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The Meaning of Qatal: Difference between revisions
Signifcantly rewritten as it did not take account of different verb forms
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This article discusses the [[Arabic]] | This article discusses the [[Arabic]] verb Qatala (قتل) in the [[Qur'an]]. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
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Even then, it is the war itself that causes death and not just the fight. "Fighting" can often be a positive action. Every day, people "fight" against cancer, people "fight" to be heard. | Even then, it is the war itself that causes death and not just the fight. "Fighting" can often be a positive action. Every day, people "fight" against cancer, people "fight" to be heard. | ||
In Arabic however, the verb for "fight" is not as benign as the English version. In Arabic, the verb is " | In Arabic however, the verb for "fight" is not as benign as the English version can be. In Arabic, the verb translated fight is "Qātala" (قَاتَلَ with an alif between the first two letters), which is the form III verb from the root Q-T-L (قتل). From this root are also derived other verb forms that mean "kill", "massacre", or "slaughter". The form III verb can most accurately be described as to "try to kill", which is the most extreme form of what is called "fighting" in English. | ||
Wickens explains in his book on Arabic Grammar: | |||
{{Quote|1=G. M. Wickens, Arabic grammar: a first workbook<ref>G. M. Wickens, Arabic grammar: a first workbook, Cambridge University Press, p.64, 1980</ref>|2=Thus, while qatala is “to kill”, qattala is “to kill violently or on a large scale” (i.e. “to slaughter”, “to massacre”); and qātala is “to try to kill” (i.e. “to fight with”); taqattala and iqtatala, again, both mean “to fight (against each other)”. }} | |||
==Definitions== | ==Definitions== | ||
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===Qatal=== | ===Qatal=== | ||
Here | Here are the meanings of the word "Qatal" (قتل) and their occurances in different arabic verb forms in the Qur'an: Form I (to kill), II (to slaugther/massacre), III and VIII (fight to kill) | ||
{{Quote|1=[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.studyquran.co.uk/16_QAF.htm|2=2011-06-23}} Qaf-Ta-Lam]<BR> | {{Quote|1=[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.studyquran.co.uk/16_QAF.htm|2=2011-06-23}} Qaf-Ta-Lam]<BR>Project Root List - studyquran.co.uk|2= '''Qaf-Ta-Lam''' (ق ت ل) = to kill, put to death, be accused, slay/murder/kill/slaughter, attempt to kill, render person like to one killed, to wage war/combat/battle, to master, contend/fight, deadly, knew a thing thoroughly/well, become acquainted with it. | ||
''qatala'' vb. (I) | ''qatala'' vb. (I) | ||
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===Fight=== | ===Fight=== | ||
Here is the meaning of the word "Fight": | Here is the meaning of the English word "Fight": | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fighting Definition of Fight]<BR>The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition|2= | {{Quote|1=[http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fighting Definition of Fight]<BR>The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition|2= | ||
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:'''5.''' The power or inclination to fight; pugnacity: '''I just didn't have any fight left in me.'''}} | :'''5.''' The power or inclination to fight; pugnacity: '''I just didn't have any fight left in me.'''}} | ||
== | ==Examples== | ||
===Qatal Translated as "Kill"=== | ===Qatal Translated as "Kill" (Arabic Verb Form I)=== | ||
In this verse [[Allah]] denies [[Jesus]] was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] or killed, with the words 'WA MAA ''QATAL''OOHU WA MAA SALABOOHU' which means "and they ''killed'' him not and they crucified him not." | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|157}}|That they said (in boast), "We '''killed''' Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they '''killed''' him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they ''killed'' him not:}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|4|157}}|That they said (in boast), "We '''killed''' Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah";- but they '''killed''' him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they ''killed'' him not:}} | ||
In verse 18:74 the wiseman, to whom Moses is sent to learn wisdom, kills a boy | In verse 18:74 the wiseman, to whom Moses is sent to learn wisdom, kills a boy. | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|74}}| Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he '''slew''' him. Moses said: "Hast thou '''slain''' an innocent person who had ''slain'' none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!"}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|18|74}}| Then they proceeded: until, when they met a young man, he '''slew''' him. Moses said: "Hast thou '''slain''' an innocent person who had ''slain'' none? Truly a foul (unheard of) thing hast thou done!"}} | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|2|154}}|And say not of those who are '''slain''' in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|2|154}}|And say not of those who are '''slain''' in the way of Allah: "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though ye perceive (it) not.}} | ||
===Qatal Translated as " | ===Qatal Translated as "Kill / Slaughter" (Arabic Verb Form II)=== | ||
As detailed above, form II of this verb means to slaugter or massacre. | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|5|33}}| The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be '''killed''' or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land. Such will be their degradation in the world, and in the Hereafter theirs will be an awful doom;}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|33|60|61}}|If the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and the alarmists in the city do not cease, We verily shall urge thee on against them, then they will be your neighbours in it but a little while. Accursed, they will be seized wherever found and '''slain with a (fierce) slaughter'''}} | |||
===Qatal Translated as "Fight" (Arabic Verb Form III)=== | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|8|39}}| And '''fight''' them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.}} | |||
So a more accurate translation would be something like " | The context of the verse is very clear, i.e. break the strength of the infidels by way of mass killings, so that there is no more opposition. It is telling you to fight until you overcome the opposition, something which is not possible without the mass slaughter of opponents, i.e. without reducing their number. So a more accurate translation would be something like "fight to kill them until there is no more fitnah". | ||
The same applies to verse 9:29 | The same applies to verse 9:29. | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|9|29}}| '''Fight''' those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|9|29}}| '''Fight''' those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|63|4}}|And when you see them, their persons will please you, and If they speak, you will listen to their speech; (they are) as if they were big pieces of wood clad with garments; they think every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, therefore beware of them; may Allah '''destroy''' them, whence are they turned back?}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|63|4}}|And when you see them, their persons will please you, and If they speak, you will listen to their speech; (they are) as if they were big pieces of wood clad with garments; they think every cry to be against them. They are the enemy, therefore beware of them; may Allah '''destroy''' them, whence are they turned back?}} | ||
==Related Languages== | ==Related Languages== | ||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
In Arabic, the word "Qatal" = | In Arabic, the word "Qatal" = kill. "Maqtool" = the killed. Maqtal = the place where the killing takes place. Qaatal = the killer. | ||
The secondary meaning of the word is more of an interpretation rather than a direct translation of the word, e.g. battle. The idea seems to be based upon collective killings. | The secondary meaning of the word is more of an interpretation rather than a direct translation of the word, e.g. battle. The idea seems to be based upon collective killings. | ||