What does the often used term “The interpretation of the meaning” means?
Mullah pet: Quran cannot be translated
Asker: why not?
Mullah pet: Because words in Arabic language have multiple
meanings
Asker: so how do the Arabic speakers know which meaning to
apply or choose?
Mullah pet: We know :)
Asker: Yes I do get that but how do you determine which meaning
of a particular word is meant when there are multiple potential meanings?
Mullah pet: Because we are Arabs?
Asker: Now you are being annoying. So once again how do you
determine the meaning of a particular word?
Mullah pet: We can determine the meaning from the context
and sentence structure.
Asker: So basically like any other language on the face of
the Earth.
Mullah pet: What?
Asker; So after you have determined the meaning from the
context and sentence structure, what is it that will prevent you from
translating it into another language provided you know another language equally
well?
Mullah pet: Quran cannot be translated
I would like to thank you for posting all this. You have really opened my eyes to the true Islam. I always read your blogs:D I have always questioned my religion and it makes me happy that I have found some answers. Thank you
ReplyDeletePlease Keep writing:D
Thank you for visiting my humble blog, please always verify everything for yourself, a life long habit that saved me from the sect scene.
DeleteMay God reserve your place in Paradise and ease your way getting there.
I really enjoy reading your blog, which is insightful, logical, and funny. I like the basic claim that each person has the right to use his/her own judgment to accept or reject any religious argument based on how consistent it is with the Quran. Your articles encourage people to use the Quran to guide us to the right path.
ReplyDeleteI noticed though that your objectivity and logic when considering religious issues seem to suffer whenever you're discussing two points.
The first is the whole "Quran in arabic" argument, or that to truly read and therefore understand/benefit from the Quran, one should read it in the original language Arabic. You obviously reject this claim, believing it is only an argument of the "the mullahs" who are trying to maintain some kind of expertise monopoly on the Quran. However, I find that the Quran specifically mentions the fact that it is in Arabic several times:
“Verily, We have sent it down as an arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand”(12 , 2). It is also specifically referenced in the following verses, which I have cited by chapter number and verse to save room : (13, 37), (16, 103), (20, 113), (26, 195), (39, 28) (41, 3) (41, 44), (42, 7), (43, 3), (46, 12)
Surely, eleven references in the Quran to the fact that it is in Arabic is not a coincidence that should be overlooked or dismissed as an unfounded argument of “the mullahs”, but a message from Allah (swt). Any literature student can tell you that reading poetry in the original language provides a completely different experience than reading the poetry translated. If we consider the Quran, a much more complex body of work and one that is critical to understand correctly, don’t we logically conclude that it meant to be studied in its original language?
The problem with translations is that at the end of the day you are taking someone else's interpretation of the Quran. In addition, many of the subtler features of the Quran (some of the rhymes and structure etc) are completely lost in translation. Therefore, a translation of the Quran is ultimately providing a single view of the Quran and does not represent the whole work. I have read the Quran both in Arabic and English. Although I struggle while reading the Quran in Arabic, I find that it is a completely different experience that doesn't begin to compare with the translation. Therefore, I advise people to put the effort into learning Arabic if you truly want to understand the Quran, Allah’s message to mankind. Translations should not be discarded, but should be viewed in the proper light as another para-Quranic source for religious information, and not at all as a substitute for the Quran.
The second point I wanted to bring up is the concept of the veil/head scarf for women. I won’t begin to elaborate here on this point because it cannot be given the attention it deserves at the moment.
I only wish to bring your attention to these two points because one of the major weaknesses of “Quranism” or “I’m simply a muslim” approach to Islam is that it is perceived by traditional Muslims as an attempt to “westernize” Islam. While many Quranists do not care/have given up on explaining their perspective to traditional Muslims, I think it’s very important to address them as well because the core of Quranism is to rightly interpret Islam, to rightly worship Allah (swt) and follow the religion as Allah (swt) intended it, and to correct errors that have been introduced into the religion (through para-Quranic sources) that will actually deviate people away from the straight path; therefore, everyone deserves to know this truth and not just the exclusive caste of converts who somewhat arrogantly brand themselves as a different, more enlightened group of Muslims. In order to correct the false notion traditional Muslims have regarding what Quranism is really about, it is necessary to truly follow the Quran wherever it may lead.
