32
edits
Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English): Difference between revisions
Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English) (view source)
Revision as of 21:06, 20 May 2024
, 20 MayAdded a hadith which includes an extra part of a Quran verse.
| [pending revision] | [pending revision] |
m (Added a hadith about ten Jews who would follow Muhammad.) |
m (Added a hadith which includes an extra part of a Quran verse.) |
||
| (2 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 90: | Line 90: | ||
{{Quote||'''M.A.S. Abdel Haleem:''' The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; '''God is the Best of Schemers.'''}} | {{Quote||'''M.A.S. Abdel Haleem:''' The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; '''God is the Best of Schemers.'''}} | ||
===(10:5) Moon is a (reflective) light=== | |||
The Quran calls the moon a light (نُورٗا) in {{Quran|10|5}}. In reality, the moon only reflects sunlight. Some translators have tried to incorporate this in their translation, but it is not mentioned in the Arabic. | |||
{{Quote||'''Mustafa Khattab:''' He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a '''reflected light''', with precisely ordained phases, so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Allah did not create all this except for a purpose. He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.}} | |||
{{Quote||'''Saheeh International:''' It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a '''derived light''' and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.}} | |||
===(67:5) Shooting stars=== | ===(67:5) Shooting stars=== | ||
| Line 100: | Line 107: | ||
*ٱلسَّمَآءَ (''as-samaa'a'') means heaven or sky.<ref>https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/</ref> | *ٱلسَّمَآءَ (''as-samaa'a'') means heaven or sky.<ref>https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1/</ref> | ||
*ٱلدُّنْيَا (''ad-dunya'') is translated "the world" or "the lower". The world" is called "the lower", because according to Islamic cosmology the heavens appear one atop the other and the earth is the lowest in this structure. | *ٱلدُّنْيَا (''ad-dunya'') is translated "the world" or "the lower". The world" is called "the lower", because according to Islamic cosmology the heavens appear one atop the other and the earth is the lowest in this structure. | ||
** So ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا can be understood as "the lowest heaven", "the heaven right above this flat earth", "the sky above The Lower". | **So ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا can be understood as "the lowest heaven", "the heaven right above this flat earth", "the sky above The Lower". | ||
*بِمَصَٰبِيحَ (''bi-masaabeeh'') - this word means "lamps" and is still used as such in modern Arabic (see Google images for مصابيح). | *بِمَصَٰبِيحَ (''bi-masaabeeh'') - this word means "lamps" and is still used as such in modern Arabic (see Google images for مصابيح). | ||
*رُجُومًا (''rujooman'') - it is from the same root as رجم (''rajm''), meaning "[[Stoning in Islamic Law|stoning]]", which is the Islamic punishment for sex outside marriage (Satan, or Iblis, is known as ''al-Rajeem'' or "the stoned one" ''-'' الرجيم in Arabic). | *رُجُومًا (''rujooman'') - it is from the same root as رجم (''rajm''), meaning "[[Stoning in Islamic Law|stoning]]", which is the Islamic punishment for sex outside marriage (Satan, or Iblis, is known as ''al-Rajeem'' or "the stoned one" ''-'' الرجيم in Arabic). | ||
| Line 142: | Line 149: | ||
{{Quote||'''Progressive Muslims:''' And We have adorned this universe with lamps, and We made it with projectiles against the devils; and We prepared for them the retribution of the blazing Fire.}} | {{Quote||'''Progressive Muslims:''' And We have adorned this universe with lamps, and We made it with projectiles against the devils; and We prepared for them the retribution of the blazing Fire.}} | ||
====Reinterpretations presented as translations ==== | ====Reinterpretations presented as translations==== | ||
The following translations depart entirely from the classical interpretations of the verse and, it would appear, the very wording of the verse itself. | The following translations depart entirely from the classical interpretations of the verse and, it would appear, the very wording of the verse itself. | ||
| Line 165: | Line 172: | ||
==Hadith== | ==Hadith== | ||
===The sun will rise "in the West"=== | === The sun will rise "in the West"=== | ||
A sign of the last hour that appears in numerous hadiths is often mistranslated as the sun rising "in the West". This mistranslation occurs throughout the English translation of Sahih Bukhari by Muhsin Khan and sometimes in the translation of Sahih Muslim by Abdul Hamid Sadiqqui. | A sign of the last hour that appears in numerous hadiths is often mistranslated as the sun rising "in the West". This mistranslation occurs throughout the English translation of Sahih Bukhari by Muhsin Khan and sometimes in the translation of Sahih Muslim by Abdul Hamid Sadiqqui. | ||
