Jews '''(amongst their chiefs)''' believe me, all the Jews would definitely have believed me."}}
 
===Hadith is not translated ===
The following hadith from Abu Dawud was not translated. Instead, it is said that it is basically the same as the previous one.
However, in the previous hadith Muhammad makes it clear that a slave should be manumitted after being beaten by his owner, while in this hadith it is said that the narrator did not mention manumission. In addition, this hadith explicitly mentions the slave being black, while the previous one does not.
 
{{Quote|{{Abu Dawud|41|5137}}|
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by al-A’mash in a similar way to same way to the same effect through a different chain of narrators.}}
 
===Extra part of a verse is recited ===
In the following hadith Ibn Abbas recites a verse of the Quran as "‏‏وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ‏‏ '''وَرَهْطَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِين'''" (And warn your tribe of near kindred '''and your chosen group from among them''') The first part corresponds to {{Quran|26|214}}. But the second part (in bold) is not part of the Quran nowadays. This part is not included in the English translation on quranx.com or sunnah.com, but it is part of [https://archive.org/details/the-translation-of-the-meanings-of-sahih-al-bukhari-translated-by-dr.-muhammad-muhsin-khan/page/n2869/mode/2up Muhsin Khan's translation].
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|60|495}}|
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
 
When the Verse:-- 'And warn your tribe of near kindred.' (26.214) was revealed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "O Sabahah!" The people said, [...]}}
 
===Muhammad's followers will continue to fight for truth===
In the following hadith Muhammad says a group of people from his ummah will continue to fight for truth/righteousness and prevail until the day of judgment. In the translation it says they will fight 'in defence of truth' to make it seem like they will fight in self-defence.
{{Quote|{{Muslim|20|4718}}|
It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abdullah who said:
 
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A group of people from my Umma will continue to fight '''In defence of truth''' and remain triumphant until the Day of judgment.}}
 
===May Allah kill/curse the Jews===
In the following hadith Muhammad asks Allah to kill (قَاتَلَ) the Jews. However, this has been mistranslated as 'curse'. As a result, the hadith does not conflict with {{Quran|21|107}} which says Muhammad is a mercy to the worlds.
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|34|438}}|Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah:
 
I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), in the year of the Conquest of Mecca, saying, "Allah and His Apostle made illegal the trade of alcohol, dead animals, pigs and idols." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing the boats and the hides; and people use it for lights?" He said, "No, it is illegal." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) further said, "May Allah '''curse''' the Jews, for Allah made the fat (of animals) illegal for them, yet they melted the fat and sold it and ate its price."}}
 
The same mistranslation occurs in {{Bukhari|1|8|428}}, {{Bukhari|3|34|426}}, {{Bukhari|3|34|427}} and {{Bukhari|6|60|157}}.
 
===Muhammad destroys crosses===
In the following hadith it says that Muhammad destroyed crosses in his house. It is possible that this refers to crosses that Mariyah (his concubine who was a Christian) left in the house. However, in the translation it only says Muhammad destroyed crosses if Aisha (the narrator) left them in the house.
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|72|836}}|Narrated `Aisha:
 
'''I''' never used to leave in the Prophet (ﷺ) house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it.}}
 
===Aisha watches Ethiopians who are playing===
 
In the following hadith Aisha narrates how she used to watch Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque. In Aisha's description about herself the translator added that she had not reached the age of puberty. As a result, this hadith does not conflict with the ruling that adult women should not watch football games. A relevant fatwa can be found [https://islamqa.info/en/answers/146844/is-it-permissible-to-watch-football-soccer-games-on-television here].
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|62|163}}|Narrated `Aisha:
 
The Prophet (ﷺ) was screening me with his Rida' (garment covering the upper part of the body) while I was looking at the Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque. (I continued watching) till I was satisfied. So you may deduce from this event how a little girl '''(who has not reached the age of puberty)''' who is eager to enjoy amusement should be treated in this respect.}}
 
===Muhammad hits Aisha===
In the following hadith it says Muhammad struck Aisha on the chest which caused her pain (فَلَهَدَنِي فِي صَدْرِي لَهْدَةً أَوْجَعَتْنِي). On sunnah.com it says Muhammad gave Aisha a nudge on the chest which she felt. While the translations for Sahih Muslim have been provided by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found [https://archive.org/details/SahihMuslim-IslamicEnglishBook.pdf/page/n537/mode/2up here].
 
{{Quote|1=[https://sunnah.com/muslim:974b Sahih Muslim 4:2127]|2= [...] He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. '''He gave me a nudge on the chest which I felt''', and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? [...]}}
 
===Muhammad has been made victorious with terror===
In the following hadith Muhammad says he has been made victorious with terror (نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ). On sunnah.com this has been changed to 'awe'. While the translations for Sahih Bukhari have been provided by Muhsin Khan, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found [https://archive.org/details/the-translation-of-the-meanings-of-sahih-al-bukhari-translated-by-dr.-muhammad-muhsin-khan/page/n1629/mode/2up here].
 
{{Quote|1=[https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2977 Sahih Bukhari 4:52:220]|2= Narrated Abu Huraira:
 
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with '''awe''' (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) did not benefit by them).}}
 
===Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers ===
In the following hadith Muhammad prophesies that Arabia becomes or reverts to (تَعُودَ) meadows and rivers. Sunnah.com uses Abdul Hamid Siddiqui's translation for Sahih Muslim which uses the word 'becomes', yet this translation has been altered such that it says 'reverts to'. The altered translation implies that Muhammad knew Arabia once was not a desert. Both translations can be used, but the translation was altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found [https://archive.org/details/SahihMuslim-IslamicEnglishBook.pdf/page/n561/mode/2up here].
 
