READING KORAN IN ENGLISH
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farishtamurad
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READING KORAN IN ENGLISH
IS READING KORAN IN ENGLISH IS THE SAME AS READING IN ARABIC. AS I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ ARABIC I READ THE ENGLISH VERSION. IS IT CORRECT
It is not the same because all translations are interpretations reflecting the beliefs of the translator and hence you have to be careful which translation you consult. For example, some translations translate the word Imam as a book!
For serious study of the Quran, some knowledge of the Arabic is vital otherwise one can be misled by a translation unless ofcourse the translation is an Ismaili one.
On the other hand our traditions comprising the Farmans, speeches of the Imam, Ginans and the Qasida represent our tafsir of the Quran. So one should read the Quran in light of them.
There is an interesting article on some of the themes in the Quran which are important for our daily lives at:
Doctrines --> QURAN-E-SHERIFF
Also there is an interesting article which covers the concept of Imama in the Quran under:
Doctrines --> Significance of Ya Ali Madad
For serious study of the Quran, some knowledge of the Arabic is vital otherwise one can be misled by a translation unless ofcourse the translation is an Ismaili one.
On the other hand our traditions comprising the Farmans, speeches of the Imam, Ginans and the Qasida represent our tafsir of the Quran. So one should read the Quran in light of them.
There is an interesting article on some of the themes in the Quran which are important for our daily lives at:
Doctrines --> QURAN-E-SHERIFF
Also there is an interesting article which covers the concept of Imama in the Quran under:
Doctrines --> Significance of Ya Ali Madad
Re: READING KORAN IN ENGLISH
Consider reading one translated by a Shia versus the Sunni translations.farishtamurad wrote:IS READING KORAN IN ENGLISH IS THE SAME AS READING IN ARABIC. AS I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ ARABIC I READ THE ENGLISH VERSION. IS IT CORRECT
Shams
Re: READING KORAN IN ENGLISH
Perhaps not the same but you have been blessed with your intellect, let it guide you.farishtamurad wrote:IS READING KORAN IN ENGLISH IS THE SAME AS READING IN ARABIC. AS I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO READ ARABIC I READ THE ENGLISH VERSION. IS IT CORRECT
Or try Thomas Jefferson's Quran (English publication in 1734) it is still Quran.
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farishtamurad
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- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 3:58 am
usually while buying a Quran in English Translation, I check Surat 36 Ayat 12 for the translation of Imame Mubeen, if it says Imam Manifest, the translation looks good to me, if it says a book of record or something like that, it is a manipulated translation.
Mir Ahmad Ali's English translation and comment a really good though Ithnashri, at least passages on Imamat are not distorted.
Admin
Mir Ahmad Ali's English translation and comment a really good though Ithnashri, at least passages on Imamat are not distorted.
Admin
well said Admin,Admin wrote:usually while buying a Quran in English Translation, I check Surat 36 Ayat 12 for the translation of Imame Mubeen, if it says Imam Manifest, the translation looks good to me, if it says a book of record or something like that, it is a manipulated translation.
Mir Ahmad Ali's English translation and comment a really good though Ithnashri, at least passages on Imamat are not distorted.
Admin
That is a good test..and Mir Ahmad Ali's translation is a very good translation with the Shia viewpoint.
Shams
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arshad1988
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Why do some translators of the Quran translate the words in 36:12 "Imam-e-Mubeen" as a "Clear Register" or "Clear writing" or something to that effect? For example:
036.012
YUSUFALI: Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).
PICKTHAL: Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.
SHAKIR: Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing.
Can anyone explain why they do this? If the translators understand Arabic, why not translate something that's evidently there?
036.012
YUSUFALI: Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).
PICKTHAL: Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.
SHAKIR: Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing.
Can anyone explain why they do this? If the translators understand Arabic, why not translate something that's evidently there?
It's the Sunni versus Shia veiwpointarshad1988 wrote:Why do some translators of the Quran translate the words in 36:12 "Imam-e-Mubeen" as a "Clear Register" or "Clear writing" or something to that effect? For example:
036.012
YUSUFALI: Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).
PICKTHAL: Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.
