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The Meaning of Qatal: Difference between revisions
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
In | In English, "fight" rarely connotes "murder" or "death". Only if "fight" is used in reference to fighting in a war does the word ever connote the loss of lives. | ||
Even then, it is the war itself that causes death and not just the fight. "Fighting" can often be a positive action. | Even then, it is the war itself that causes death and not just the fight. "Fighting" can often be a positive action. In English, people "fight" against cancer, people "fight" to be heard. | ||
In Arabic however, the verb for "fight" | In Arabic however, the verb for "fight" does not contain these benign meanings. Another verb such as saari' صارع "to struggle" or "to wrestle" would be used for these meanings. 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: | Wickens explains in his book on Arabic Grammar: | ||
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===Qatal Translated as "Kill" (Arabic Verb Form I)=== | ===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." | In this verse [[Allah]] denies [[Jesus]] was [[Crucifixion|crucified]] or killed, with the words 'WA MAA ''QATAL''OOHU WA MAA SALABOOHU' وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ 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:}} | ||
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{{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.}} | {{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.}} | ||
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. | 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. As the fighting here is the means of ending the persecution, a more accurate translation might 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. | ||
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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. | ||
The word "Qatal" is only used in the Qur'an when the believers are commanded to fight to kill, i.e. killing is the primary objective or the desired or required outcome. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||