{{Quote|1=[https://sunnah.com/muslim:157c Sahih Muslim 5:2208]|2=Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying:
 
The Last Hour will not come before wealth becomes abundant and overflowing, so much so that a man takes Zakat out of his property and cannot find anyone to accept it from him and till the land of Arabia '''reverts to''' meadows and rivers.}}
 
==See Also==  


*[[Misrepresentations of Islamic Scripture (English)]]
*[[Misrepresentations of Islamic Scripture (English)]]
*[[Mawdu' (Fabricated) and Daif (Weak) Hadiths]]
*[[Mawdu' (Fabricated) and Daif (Weak) Hadiths]]


==External Links==
==External Links==  


*{{external link| url = http://www.faithfreedom.org/the-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran/| title = The Deceptive Translations of the Quran| publisher = | author = | date = | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithfreedom.org%2Fthe-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran%2F&date=2013-11-26| deadurl = no}}
*{{external link| url = http://www.faithfreedom.org/the-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran/| title = The Deceptive Translations of the Quran| publisher = | author = | date = | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithfreedom.org%2Fthe-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran%2F&date=2013-11-26| deadurl = no}}

Latest revision as of 22:06, 10 June 2024

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

This article or section is being renovated.

Lead = 2 / 4
Structure = 3 / 4
Content = 3 / 4
Language = 3 / 4
References = 3 / 4
Lead
2 / 4
 Structure
3 / 4
 Content
3 / 4
 Language
3 / 4
 References
3 / 4


Quran 15:9 declares that the Qur'an is Allah's revelation and that he promises to preserve it and protect it from corruption. In Quran 16:103, Quran 44:58 and Quran 54:22, 32, 40, it is emphasized that the Qur'an was revealed in straightforward, easy to understand, and pure Arabic. Sunni Islamic scholars agree that all that which is fundamental to Islam (particularly most of Islamic law) which is not contained in the Quran must have been preserved in the form of hadiths. However, translations of these scriptures have not always been rendered faithfully into other languages such as English, particularly in recent times and especially when the audience concerned is that of a developed, first-world variety which likely holds to modern notions of human rights and liberalism.

Some of the most prominent and officially recognized English translators of the Qur'an (like Yusuf Ali, Dr. Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Asad), in particular, have often (seemingly deliberately, given their knowledge and skill) mistranslated the most controversial and problematic verses in the Qur'an. That these inaccurate translations are most common with verses that would be considered contrary to modern liberal values in the West suggests that these mistranslations were not unintentional or due to some unique difficulty of the Arabic words used in these verses. Similar mistranslations have been observed in translations of the hadiths as well as in translations of other key Islamic texts, such as legal manuals.

Quran

(4:34) Wife-beating

Main Article: Wife Beating in the Qur'an

Quran 4:34 famously instructs men to beat their wives and forms the basis of the Islamic legal ruling which permits as much.

This verse states that men are in charge of women with what they spend on them, and have the right to direct them in life. Also in the same verse, women are told to obey men and if they don’t, then men have the authority to admonish them, refuse to share beds and beat them. Many translators added words like "first", "next" and "last" so that beating your wife appears to be the last resort. In addition, they added the word “lightly” in brackets after “beating them”, despite the fact that this word or connotation is not found in the source text.

Saheeh International: Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allāh has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allāh would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them [lightly]. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allāh is ever Exalted and Grand.
Quran 4:34
Al-Hilali & Khan: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allâh has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allâh and to their husbands), and guard in the husband’s absence what Allâh orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband’s property). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly, if it is useful); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance). Surely, Allâh is Ever Most High, Most Great.
Quran 4:34
Yusuf Ali: Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, seek not against them Means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all).
Quran 4:34

Mustafa Khattab's translation includes the aforementioned problems. Besides, he mistranslated beat (ٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ) as "discipline".

Mustafa Khattab: Men are the caretakers of women, as men have been provisioned by Allah over women and tasked with supporting them financially. And righteous women are devoutly obedient and, when alone, protective of what Allah has entrusted them with. And if you sense ill-conduct from your women, advise them ˹first˺, ˹if they persist,˺ do not share their beds, ˹but if they still persist,˺ then discipline them ˹gently˺. But if they change their ways, do not be unjust to them. Surely Allah is Most High, All-Great.
Quran 4:34

(23:14) Fetal development

Main Article: Embryology in the Quran

Quran 23:14 presents a schema regarding the development of the human fetus. The following translations are taken from Pickthall and Yusuf Ali.

Pickthal: Then fashioned We the drop a clot, then fashioned We the clot a little lump, then fashioned We the little lump bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators!
Quran 23:14
Yusuf Ali: Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!
Quran 23:14

This verse is often used as an example of how translators (in this case Yusuf Ali, who is authorized by the Saudi Islamic authority and Al-Azhar University) have often mistranslated verses in ways that appear less objectionable to liberal, Western audiences.

Yusuf Ali, in his translation, replaces the word "then" with "and". He also replaces “the best of creators” (plural) with “the best to create” (singular). The difference in the meaning is crucial because the word “then” suggests another and separate phase, while the word “and” means bones and flesh form simultaneously or during one phase, which conforms to modern science, even though this does not appear in the original Arabic text.

Likewise, the plural form of “creators” seems to affirm the existence of multiple creators (of whom Allah would be the best), which appears to contradict the key Islamic doctrine of tawḥīd (توحيد) regarding the oneness of Allah, the only creator. Similar mistranslations are given by the Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Saad translations. By contrast, the Pickthal translation is more accurate in this case, conforming to the original Arabic text.