I really enjoy reading your blog, which is insightful, logical, and funny. I like the basic claim that each person has the right to use his/her own judgment to accept or reject any religious argument based on how consistent it is with the Quran. Your articles encourage people to use the Quran to guide us to the right path.
ReplyDeleteI noticed though that your objectivity and logic when considering religious issues seem to suffer whenever you're discussing two points.
The first is the whole "Quran in arabic" argument, or the premise that to truly read and therefore understand/benefit from the Quran, one should read it in the original language Arabic. You obviously reject this claim, believing it is only an argument of the "the mullahs" who are trying to maintain some kind of expertise monopoly on the Quran. However, I find that the Quran specifically mentions the fact that it is in Arabic several times:
“Verily, We have sent it down as an arabic Qur'an in order that you may understand”(12 , 2). It is also specifically referenced in the following verses, which I have cited by chapter number and verse to save room : (13, 37), (16, 103), (20, 113), (26, 195), (39, 28) (41, 3) (41, 44), (42, 7), (43, 3), (46, 12)
Surely, eleven references in the Quran to the fact that it is in Arabic is not a coincidence that should be overlooked or dismissed as an unfounded argument of “the mullahs”, but a message from Allah (swt). Any literature student can tell you that reading poetry in the original language provides a completely different experience than reading the poetry translated. If we consider the Quran, a much more complex body of work and one that is critical to understand correctly, don’t we logically conclude that it meant to be studied in its original language?
The problem with translations is that at the end of the day you are taking someone else's interpretation of the Quran. In addition, many of the subtler features of the Quran (some of the rhymes and structure etc) are completely lost in translation. Therefore, a translation of the Quran is ultimately providing a single view of the Quran and does not represent the whole work. I have read the Quran both in Arabic and English. Although I struggle while reading the Quran in Arabic, I find that it is a completely different experience that doesn't begin to compare with the translation. Therefore, I advise people to put the effort into learning Arabic if you truly want to understand the Quran, Allah’s message to mankind. Translations should not be discarded, but should be viewed in the proper light as another para-Quranic source for religious information, and not as a substitute for the Quran.
The second point I wanted to bring up is the concept of the veil/head scarf for women. I won’t begin to elaborate here on this point because it cannot be given the attention it deserves at the moment.
I only wish to bring your attention to these two points because one of the major weaknesses of “Quranism” or “I’m simply a muslim” approach to Islam is that it is perceived by traditional Muslims as an attempt to “westernize” Islam. While many Quranists do not care/have given up on explaining their perspective to traditional Muslims, I think it’s very important to address them as well because the core of Quranism is to rightly interpret Islam, to rightly worship Allah (swt) and follow the religion as Allah (swt) intended it, and to correct errors that have been introduced into the religion (through para-Quranic sources) that will actually deviate people away from the straight path; therefore, everyone deserves to know this truth and not just the exclusive caste of converts who somewhat arrogantly brand themselves as a different, more enlightened group of Muslims. In order to correct the false notion traditional Muslims have regarding what Quranism is really about, it is necessary to truly follow the Quran wherever it may lead.
WOW!!!!! lol anyways enough with the crazy talk. This link utterly refutes the fitnah on this misguided site. Enjoy :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.binoria.org/ebooks/AuthorityOfSunnah-MuftiTaqiUsmani.pdf
Thanks for dropping by and thank you for the link. Please do yourself a favor and ask the Mufti how does the "science of Hadith" distinguish between a true sahaba (companion) and a hypocrite in light of Quran 9:101 :) and watch the fun.
DeleteThe issue as I and many have repeatedly highlighted in this forum is that if someone's beliefs (both religious and secular) are solely based on the reviews done by others like the Hadith literature and of course the Dawkins of this world and if someone's opinion of someone else's beliefs is also based on the reviews done by others like the fatwas both religious and increasingly by the people behind the book selling racket then one has nothing new to bring to the table.
Once beliefs or opinions of others are accepted as true without personally verifying them is commonly referred to as being taken for a ride.