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Diacritical Marks of the Qur'an: Difference between revisions
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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=3|Language=2|References=3}} | |||
[[File:Sura 24 without vowels and dots.jpg|right|thumb|215px|Arabic script from a Qur'an dated 150 AH showing Sura 24:34-36 without Vowels and Dots.]] | [[File:Sura 24 without vowels and dots.jpg|right|thumb|215px|Arabic script from a Qur'an dated 150 AH showing Sura 24:34-36 without Vowels and Dots.]] | ||
In this article we examine the use of [[Arabic_letters_and_diacritics#The_Arabic_Diacritics|diacritical marks]] and the problems they posed when they were added to the [[Arabic]] [[Qur'an]]. | In this article we examine the use of [[Arabic_letters_and_diacritics#The_Arabic_Diacritics|diacritical marks]] and the problems they posed when they were added to the [[Arabic]] [[Qur'an]]. | ||
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Furthermore, if you put one mark below the first, two points below the second, and two above the third, the word "girl" (بنت, ''bint'') will become “Bayt” (بيت) which translates as “home” in English. | Furthermore, if you put one mark below the first, two points below the second, and two above the third, the word "girl" (بنت, ''bint'') will become “Bayt” (بيت) which translates as “home” in English. | ||
* If you put two points below the first, one below the second, and two above the third, it's "yabet" (يبت) which translates as "he makes a decision" in English. | *If you put two points below the first, one below the second, and two above the third, it's "yabet" (يبت) which translates as "he makes a decision" in English. | ||
* If you put one point above the first, one below the second and two above the third, it's "nabat" (نبت) which translates as "'grew” (for something planted) in English. | *If you put one point above the first, one below the second and two above the third, it's "nabat" (نبت) which translates as "'grew” (for something planted) in English. | ||
* If you put one point below the first, two below the second and one above the third, it's "Bayn" (بين) which translates as "between" in English. | *If you put one point below the first, two below the second and one above the third, it's "Bayn" (بين) which translates as "between" in English. | ||
* If you put one point below the first, three points above the second and two points above the third, it's "Bathat" (بثت) which translates as "she broadcast" in English. | *If you put one point below the first, three points above the second and two points above the third, it's "Bathat" (بثت) which translates as "she broadcast" in English. | ||
* If you put two points below the first, one below the second, and three above the third, it's "yaboth" (يبث) which translates as "he broadcasts" in English. | *If you put two points below the first, one below the second, and three above the third, it's "yaboth" (يبث) which translates as "he broadcasts" in English. | ||
Even after adding diacritical points above and below the Arabic letters, the meaning of the word will not be explicit with certainty except after adding the vocalization marks (بَ ba, بِ bi, بُ bu). Both the diacritical points and the vocalization marks were not used in the ancient Arabic writings during the time of Muhammad. Therefore, there would have been a wide range of problems and an enormous task for the interpreters to add diacritical points and vocalization marks on every letter in the Qur'an. Therefore there was a lot of opportunity to make mistakes that would have made it impossible to ensure the original word meanings of the Qur'an were unchanged. | Even after adding diacritical points above and below the Arabic letters, the meaning of the word will not be explicit with certainty except after adding the vocalization marks (بَ ba, بِ bi, بُ bu). Both the diacritical points and the vocalization marks were not used in the ancient Arabic writings during the time of Muhammad. Therefore, there would have been a wide range of problems and an enormous task for the interpreters to add diacritical points and vocalization marks on every letter in the Qur'an. Therefore there was a lot of opportunity to make mistakes that would have made it impossible to ensure the original word meanings of the Qur'an were unchanged. | ||