Similarly distorted translations are also presented by institutions such as al-Azhar, the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, as is seen on the Al-Azhar web site. The above verse is translated as below:

Then We created the nutfah (sperm-drop) into a clinging organism. Then We created the clinging organism into a bolus-like chewed-up mass of coherent body of matter. Then We created the bolus-like chewed-up mass into bones, and We dressed the bones flesh. Out of this We brought it forth as a different creation. So, blessed be Allâh, The Fairest of creators.
Quran 23:14

(18:86) Sun sets in a muddy spring

Main Article: Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part One

Quran 18:86 describes the story of Dhul-Qarnayn (often identified with Alexander the Great) wherein he is said to arrive at a location where he observes the sun setting in a muddy spring.

Pickthall: Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness.
Quran 18:86

Modern Islamic scholars have argued that the verse describes a visual representation of what Dhul-Qarnayn saw as the sun set into the “horizon”. Such explanations are frustrated by authoritative sources, themselves represented by the likes of Tafsir Al-Jalalayn (p. 251), and numerous classical authorities (which explain that the setting of the sun is in a well containing a murky mud). The same interpretation is found in al-Tabari’s commentaries (p. 339) as well as in the Concise Interpretation of al-Tabari (p. 19 of part 2) in which he remarks that the well in which the sun sets "contains lime and murky mud". The words “apparent” or “looks like” do not appear in classical explanations or commentaries. Indeed, the verse appears to reflect the cosmological views Muhammad would have been expected to have in seventh century Arabia. Furthermore, since the earth is in fact round, not flat (as the Qur'an appears to suggest), Dhul-Qarnayn could never have reached some "farthest point", since no such point exists on a globe.

The al-Azhar site confronts this challenge by mistranslating this verse, specifying that the "muddy spring" is in fact the Atlantic Ocean, which appeared to Dhul-Qarnayn as a muddy spring. The Saheeh International translation inserts a parenthetical [as if] which does not exist in the original Arabic text and is nowhere implied.

Saheeh International: Until, when he reached the setting of the sun [i.e., the west], he found it [as if] setting in a body of dark water, and he found near it a people. We [i.e., Allāh] said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness."
Quran 18:86

Mustafa Khattab mistranslated "he found it" (wajadaha) as "which appeared to him".

Mustafa Khattab: Until he reached the setting ˹point˺ of the sun, which appeared to him to be setting in a spring of murky water, where he found some people. We said, “O Ⱬul-Qarnain! Either punish them or treat them kindly.”
Quran 18:86

(86:5-7) Semen production

Main Article: Quran and Semen Production

Quran 86:5-7 states that sperm originates from an area between the breastbone and the backbone.

Yusuf Ali: 5. Now let man but think from what he is created!

6. He is created from a drop emitted-

7. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs
Quran 86:5-7

The al-Azhar site translates the origination point of sperm as from "between the pelvis and breast bone".

(22:52) Satanic verses

Main Article: Satanic Verses (Gharaniq Incident)

Quran 22:52 is said to have been revealed after the incident with respect to the Satanic Verses. This verse absolves Muhammad of responsibility for the Satanic Verses. The verse says that Satan influenced the recitations of all previous prophets. The text literally says "when he recited Satan threw (something) into his recitation." (إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ)

Saheeh International: And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allāh abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allāh makes precise His verses. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.
Quran 22:52
  • إِذَا (itha) - when
  • تَمَنَّىٰٓ (tamannaa) - he recited
  • أَلْقَى (alqaa) - threw
  • ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ (ashshaytanu) - Satan
  • فِىٓ (fee) - in
  • أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ (omniyyatihi) - his recitation

Some translations try to cover up Satan's influencing of recitations. For example, by suggesting that Satan influenced people's understanding of the verse.

Mustafa Khattab: Whenever We sent a messenger or a prophet before you ˹O Prophet˺ and he recited ˹Our revelations˺, Satan would influence ˹people’s understanding of˺ his recitation. But ˹eventually˺ Allah would eliminate Satan’s influence. Then Allah would ˹firmly˺ establish His revelations. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.
Quran 22:52
T. Usmani: We did not send any messenger before you nor a prophet, but (he faced a situation that) when he recited (the revelation), the Satan cast (doubts in the hearts of his opponents) about what he recited. So, Allah nullifies what the Satan casts, then Allah makes His verses firm, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise
Quran 22:52
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem: We have never sent any messenger or prophet before you [Muhammad] into whose wishes Satan did not insinuate something, but God removes what Satan insinuates and then God affirms His message. God is all knowing and wise:
Quran 22:52
M. Pickthall: Never sent We a messenger or a prophet before thee but when He recited (the message) Satan proposed (opposition) in respect of that which he recited thereof. But Allah abolisheth that which Satan proposeth. Then Allah establisheth His revelations. Allah is Knower, Wise;
Quran 22:52

(3:54) Allah the best of deceivers

Main Article: Allah, the Best Deceiver (Qur'an 3:54)

In Quran 3:54, Quran 7:99, Quran 8:30, Quran 10:21 and Quran 13:42 Allah is called the best of deceivers (خير الماكرين).

Arabic: ومكروا ومكر الله والله خير الماكرين

Transliteration: Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru almakireena

Literal: And they cheated/deceived and God cheated/deceived, and God (is) the best (of) the cheaters/deceivers.[1]
Qur'an Text/Transliteration 3:54

This has been mistranslated as the best of plotters/planners/schemers in various translations.