| Line 176: | Line 183: | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out '''from its rising place''' and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out '''from the place of your setting''', and it will rise '''from the place of its setting'''. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out '''from its rising place''' and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out '''from the place of your setting''', and it will rise '''from the place of its setting'''. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | ||
=== Aisha's age at consummation=== | ===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: | ||
| Line 196: | Line 203: | ||
Abu Dawud's comment is ay tanaffasat (أَىْ تَنَفَّسَتْ), which is "That is to say 'I breathed'". The verb nun-fa-sin is used here in Arabic form V with the ta prefix and shadda (doubled) middle letter, which Lane's Lexicon says means "breathed". Form I can mean menstruated, but that is not the form used in the hadith.<ref>nun-fa-sin - [https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/25_n/208_nfs.html Lane's Lexicon]</ref> | Abu Dawud's comment is ay tanaffasat (أَىْ تَنَفَّسَتْ), which is "That is to say 'I breathed'". The verb nun-fa-sin is used here in Arabic form V with the ta prefix and shadda (doubled) middle letter, which Lane's Lexicon says means "breathed". Form I can mean menstruated, but that is not the form used in the hadith.<ref>nun-fa-sin - [https://lexicon.quranic-research.net/data/25_n/208_nfs.html Lane's Lexicon]</ref> | ||
===Hit women without leaving a mark=== | === Hit women without leaving a mark=== | ||
Muhammad's 'Farewell Sermon' appears in various hadith collections and al-Tabari's History. A short version is found in ''Sunan Ibn Majah''. The Arabic words here translated 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are a mistranslation. | Muhammad's 'Farewell Sermon' appears in various hadith collections and al-Tabari's History. A short version is found in ''Sunan Ibn Majah''. The Arabic words here translated 'and hit them, but without causing injury or leaving a mark' are a mistranslation. | ||
| Line 218: | Line 225: | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|50|891}}|[...] Then `Urwa said, "O Muhammad! Won't you feel any scruple in extirpating your relations? Have you ever heard of anyone amongst the Arabs extirpating his relatives before you? On the other hand, if the reverse should happen, (nobody will aid you, for) by Allah, I do not see (with you) dignified people, but people from various tribes who would run away leaving you alone." Hearing that, '''Abu Bakr abused him''' and said, "Do you say we would run and leave the Prophet (ﷺ) alone?" `Urwa said, "Who is that man?" They said, "He is Abu Bakr." `Urwa said to Abu Bakr, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, were it not for the favor which you did to me and which I did not compensate, I would retort on you." [...]}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|3|50|891}}|[...] Then `Urwa said, "O Muhammad! Won't you feel any scruple in extirpating your relations? Have you ever heard of anyone amongst the Arabs extirpating his relatives before you? On the other hand, if the reverse should happen, (nobody will aid you, for) by Allah, I do not see (with you) dignified people, but people from various tribes who would run away leaving you alone." Hearing that, '''Abu Bakr abused him''' and said, "Do you say we would run and leave the Prophet (ﷺ) alone?" `Urwa said, "Who is that man?" They said, "He is Abu Bakr." `Urwa said to Abu Bakr, "By Him in Whose Hands my life is, were it not for the favor which you did to me and which I did not compensate, I would retort on you." [...]}} | ||
===Muhammad says his aorta is being cut from poison=== | === Muhammad says his aorta is being cut from poison=== | ||
In the following hadith from Sahih Bukhari Muhammad says he feels his aorta is being cut from the poisoned food he ate at Khaybar. This strongly implies Muhammad died because of poisoning. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan the words 'as if' have been added. As a result, the English translation doesn't imply as strongly as the Arabic text that Muhammad died because of poisoning. Yet, it says Muhammad experienced a lot of pain from the poisoning shortly before his death. | In the following hadith from Sahih Bukhari Muhammad says he feels his aorta is being cut from the poisoned food he ate at Khaybar. This strongly implies Muhammad died because of poisoning. In the English translation by Muhsin Khan the words 'as if' have been added. As a result, the English translation doesn't imply as strongly as the Arabic text that Muhammad died because of poisoning. Yet, it says Muhammad experienced a lot of pain from the poisoning shortly before his death. | ||
| Line 232: | Line 239: | ||