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Al-Suyuti makes an important statement in which he says that the differences in reading has led to differences in [[Islamic Law|Islamic law]].<ref>Jalal-al-Din-al-Suyuti, "al-Itqan Fi Ulum al-Qur’an" (Adjusted Qur’anic Science), part 1, p. 226</ref> He illustrated this by the following example: He indicated that some scholars demanded of the worshiper that he wash himself again (perform ablution) before he prays if he shook hands with a woman. Yet other scholars require him to do so only in the case of sexual intercourse and not just because he shook hands with her or touched her hand. | Al-Suyuti makes an important statement in which he says that the differences in reading has led to differences in [[Islamic Law|Islamic law]].<ref>Jalal-al-Din-al-Suyuti, "al-Itqan Fi Ulum al-Qur’an" (Adjusted Qur’anic Science), part 1, p. 226</ref> He illustrated this by the following example: He indicated that some scholars demanded of the worshiper that he wash himself again (perform ablution) before he prays if he shook hands with a woman. Yet other scholars require him to do so only in the case of sexual intercourse and not just because he shook hands with her or touched her hand. | ||
The reason for this disagreement is because of the word لَٰمَسْتُمُ (''l<b>aa</b>mastum'' | The reason for this disagreement is because of the word لَٰمَسْتُمُ (''l<b>aa</b>mastum'') found in the Chapter of Women ([{{Quran-url-only|4|43}} verse 43]) and whether it has a long vowel ''a'' or not. Scholars Jalalayn and Badawi record that both ibn ’Umar and al-Shafi’i seriously disagree with ibn ’Abbas <ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=4&tAyahNo=43&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2</ref> in the way they interpret this verse because ibn ’Abbas insisted that the meaning intended here is actual intercourse while the former said no, it is enough for a man to touch the skin of a woman or her hand to require having his ablution (washing) repeated. | ||
==Other Vocalization Marks== | ==Other Vocalization Marks== | ||
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For example: | For example: | ||
*The word "bent" (بنت) will become "banat" (بنَت) by putting "Fathha" (َ ) on the second letter, which means "she built" in English. | *The word "bent" (بنت) will become "banat" (بنَت) by putting "Fathha" (َ ) on the second letter, which means "she built" in English. | ||
*The word "bayn" بين ( which translates as “between” in English) will become "bayyan" (بّيّن) if we add "shadda" (ّ ) on the first and the second letters, which means "He manifests" in English. | *The word "bayn" بين ( which translates as “between” in English) will become "bayyan" (بّيّن) if we add "shadda" (ّ ) on the first and the second letters, which means "He manifests" in English. | ||
*The word "nabat" نبت (which translates as “grew” in English, for something that was planted) will become "nabott" نبُت if we add "damma” (ُ ) to the second letter, which means "we make a decision" in English. | *The word "nabat" نبت (which translates as “grew” in English, for something that was planted) will become "nabott" نبُت if we add "damma” (ُ ) to the second letter, which means "we make a decision" in English. | ||
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==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Due to diacritical marks not being included in the original Qur'an and their use being so complex, and also because Muhammad allowed for more than one reading of each word, | Due to diacritical marks not being included in the original Qur'an and their use being so complex, and also because Muhammad allowed for more than one reading of each word, it is difficult to determine the original meaning of the text. Through the abundance of opportunities to make mistakes it is likely true that the Qur'an has been altered or at least its specific form forgotten and that the version we have with us today is not Allah’s word to the letter, as many claim. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[Arabic letters and diacritics]] | |||
*[[Textual History of the Qur'an]] | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/s3c3c.html Variants in the Qur'an] ''- Dr. William Campbell'' | |||
*[http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVeil/btv8.html Qur'anic Language and Grammatical Mistakes] ''- | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/s3c3c.html Variants in the Qur'an] ''- Dr. William Campbell'' | ||
*[http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37990 Diacritical Markings in the Quran Change the Meanings] ''- | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/BehindVeil/btv8.html Qur'anic Language and Grammatical Mistakes] ''- Answering Islam'' | ||
*[http://www.faithfreedom.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37990 Diacritical Markings in the Quran Change the Meanings] ''- FFI Forum'' | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Qur'an]] | [[Category:Qur'an]] | ||
[[Category:Qur'anic textual history]] | |||
[[Category:Arabic]] | |||