Saheeh International: And they [i.e., the disbelievers] planned, but Allāh planned. And Allāh is the best of planners.
Quran 3:54
Al-Hilali & Khan: And they (disbelievers) plotted to kill ‘Îsâ [(Jesus) عليه السلام], and Allâh plotted too. And Allâh is the Best of those who plot.
Quran 3:54
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem: The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; God is the Best of Schemers.
Quran 3:54

(9:29) Fight people until they pay the jizya willingly while they are humbled

Main Article: Jizyah

Quran 9:29 tells Muslims to fight the People of the Book until they pay jizya with their hands (عَن يَدٖ) ('an yadin) while they are humiliated/belittled (صَٰغِرُونَ) (Saghiroon). Several translators mistranslate 'an yadin as willingly and Saghiroon as humbled.

Mustafa Khattab: Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, willingly submitting, fully humbled.
Quran 9:29
Saheeh International: Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
Quran 9:29

(10:5) Moon is a (reflective) light

The Quran calls the moon a light (نُورٗا) in Quran 10:5. In reality, the moon only reflects sunlight. Some translators have tried to incorporate this in their translation, but it is not mentioned in the Arabic.

Mustafa Khattab: He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a reflected light, with precisely ordained phases, so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Allah did not create all this except for a purpose. He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.
Quran 10:5
Saheeh International: It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.
Quran 10:5

(4:11) Inheritance

Quran 4:11 concerns the laws of inheritance. This verse contains a linguistic mistake. It says that if there are more than two daughters (فَإِن كُنَّ نِسَآءٗ فَوۡقَ ٱثۡنَتَيۡنِ), they should get two thirds of the estate. However, the author of the Quran meant to say 'two or more daughters'. In Jami` at-Tirmidhi 4:27:2092 Muhammad divides the estate after the verse of inheritance was supposedly revealed. He gives two thirds to the two daughters. The following translations cover up the mistake.

Mustafa Khattab: Allah commands you regarding your children: the share of the male will be twice that of the female. If you leave only two ˹or more˺ females, their share is two-thirds of the estate. [...]
Quran 4:11
Saheeh International: Allāh instructs you concerning your children [i.e., their portions of inheritance]: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. [...]
Quran 4:11
M.A.S. Abdel Haleem: Concerning your children, God commands you that a son should have the equivalent share of two daughters. If there are only daughters, two or more should share two-thirds of the inheritance, if one, she should have half. [...]
Quran 4:11
Yusuf Ali: Allah (thus) directs you as regards your Children's (Inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females: if only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. [...]
Quran 4:11
Al-Hilali & Khan: Allâh commands you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if (there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half. [...]
Quran 4:11

(67:5) Shooting stars

Main Article: Shooting Stars in the Quran

Quran 67:5 discusses the jinn (mythical creatures that are described in Islamic scriptures as living among humans)[2] and stars from the "lowest heaven" which are used as missiles against any mischievous jinn that attempts to eavesdrop on conversations between angels.[3]

وَلَقَدْ زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَجَعَلْنَٰهَا رُجُومًا لِّلشَّيَٰطِينِ ۖ وَأَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلسَّعِيرِ
Transliteration: Walaqad zayyanna alssamaa alddunya bimasabeeha wajaAAalnaha rujooman lilshshayateeni waaAAtadna lahum AAathaba alssaAAeeri
Literal: And certainly We have beautified the heaven (ٱلسَّمَآءَ, as-samaa'a) nearest (ٱلدُّنْيَا, ad-dunyaa) with lamps (بِمَصَٰبِيحَ, bi-masaabeeh) and We have made them (as) missiles (رُجُومًا, rujooman) for the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment(of) the Blaze.[4]
Qur'an Text/Transliteration 67:5
  • ٱلسَّمَآءَ (as-samaa'a) means heaven or sky.[5]
  • ٱلدُّنْيَا (ad-dunya) is translated "the world" or "the lower". The world" is called "the lower", because according to Islamic cosmology the heavens appear one atop the other and the earth is the lowest in this structure.
    • So ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا can be understood as "the lowest heaven", "the heaven right above this flat earth", "the sky above The Lower".
  • بِمَصَٰبِيحَ (bi-masaabeeh) - this word means "lamps" and is still used as such in modern Arabic (see Google images for مصابيح).
  • رُجُومًا (rujooman) - it is from the same root as رجم (rajm), meaning "stoning", which is the Islamic punishment for sex outside marriage (Satan, or Iblis, is known as al-Rajeem or "the stoned one" - الرجيم in Arabic).

Accurate translations

Below are the three most popular and readily available translations of the verse from Islamic sources.

Pickthal: And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.
Quran 67:5
Shakir: And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for the Shaitans, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.
Quran 67:5
Yusuf Ali: And we have, (from of old), adorned the lowest heaven with Lamps, and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.
Quran 67:5

The below translations from non-Islamic sources are also generally accepted, albeit not frequently cited in Islamic circles.

Arberry: And We adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and made them things to stone Satans; and We have prepared for them the chastisement of the Blaze.
Quran 67:5
Palmer: And we have adorned the lower heaven with lamps; and set them to pelt the devils with; and we have prepared for them the torment of the blaze!
Quran 67:5
George Sale: Moreover We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and have appointed them to be darted at the devils, for whom We have prepared the torment of burning fire:
Quran 67:5
JM Rodwell: Moreover we have decked the lowest heaven with lights, and have placed them there to be hurled at the Satans, for whom we have prepared the torment of the flaming fire.
Quran 67:5

A further twelve translations confirm the above translations.[6]

Mistranslations

The following two translations distort the idea of stars being used to stone jinn by describing the missiles as being made out of/from the stars, but not being the stars themselves.