SHAKIR: Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing.
Can anyone explain why they do this? If the translators understand Arabic, why not translate something that's evidently there?
Imam-e-Mubin is NOT REGISTER or BOOK - it is the MANIFEST IMAM.
Shams
A translation is always an interpretation which reflects the outlook and faith of the translator. If the translator does not believe in the notion of the Imam as a Divine manifestation, he is unlikely to tranlate a verse in that light. Hence we have the Sunni and the Shia interpretations.arshad1988 wrote: Can anyone explain why they do this? If the translators understand Arabic, why not translate something that's evidently there?
Arabic is very versatile. A word can be construed to mean different things depending upon the context though in this case to translate the word Imam to mean the book is quite a stretch!
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arshad1988
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Here is what I got from reference from a Shia translated Quran of two different verses, Surah 34, Ayat 3, and Sura 36, Ayat 12. The arabic is pronounced as follows in the two verses:
34:3 Waqala allatheena kafaroo la ta/teena alssaAAatu qul bala warabbee lata/tiyannakum AAalimi alghaybi la yaAAzubu AAanhu mithqalu tharratin fee alssamawati wala fee al-ardi wala asgharu min thalika wala akbaru illa fee kitabin mubeenin
36:12. Inna nahnu nuhyee almawta wanaktubu ma qaddamoo waatharahum wakulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee imamin mubeenin
As one can clearly see, Allah(swt) already mentions a manifest record, or manifest book. However, one must distinguish between manifest book or record, and the manifest Imam.
Just thought I'd share this with you guys.
I don't remember where I heard this, it might have even been on this forum, but when we translate the last part of 36:12, some translate it as
"...And We have vested (the knowledge and authority of) everything in the manifest Imam" - to give an intepretation of what Allah(swt) meant.
One should note that "(the knowledge and authority of)" is in brackets and is not actually what is said in Arabic. What is really said is,
"...And We have vested everything in the manifest Imam"
Now what interpretation each individual has on this verse is up to them. I thought it was rather interesting from wherever I heard it from.
What are your thoughts on it everyone? Please correct me if I have made any mistakes.
Ya Ali Madad
-Arshad
34:3 Waqala allatheena kafaroo la ta/teena alssaAAatu qul bala warabbee lata/tiyannakum AAalimi alghaybi la yaAAzubu AAanhu mithqalu tharratin fee alssamawati wala fee al-ardi wala asgharu min thalika wala akbaru illa fee kitabin mubeenin
36:12. Inna nahnu nuhyee almawta wanaktubu ma qaddamoo waatharahum wakulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee imamin mubeenin
As one can clearly see, Allah(swt) already mentions a manifest record, or manifest book. However, one must distinguish between manifest book or record, and the manifest Imam.
Just thought I'd share this with you guys.
I don't remember where I heard this, it might have even been on this forum, but when we translate the last part of 36:12, some translate it as
"...And We have vested (the knowledge and authority of) everything in the manifest Imam" - to give an intepretation of what Allah(swt) meant.
One should note that "(the knowledge and authority of)" is in brackets and is not actually what is said in Arabic. What is really said is,
"...And We have vested everything in the manifest Imam"
Now what interpretation each individual has on this verse is up to them. I thought it was rather interesting from wherever I heard it from.
What are your thoughts on it everyone? Please correct me if I have made any mistakes.
Ya Ali Madad
-Arshad
Quran-E-Sharif in Gujarati Translation
It is good to know that Thomas Jefferson's Quran in English is good for English readers, but what about some Ismaili readers who want to read Quran in Gujarati or Urdu languages? Does anybody know good Quranic translation in Gujarati and Urdu, which does not not favor Sunny or other sect which do not beleive in Imamat?
Last edited by agakhani on Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Quran-E-Sharif in Gujarati Translation
Yusuf Ali, who translated one of the most widespread versions, was not only a Shi'i but even an Ismaili. He was a Dawudi Bohra - a Musta'lid rather than a Nizari Ismaili.
I find this ironic, because it's the versions Sunnis like to trumpet and reprint.
I find this ironic, because it's the versions Sunnis like to trumpet and reprint.