Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English): Difference between revisions

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Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English) (view source)

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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=1|Content=3|Language=1|References=3}}
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In Al-Hijr {{Quran|15|9}} [[Allah]] declared that the [[Qur'an]] is his [[revelation]] and he promised to preserve it and protect it from corruption. In An-Nahl {{Quran|16|103}}, Al-Dokhan {{Quran|44|58}} and Al-Qamar {{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.
In Al-Hijr {{Quran|15|9}} [[Allah]] declared that the [[Qur'an]] is his [[revelation]] and he promised 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. 


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.  
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.  


These pages discuss a few of the more common ones in some detail, and provides the correct translations.
==Quran==


== Quran ==
===(4:34) Wife-beating===
{{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.


===Examples===
{{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).}}
Look at the following verse from 'An-Nisa’.


{{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 and if they persist in disobedience (or, read more literally, if the husband simply ''fears'' disobedience), then men may proceed to [[Wife Beating in Islam|beat them]]. Yusuf Ali, a prominent translator of the Qur'an, adds the word “lightly” in brackets, after “beating them”, presumably to reduce offense.
 
=== (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.


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 if the husband simply ''fears'' disobedience), then men have the right to [[Wife Beating in Islam|beat them]]. Yusuf Ali, a prominent translator of the Qur'an, added the word “lightly” in brackets, after “beating them” to reduce the offense. Being beaten by someone, lightly or otherwise, however, is always humiliating.
{{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>


Although Pickthal's translation is far from perfect, he succeeded to some extent in preserving the integrity of the original text.
'''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!}}


In Surat Al-Muminun, phases of the formation of the fetus are described.
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.  


{{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, 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. 


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) apparently attempt to distort verses in order to make them appear less objectionable to Western readers. Yusuf Ali, in his translation, replaced the word "then" with "and". He also replaced “the best of creators” (plural) with “the best to create” (singular). The difference in the meaning is crucial because the word “then” means another phase, while the word “and” means bones and flesh are simultaneous or one phase, which conforms to modern science, however 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 fundamental Islamic doctrine, ''tawḥīd'' (توحيد), the doctrine of the oneness of Allah, the ''only'' creator. Similar misinterpretations are given by Dr. Rashad Khalifa and Muhammad Saad. On the other hand, the above translation by Pickthal is correct, 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.  


Distorted translations are also presented by institutions like Al-Azhar, the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs themselves, as can be seen on the Al-Azhar web site. The above verse is shown as below:
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 shown as below:


{{Quote|1={{Quran|23|14}}|2=<font size="4">ثـم خلقنـا النطفـه علقـه فخلقـنا العـلقـه مضـغـه فخلقـنا  المضغـه عظـامـا فـكسـونـا العظـم لحـمـا ثم انشأنـه خـلقـااخـرفتبارك اللـه أحـسن الخـالقين </font>}}                                                                                                                                               
{{Quote|1={{Quran|23|14}}|2=<font size="4">ثـم خلقنـا النطفـه علقـه فخلقـنا العـلقـه مضـغـه فخلقـنا  المضغـه عظـامـا فـكسـونـا العظـم لحـمـا ثم انشأنـه خـلقـااخـرفتبارك اللـه أحـسن الخـالقين </font>}}                                                                                                                                               
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{{Quote|1=[http://www.islamic-council.com/qurane/def1.asp Quran 23:14]|2=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.}}
{{Quote|1=[http://www.islamic-council.com/qurane/def1.asp Quran 23:14]|2=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.}}


=== (18:86) Sun sets in a muddy spring ===
Another example can be found in Al-Kahf.
Another example can be found in Al-Kahf.


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The most widespread mistranslation of a single word throughout the Qur'an, 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". Yusuf Ali reproduces this translation in Al-Anfal {{Quran|8|39}} and several other verses.  
The most widespread mistranslation of a single word throughout the Qur'an, 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". Yusuf Ali reproduces this translation in Al-Anfal {{Quran|8|39}} and several other verses.  


===Mistranslations of Quran 67:5===
===(67:5) Shooting stars===


====Literal====
====Literal====
Line 161: Line 165:
{{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||'''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==


==='Aisha reached puberty before consumating her marriage===
===Aisha's age at consummation===
'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:


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==See Also==
==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==
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