Umm Muhammad (Sahih International): And We have certainly beautified the nearest heaven with stars and have made [from] them what is thrown at the devils and have prepared for them the punishment of the Blaze.
Quran 67:5
Ali Ünal: And, indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven (the heaven of the world) with lamps (stars), and made (out of) them missiles to drive away devils; and for them We have prepared (in the Hereafter) the punishment of the Blaze.
Quran 67:5

Another two translations include their modifications without using brackets, which is even more misleading giving the impression that this text is literally part of the Arabic original:

Aisha Bewley: We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made some of them stones for the shaytans for whom We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze.
Quran 67:5
Al-Muntakhab: And We decorated the lowermost heaven with lamps (or heavenly bodies), some of them adapted to be like weapons in pursuit of the evil ones for whom We have prepared torture in the blazes of Hell.
Quran 67:5

In two other translations, the lamps and the projectiles used against the devilish jinn are referred to as separate entities, though this disagrees with the Arabic text in which there is a pronoun used to refer to the "projectiles" whose clear antecedent is the plural word "lamps".

Khalifa: We adorned the lowest universe with lamps, and guarded its borders with projectiles against the devils; we prepared for them a retribution in Hell.
Quran 67:5
Progressive Muslims: And We have adorned this universe with lamps, and We made it with projectiles against the devils; and We prepared for them the retribution of the blazing Fire.
Quran 67:5

Reinterpretations presented as translations

The following translations depart entirely from the classical interpretations of the verse and, it would appear, the very wording of the verse itself.

Maulana Ali: And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We make them means of conjectures for the devils, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.
Quran 67:5
Shabbir Ahmed: And indeed, We have beautified the sky of the world with shining lamps. And made them objects of futile guesses for the satans. (15:17), (37:6-9), (72:8). And for them We have prepared the doom of blazing flames.
Quran 67:5

Another three translations go a little further, asserting that the "devils/evil ones" refer to evil human cohorts and not to the jinn.

Asad: And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame –
Quran 67:5
Farook Malik: And, indeed, We have adorned the skies nearest to the earth with lights, and have made them the object of futile guesses for the evil ones [from among men]: and for them have We readied suffering through a blazing flame.
Quran 67:5
Amatul Rahman Omar: We have, certainly, adorned the lowest heaven with (stars-like) lamps and We have made them as means of conjecture for the evil ones (and the astrologers who invent good or bad omens from the movement of the stars). (Remember) We have prepared for these (soothesayers) the punishment of the blazing Fire.
Quran 67:5

Incorporation of modern science into translation

The following translation attempts to incorporate modern scientific understandings of cosmology into its reading of the verse, though makes it a point to use brackets to differentiate words inserted to facilitate this understanding from the original Arabic text itself:

Bijan Moeinian: God has adorned the lowest universe with the sources of light [probably a reference to the Quasars], being used as missiles against the devils [perhaps the reference is to anti-matter which will be destroyed immediately in contact with the matter] and prepared for them a blazing fire.
Quran 67:5

Hadith

The sun will rise "in the West"

A sign of the last hour that appears in numerous hadiths is often mistranslated as the sun rising "in the West". This mistranslation occurs throughout the English translation of Sahih Bukhari by Muhsin Khan and sometimes in the translation of Sahih Muslim by Abdul Hamid Sadiqqui.

Narrated Abu Dhar: The Prophet (ﷺ) asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah: "And the sun Runs its fixed course For a term (decreed). that is The Decree of (Allah) The Exalted in Might, The All- Knowing." (36.38)
Sahih Bukhari 4:54:421

While the Arabic word al maghrib was commonly used to mean the West in general, in fact a much more specific form occurs in these hadiths. In every hadith narration of this prophecy, the Arabic phrase is always min maghribi-ha (مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا), which means that the sun is told to go and rise "from its setting place", without the definite article (al for 'the') and with the possessive suffix.

In one narration in Sahih Muslim (which is accurately translated), there is in addition the phrase min maghribi-ki (مِنْ مَغْرِبِكِ), which means the sun is told to go and rise "from the place of your setting". Earlier in the same narration, the sun is usually commanded to rise min matli'iha (مِنْ مَطْلِعِهَا) which means "from its rising place". This uses the same word as occurs in the Dhu'l Qarnayn story (see: Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part One), in Quran 18:90, matli'a ash-shamsi, "the rising place of the sun", and was not the word used throughout the Quran and hadiths to mean the East in general, which was al mashriq (ٱلْمَشْرِق).

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out from its rising place and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out from the place of your setting, and it will rise from the place of its setting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.
Sahih Muslim 1:297

One can see the inconsistent way these terms have been translated on Quranx (and other sites) by searching for ''sun' 'place' 'setting'' in the hadith, compared to the Sahih Bukhari 4:54:421 hadith.

Aisha's age at consummation

Main Article: Aisha's Age

'Aisha lived with her parents before her marriage to Muhammad was consummated at the age of 9 (Sahih Muslim 8:3310). The following mistranslation is often presented as evidence that she reached puberty while she still lived there.

Narrated `Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet (ﷺ) visited us, both in the mornings and evenings...
Sahih Bukhari 1:8:465

The word أَعْقِلْ means to use thoughts or reasoning, but the translator Muhsin Khan has used the word 'puberty'. The meaning rather is that 'Aisha was never aware of a time when her parents were not Muslim. A literal translation would be "I was not aware of my parents other than that the two of them both acknowledged the religion" (لَمْ أَعْقِلْ أَبَوَىَّ إِلاَّ وَهُمَا يَدِينَانِ الدِّينَ). The same Arabic phrase is translated as follows in another hadith by the same translator:

Narrated `Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) "I do not remember my parents believing in any religion other than the Religion (of Islam), and our being visited by Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) in the morning and in the evening....
Sahih Bukhari 8:73:102

See also the two other occurrences in Sahih Bukhari 3:37:494 and Sahih Bukhari 5:58:245.