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and I told him about the slave-girl (Barirah) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is for the one who manumits." In the evening the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, "Why do some people impose conditions which are not present in '''Allah's Book (Laws)'''? Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in '''Allah's Laws''', then that condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for Allah's conditions are more binding and reliable."}} | Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to me and I told him about the slave-girl (Barirah) Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Buy and manumit her, for the Wala is for the one who manumits." In the evening the Prophet (ﷺ) got up and glorified Allah as He deserved and then said, "Why do some people impose conditions which are not present in '''Allah's Book (Laws)'''? Whoever imposes such a condition as is not in '''Allah's Laws''', then that condition is invalid even if he imposes one hundred conditions, for Allah's conditions are more binding and reliable."}} | ||
===Satan lays eggs in the marketplace of Medina and hatches them=== | === Satan lays eggs in the marketplace of Medina and hatches them === | ||
The following hadith contains two narrations. The second of these has not been translated into English. It says that people should not be first to enter the marketplace, nor the last to leave it, because it is where Satan lays his eggs and hatches them. | The following hadith contains two narrations. The second of these has not been translated into English. It says that people should not be first to enter the marketplace, nor the last to leave it, because it is where Satan lays his eggs and hatches them. | ||
| Line 247: | Line 254: | ||
If '''ten scholars of the Jews''' would follow me, no Jew would be left upon the surface of the earth who would not embrace Islam.}} | If '''ten scholars of the Jews''' would follow me, no Jew would be left upon the surface of the earth who would not embrace Islam.}} | ||
===Muhammad hits Aisha=== | |||
In the following hadith it says Muhammad struck Aisha on the chest which caused her pain (فَلَهَدَنِي فِي صَدْرِي لَهْدَةً أَوْجَعَتْنِي). On sunnah.com it says Muhammad gave Aisha a nudge on the chest which she felt. While the translations for Sahih Muslim have been provided by Abdul Hamid Siddiqui, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found [https://archive.org/details/SahihMuslim-IslamicEnglishBook.pdf/page/n537/mode/2up here]. | |||
{{Quote|1=[https://sunnah.com/muslim:974b Sahih Muslim 4:2127]|2= [...] He said: Was it the darkness (of your shadow) that I saw in front of me? I said: Yes. '''He gave me a nudge on the chest which I felt''', and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you? [...]}} | |||
===Muhammad has been made victorious with terror=== | |||
In the following hadith Muhammad says he has been made victorious with terror (نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ). On sunnah.com this has been changed to 'awe'. While the translations for Sahih Bukhari have been provided by Muhsin Khan, the translation of this particular hadith has been altered without informing the reader. The original translation can be found [https://archive.org/details/the-translation-of-the-meanings-of-sahih-al-bukhari-translated-by-dr.-muhammad-muhsin-khan/page/n1629/mode/2up here]. | |||
{{Quote|1=[https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2977 Sahih Bukhari 4:52:220]|2= Narrated Abu Huraira: | |||
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with '''awe''' (cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet (ﷺ) did not benefit by them).}} | |||
===Extra part of a verse is recited=== | |||
In the following hadith Ibn Abbas recites a verse of the Quran as "وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ '''وَرَهْطَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِين'''" (And warn your tribe of near kindred '''and your chosen group from among them''') The first part corresponds to {{Quran|26|214}}. But the second part (in bold) is not part of the Quran nowadays. This part is not included in the English translation on quranx.com or sunnah.com, but it is part of [https://archive.org/details/the-translation-of-the-meanings-of-sahih-al-bukhari-translated-by-dr.-muhammad-muhsin-khan/page/n2869/mode/2up Muhsin Khan's translation]. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|60|495}}| | |||
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: | |||
When the Verse:-- 'And warn your tribe of near kindred.' (26.214) was revealed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "O Sabahah!" The people said, [...]}} | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
| Line 253: | Line 280: | ||
*[[Mawdu' (Fabricated) and Daif (Weak) Hadiths]] | *[[Mawdu' (Fabricated) and Daif (Weak) Hadiths]] | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*{{external link| url = http://www.faithfreedom.org/the-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran/| title = The Deceptive Translations of the Quran| publisher = | author = | date = | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithfreedom.org%2Fthe-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran%2F&date=2013-11-26| deadurl = no}} | *{{external link| url = http://www.faithfreedom.org/the-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran/| title = The Deceptive Translations of the Quran| publisher = | author = | date = | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithfreedom.org%2Fthe-deceptive-translations-of-the-quran%2F&date=2013-11-26| deadurl = no}} | ||