The Meaning of Daraba: Difference between revisions

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==Commentary==
==Commentary==


Most of the verses containing the ten different meanings which have been given by the apologists are using the verb ''daraba'' (hit) not against human beings, but rather "hitting the land," "hitting an example," "hitting the truth"... etc., clearly figurative uses which are derivative of the main meaning "to hit." In the verses in the Qur'an where ''daraba'' was used against a human being, it clearly means to "beat" or "strike," which confirms our understanding of the use of ''daraba'' in verse 4:34.
Most of the verses containing the eight different meanings which have been given by the apologists are using the verb ''daraba'' (hit) not against human beings, but rather "hitting the land," "hitting an example," "hitting the truth"... etc., clearly figurative uses which are derivative of the main meaning "to hit." In the verses in the Qur'an where ''daraba'' is used against a human being without a modifiying preposition, it clearly means to "beat" or "strike," which confirms our understanding of the use of ''daraba'' in verse 4:34.


What follows now is a discussion of ''daraba'' in the contexts where it is found in the Qur'an. The original verse in Arabic will be presented, along with word-by-word literal translation of the statement in '''Bold''' in each verse, which is the place where ''daraba'' (hit) and its object (i.e. Land) are used; and above each verse will be found the name of the object being hit. For example, in the example of the phrase "hit an example," its will literally translation will be presented as is, not as "give an example" like the standard Qur'anic translations. Although this translation may sound strange, it will make the object to be hit, easily identifiable for the non-Arabic speakers.
What follows now is a discussion of ''daraba'' in the contexts where it is found in the Qur'an with a meaning other than "to hit" or "to strike." The original verse in Arabic will be presented, along with word-by-word literal translation of the statement in '''Bold''' in each verse, which is the place where ''daraba'' (hit) and its object (i.e. Land) are used; and above each verse will be found the name of the object being hit. For example, in the example of the phrase "hit an example," its will literally translation will be presented as is, not as "give an example" like the standard Qur'anic translations. Although this translation may sound strange, it will make the object to be hit, easily identifiable for the non-Arabic speakers.


This literal translation of all the verses for will show that each time "''daraba''" is used and has a different meaning than to "beat," it is not against a human being, but against other material and non-material objects. And each and every time it is used against a human, it has no other meaning than to "beat".
This literal translation of all the verses for will show that each time "''daraba''" is used and has a different meaning than to "beat," it is not against a human being, but against other material and non-material objects. And each and every time it is used against a human without a modifying preposition, it has no other meaning than to "beat".
===Meaning 1: To travel, to get out===  
===Meaning 1: To travel, to get out===  


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''darban fee al-ardi'' literally meaning "'''a hit in the land.'''"
''darban fee al-ardi'' ضَرْبًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ literally meaning "'''a hit in the land'''" again meaning "moving about in the land."
 
===Meaning number 2: To set up===
 
===Meaning number 2 and number 3===
 
 
As mentioned earlier, these will be skipped, as the interpretations provided by the Islamic sites ("to beat" and "to strike") already confirm that women are beaten, and will be discussed further at the end.
 
===Meaning number 4: To set up===




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''ma daraboohu laka'' literally meaning "'''what they have hit for you.'''" The thing that is hit here is, from its previous verse {{Quran|43|57}}, is an example.
''ma daraboohu laka'' ۚ مَا ضَرَبُوهُ لَكَ literally meaning "'''what they have hit for you.'''" The thing that is hit here is, from its previous verse {{Quran|43|57}}, is an example.




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''faduriba baynahum bisoorin'' literally meaning "'''a wall was hit between them'''" which is understood as "a wall was stroke between them."
''faduriba baynahum bisoorin'' فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ literally meaning "'''a wall was hit between them'''" which is understood as "a wall was stroke between them."




===Meaning number 5: To give examples===
===Meaning number 3: To give examples===




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''daraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''Allah hit an example'''", which is a well known and frequently used expression meaning "give an example." It is important to mention that ''darab'' is used to mean "give" only when the object given is an example.
''daraba Allahu mathalan ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا'' literally meaning "'''Allah struck an example'''", which is a well known and frequently used expression meaning "give an example."  