The 'puberty' mistranslation also fails to achieve chronological sensibility. 'Aisha's father, Abu Bakr, was one of Muhammad's first followers. It would not have taken until puberty for 'Aisha to notice that her father followed the religion.

Hadith in which Aisha menstruated

Main Article: Aisha's Age

A mistranslated hadith has a comment from Abu Dawud supposedly about Aisha menstruating when she was nine. This is Sunan Abu Dawud 4915 (Ahmad Hasan numbering; 4933 Dar-us-Salam).

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) married me when I was seven or six. When we came to Medina, some women came. according to Bishr's version: Umm Ruman came to me when I was swinging. They took me, made me prepared and decorated me. I was then brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and he took up cohabitation with me when I was nine. She halted me at the door, and I burst into laughter. Abu Dawud said: That is to say: I menstruated, and I was brought in a house, and there were some women of the Ansari in it. They said: With good luck and blessing. The tradition of one of them has been included in the other.
Sunan Abu Dawud 4915 (Ahmad Hasan Ref)

Ahmad Hasan mistranslates Abu Dawud's comment as "That is to say: I menstruated". Aisha's phrase "I burst into laughter" is fa-qultu heeh heeh (فَقُلْتُ هِيهْ هِيهْ), "And I said heh, heh". The Dar-us-Salam English-Arabic edition of Sunan Abu Dawud translated by Nasiruddin al-Khattab (Hadith 4933) renders Aisha's words here: "She made me stand at the door and I started to breathe deeply".

Abu Dawud's comment is ay tanaffasat (أَىْ تَنَفَّسَتْ), which is "That is to say 'I breathed'". The verb nun-fa-sin is used here in Arabic form V with the ta prefix and shadda (doubled) middle letter, which Lane's Lexicon says means "breathed". Form I can mean menstruated, but that is not the form used in the hadith.[7]

Hit women without leaving a mark

Main Article: Wife Beating in the Qur'an

Muhammad's 'Farewell Sermon' appears in various hadith collections and al-Tabari's History. A short version is found in Sunan Ibn Majah. The Arabic words here translated 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are a mistranslation.

Then he said: 'I enjoin good treatment of women, for they are prisoners with you, and you have no right to treat them otherwise, unless they commit clear indecency. If they do that, then forsake them in their beds and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark.
Sunan Ibn Majah 3:9:1851

The highlighted phrase is fadribuhunna darban ghayra mubarrih (فَاضْرِبُوهُنَّ ضَرْبًا غَيْرَ مُبَرِّحٍ). A literal translation is, 'then beat them, a beating without severity'. The last word is defined in Lane's Lexicon as violence/severity/sharpness/vehemence[8].

The same Arabic phrase appears in the other versions of the farewell sermon. The translators of Sunan Abu Dawud and al-Tabari's History both render it 'beat them, but not severely'.

Fear Allaah regarding women for you have got them under Allah’s security and have the right to intercourse with them by Allaah’s word. It is a duty from you on them not to allow anyone whom you dislike to lie on your beds but if they do beat them, but not severely.
Abu Dawud 10:1900
"Now then, O people, you have a right over your wives and they have a right over you. You have [the right] that they should not cause anyone of whom you dislike to tread on your beds; and that they should not commit any open indecency. If they do, then Allah permits you to shut them in separate rooms and to beat them, but not severely. If they abstain from [evil], they have the right to their food and clothing in accordance with the custom. Treat women well, for they are [like] domestic animals with you and do not possess anything for themselves. You have taken them only as a trust from Allah, and you have made the enjoyment of their persons lawful by the word of Allah, so understand and listen to my words, O people.
Al-Tabari, Vol. 9, pp. 112-113

The versions of the farewell sermon found in Jami` at-Tirmidhi 5:44:3087, translated as 'and beat them with a beating that is not painful', and Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2:10:1163, translated as 'and beat them with a beating that is not harmful', consist of the same Arabic words as quoted above and found in other versions of the farewell sermon.

In his tafsir, al-Tabari quotes Qatada clarifying that the phrase means ghayr sha'in (that is, 'without being disgraceful/outrageous/obscene/indecent'),[9] while he records that Ibn Abbas explained it as 'Hitting with a siwaak and the like'. It appears that over time there were efforts to temper the abusive results of the Quranic verse. For further relevant hadiths and information see Wife Beating in Islamic Law.

Abu Bakr insults a Meccan ambassador

In a hadith found in Sahih Bukhari a Meccan ambassador at Hudaybiyyah tries to discourage Muhammad from fighting. In response Abu Bakr tells him to suck on al-Lat's clitoris (فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو بَكْرٍ امْصُصْ بَظْرَ اللاَّتِ). Muhammad did not rebuke Abu Bakr for this. The insult has been covered up in the English translation by Muhsin Khan. In this translation the incident is translated as 'Abu Bakr abused him'.

[...] Then `Urwa said, "O Muhammad! Won't you feel any scruple in extirpating your relations? Have you ever heard of anyone amongst the Arabs extirpating his relatives before you? On the other hand, if the reverse should happen, (nobody will aid you, for) by Allah, I do not see (with you) dignified people, but people from various tribes who would run away leaving you alone." Hearing that, Abu Bakr abused him and said, "Do you say we would run and leave the Prophet (ﷺ) alone?" `Urwa said, "Who is that man?" They said, "He is Abu Bakr." `Urwa said to Abu Bakr, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, were it not for the favor which you did to me and which I did not compensate, I would retort on you." [...]
Sahih Bukhari 3:50:891

Muhammad uses foul language

In the following hadith a man comes to Muhammad and confesses that he has committed adultery. Concerning the woman in question, Muhammad asks whether the man has f*cked her (أَنِكْتَهَا). The translation by Muhsin Khan does not include this foul language.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When Ma'iz bin Malik came to the Prophet (in order to confess), the Prophet (ﷺ) said to him, "Probably you have only kissed (the lady), or winked, or looked at her?" He said, "No, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!" The Prophet said, using no euphemism, "Did you have sexual intercourse with her?" The narrator added: At that, (i.e. after his confession) the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered that he be stoned (to death).
Sahih Bukhari 8:82:813

Muhammad wears Aisha's garment/dress

In the following hadith, Muhammad says divine inspirations do not come to him in any garment/dress (ثَوْبِ) except that of Aisha. Cross-dressing was condemned by Muhammad as can be seen in Sunan Abu Dawud 4087 (Ahmad Hasan Ref). To cover up the fact that Muhammad was cross-dressing, the word in question has been mistranslated to bed.

Narrated `Urwa from `Aisha: [...] She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, "Talk to him till he gives you a reply." When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, "Do not hurt me regarding Aisha, as the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of Aisha." [...]
Sahih Bukhari 3:47:755

Muhammad says his aorta is being cut from poison

In the following hadith from Sahih Bukhari Muhammad says he feels his aorta is being cut from the poisoned food he ate at Khaybar. This strongly implies Muhammad died because of poisoning. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan the words 'as if' have been added. As a result, the English translation doesn't imply as strongly as the Arabic text that Muhammad died because of poisoning. Yet, it says Muhammad experienced a lot of pain from the poisoning shortly before his death.

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) in his ailment in which he died, used to say, "O `Aisha! I still feel the pain caused by the food I ate at Khaibar, and at this time, I feel as if my aorta is being cut from that poison."
Sahih Bukhari 5:59:713

Muhammad forbids imposing conditions found in the hadith

In the following hadith Muhammad says people should not impose conditions which are not present in Allah's Book (كِتَابِ اللَّهِ), which is the Quran. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan this has been mistranslated to 'Allah's Laws' to justify imposing conditions which are found in the hadith.

Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and I told him about the slave-girl (Barirah) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is for the one who manumits." In the evening the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, "Why do some people impose conditions which are not present in Allah's Book (Laws)? Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in Allah's Laws, then that condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for Allah's conditions are more binding and reliable."
Sahih Bukhari 3:34:364

Satan lays eggs in the marketplace of Medina and hatches them

The following hadith contains two narrations. The second of these has not been translated into English. It says that people should not be first to enter the marketplace, nor the last to leave it, because it is where Satan lays his eggs and hatches them.

Salman Al-Farisi (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not, if you can help, be the first to enter the market and the last to leave it because it is an arena of Satan and the standard of Satan is set there."[Muslim].There are other narrations with some variation in the wordings.
Riyad As-Salihin 19:1842

If ten Jews followed Muhammad, all Jews would embrace Islam

In the following hadith Muhammad says that if ten Jews (عَشْرَةٌ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ) followed him, all Jews would embrace Islam. The hadith has been mistranslated by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui so that it says 'ten scholars of the Jews'. In Muhsin Khan's translation of a similar hadith 'amongst their chiefs' has been added in brackets.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

If ten scholars of the Jews would follow me, no Jew would be left upon the surface of the earth who would not embrace Islam.
Sahih Muslim 39:6711

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Had only ten Jews (amongst their chiefs) believe me, all the Jews would definitely have believed me."
Sahih Bukhari 5:58:277

Hadith is not translated

The following hadith from Abu Dawud was not translated. Instead, it is said that it is basically the same as the previous one. However, in the previous hadith Muhammad makes it clear that a slave should be manumitted after being beaten by his owner, while in this hadith it is said that the narrator did not mention manumission. In addition, this hadith explicitly mentions the slave being black, while the previous one does not.

The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by al-A’mash in a similar way to same way to the same effect through a different chain of narrators.
Sunan Abu Dawud 41:5137

Extra part of a verse is recited

In the following hadith Ibn Abbas recites a verse of the Quran as "‏‏وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ‏‏ وَرَهْطَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِين" (And warn your tribe of near kindred and your chosen group from among them) The first part corresponds to Quran 26:214. But the second part (in bold) is not part of the Quran nowadays. This part is not included in the English translation on quranx.com or sunnah.com, but it is part of Muhsin Khan's translation.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:

When the Verse:-- 'And warn your tribe of near kindred.' (26.214) was revealed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "O Sabahah!" The people said, [...]
Sahih Bukhari 6:60:495

Muhammad's followers will continue to fight for truth

In the following hadith Muhammad says a group of people from his ummah will continue to fight for truth/righteousness and prevail until the day of judgment. In the translation it says they will fight 'in defence of truth' to make it seem like they will fight in self-defence.

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. 'Abdullah who said:

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: A group of people from my Umma will continue to fight In defence of truth and remain triumphant until the Day of judgment.
Sahih Muslim 20:4718

May Allah kill/curse the Jews

In the following hadith Muhammad asks Allah to kill (قَاتَلَ) the Jews. However, this has been mistranslated as 'curse'. As a result, the hadith does not conflict with Quran 21:107 which says Muhammad is a mercy to the worlds.

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), in the year of the Conquest of Mecca, saying, "Allah and His Apostle made illegal the trade of alcohol, dead animals, pigs and idols." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! What about the fat of dead animals, for it was used for greasing the boats and the hides; and people use it for lights?" He said, "No, it is illegal." Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) further said, "May Allah curse the Jews, for Allah made the fat (of animals) illegal for them, yet they melted the fat and sold it and ate its price."
Sahih Bukhari 3:34:438

The same mistranslation occurs in Sahih Bukhari 1:8:428, Sahih Bukhari 3:34:426, Sahih Bukhari 3:34:427 and Sahih Bukhari 6:60:157.