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''wadarabna lakumu al-amthala'' literally meaning "'''we hit for you the example.'''"
''wadarabna lakumu al-amthala'' ضَرَبْنَا لَكُمُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ literally meaning "'''we hit for you the example.'''"




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''Daraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''Allah has hit an example.'''"
''Daraba Allahu mathalan ضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا'' literally meaning "'''Allah has hit an example.'''"




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''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has hit an example.'''"
''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has struck an example.'''"




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''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has hit an example.'''"
''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan وَضَرَبَ ٱللَّهُ مَثَلًا'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has struck an example.'''"




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''Waidrib lahum mathalan'' literally meaning "'''and you, hit for them an example.'''"
''Waidrib lahum mathalan'' وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا literally meaning "'''and you, struck for them an example.'''"




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''Waidrib lahum mathala'' literally meaning "'''and hits for them an example.'''"
''Waidrib lahum mathala'' وَٱضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ literally meaning "'''and struck for them an example.'''"




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''wayadribu Allahu al-amthala'' literally meaning "'''And Allah hits the examples.'''"
''wayadribu Allahu al-amthala وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ'' literally meaning "'''And Allah hits the examples.'''"




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''Daraba lakum mathalan'' literally meaning "'''hit an example for you.'''"
''Daraba lakum mathalan'' ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا literally meaning "'''struck an example for you.'''"




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''darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin'' literally meaning "'''We have hit in this Quran for every example for the people.'''"
''darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ'' literally meaning "'''We have struck in this Quran for every example for the people.'''"




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''Walaqad darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin'' literally meaning "'''And we have hit in this Quran from every example for the people.'''"
''Walaqad darabna liInnasi fee hatha alqur-ani min kulli mathalin وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِى هَٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ'' literally meaning "'''And we have struck in this Quran from every example for the people.'''"




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''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has hit an example.'''"
''Wadaraba Allahu mathalan'' literally meaning "'''And Allah has hit an example.'''"


===Meaning number 6: To take away, to ignore===
===Meaning number 4: To take away, to ignore===




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===Meaning number 7: To condemn===
===Meaning number 5: To condemn===




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''waduribat AAalayhimu aIththillatu'' literally meaning "'''and the humiliation was hit on him.'''" The humiliation is what was hit, not Moses himself.
''waduribat AAalayhimu aIththillatu'' literally meaning "'''and the humiliation was hit on him.'''" The humiliation is what was hit, not Moses himself.


===Meaning number 8: To seal, to draw over===
===Meaning number 6: To seal, to draw over===




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===Meaning number 9: To cover===
===Meaning number 7: To cover===




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===Meaning number 10: To explain===
===Meaning number 8: To explain===




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''yadribu Allahu al-amthala'' literally means "'''Allah hits an example.'''"
''yadribu Allahu al-amthala'' literally means "'''Allah hits an example.'''"
===Meaning number 2 and 3 Examined===
All the verses that were given by the Islamic site so far, which were intended to show that ''darab'' has a meaning other than "beat" or "strike," have '''not''' used ''darab'' against a human being. Thus, they are irrelevant to this discussion.
Again, when someone says "I'll hit my woman," it does not have any other meaning than to say "I'll beat her" Despite all the other meanings it can have when used against '''other''' objects, its use against this specific object (i.e. the human body) remains unchanged.
As has been mentioned earlier, the only way for ''darab'' to have multipile meanings in verse 4:34 is if it has been used more than once, against a human being, with different interpretations; for example, when "hit the woman" is found in the Qur'an to mean both "beat her" and to "abandon her,". Thankfully [for the truth], there are a few verses in the Quran which use ''darab'' against humans, that have also been given by the Islamic site themselves, and we shall examine them in the next two sections.


====Meaning number 2: To strike====
====Meaning number 2: To strike====
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