Muhammad destroys crosses

In the following hadith it says that Muhammad destroyed crosses in his house. It is possible that this refers to crosses that Mariyah (his concubine who was a Christian) left in the house. However, in the translation it only says Muhammad destroyed crosses if Aisha (the narrator) left them in the house.

Narrated `Aisha: I never used to leave in the Prophet (ﷺ) house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it.
Sahih Bukhari 7:72:836

Aisha watches Ethiopians who are playing

In the following hadith Aisha narrates how she used to watch Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque. In Aisha's description about herself the translator added that she had not reached the age of puberty. As a result, this hadith does not conflict with the ruling that adult women should not watch football games. A relevant fatwa can be found here.

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (ﷺ) was screening me with his Rida' (garment covering the upper part of the body) while I was looking at the Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque. (I continued watching) till I was satisfied. So you may deduce from this event how a little girl (who has not reached the age of puberty) who is eager to enjoy amusement should be treated in this respect.
Sahih Bukhari 7:62:163

Muhammad hits Aisha

In the following hadith it says Muhammad struck Aisha on the chest which caused her pain (فَلَهَدَنِي فِي صَدْرِي لَهْدَةً أَوْجَعَتْنِي). On sunnah.com it says Muhammad gave Aisha a nudge on the chest which she felt. While the translations for Sahih Muslim have been provided by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found here.

[...] He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. He gave me a nudge on the chest which I felt, and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? [...]
Sahih Muslim 4:2127

Muhammad has been made victorious with terror

In the following hadith Muhammad says he has been made victorious with terror (نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ). On sunnah.com this has been changed to 'awe'. While the translations for Sahih Bukhari have been provided by Muhsin Khan, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found here.

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with awe (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) did not benefit by them).
Sahih Bukhari 4:52:220

Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers

In the following hadith Muhammad prophesies that Arabia becomes or reverts to (تَعُودَ) meadows and rivers. Sunnah.com uses Abdul Hamid Siddiqui's translation for Sahih Muslim which uses the word 'becomes', yet this translation has been altered such that it says 'reverts to'. The altered translation implies that Muhammad knew Arabia once was not a desert. Both translations can be used, but the translation was altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found here.

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (way peace be upon him) as saying: The Last Hour will not come before wealth becomes abundant and overflowing, so much so that a man takes Zakat out of his property and cannot find anyone to accept it from him and till the land of Arabia reverts to meadows and rivers.
Sahih Muslim 5:2208

See Also

External Links

  1. ↑ 3. Ali-Imran - The Family Of 'Imran (سورة آل عمران) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
  2. ↑ Mawdudi, Sayyid Abul Ala, Tafhim ul Quran, Markazi Maktaba Islami, Delhi, 1995, vol. 6, p.110
  3. ↑ "...The Jinns would go to the lowest heaven and listen to the Angels conversing amongst themselves about events of the Future which they heard from Allah. The Jinns would then inform the fortune-tellers. This is why before the time of the Prophet (saws) many fortune-tellers were very accurate in their predictions. However, upon the Prophet's arrival the heavens were guarded intensely by the Angels, and any Jinn who tried to listen was attacked by meteors (shooting stars)..." - The World of Jinn - Invitation to Islam, Issue 4, January 1998
  4. ↑ Word-by-Word Grammar - Verse (67:5) - The Quranic Arabic Corpus
  5. ↑ https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/
  6. ↑
    Abdel Haleem: We have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them [missiles] for stoning devils for whom We have also prepared the torment of a blazing fire.
    Muhammad Ahmed - Samira: We have adorned the lowest sky with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, for whom We have prepared a torment of most intense fire.
    Qaribullah: We have adorned the lower heaven with lamps, and We made them a stoning for the satans, We have prepared the punishment of the Blaze for them.
    Faridul Haque: And indeed We have beautified the lower heaven with lamps, and have made them weapons against the devils, and have kept prepared for them the punishment of the blazing fire.
    Syed Vickar Ahamed: And indeed, We have decorated the lowest heaven with lamps, and We have made them (like) missiles to drive away the Satans, and have prepared for them the penalty of the blazing Fire.
    Muhammad Taqi Usmani: And We have decorated the nearest sky with lamps, and have made them devices to stone the devils, and We have prepared for them the punishment of Hell.
    Muhammad Sarwar: We have decked the lowest heavens with torches. With these torches We have stoned the devils and We have prepared for them the torment of hell.
    Hamid S. Aziz: And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for Satan, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.
    Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali: And indeed We have already adorned the lowest heaven with lamps and made them outcast (meteorites) for Ash-Shayatin (The ever-vicious "ones", i.e., the devils) and We have readied for them the torment of the Blaze.
    Ali Quli Qara'i: We have certainly adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and made them missiles against the devils, and We have prepared for them punishment of the Blaze.
    Abdul Majid Daryabad: And assuredly We have bedecked the nearest heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for satans: and for them We have gotten ready the torment of the Blaze.
    Sher Ali: And verily, WE have adorned the lowest heaven with lamps, and WE have made them the means of driving away satans, and WE have prepared for them the punishment of the blazing Fire.
  7. ↑ nun-fa-sin - Lane's Lexicon
  8. ↑ Lane's Lexicon Book I page 182
  9. ↑ al-Tabari 4:34
Retrieved from "http://wikiislamica.net/index.php?title=Mistranslations_of_Islamic_Scripture_(English)&oldid=138287"