Arabic Grammar 4
Preciseness – Hallmark of the Arabic
Bureaucratic expansionism in the entire Moslem history has been its most awe-inspiring highlight. See the Commentaries titled as ‘Law of War‘ and ‘MULLAH’S Modifications are NOT the True Teachings of Islam.’
Conquering neighboring territories and annexing them to their empires for more revenue was considered lot more important than knowing the language and thus the Holy Qor-aan. See the Commentaries titled as ‘Law – Jihad – Is It Fighting‘ and ‘Mullah’s Jihad is no road to Peace.’
Aggrandizing conversions for increased collections in the modern times reflects the same mentality. See the Commentaries titled as ‘The Divine Forecasts Need No Human Assist’ and ‘World Peace Through Law’
Biggest beneficiary of promoting ignorance this way created the class of clergymen or Mullah who fanned the ignorance to unparalleled heights in the Moslem bureaucracy. See the Commentary titled as ‘Difference of Opinion.‘
Many Moslem states of the modern era follow the old ruling dynasties in treating Arabic grammar as superfluous. Academic discussions, Islamic studies, religious celebrations and other similar lip-service assemblies were generally arranged to advance political agenda of a group or sect. Meetings organized to study the Holy Qor-aan and Arabic did everything other than that though sometimes they generated good social side-effects and occasionally educational benefits too. But then that practice also dwindled to hardly anything of value. And all that was done for the sake of convenience and branded as evolution. See our See our Commentaries titled as ‘Islam and Sect Formation‘ and ‘Islam and ‘Sect Recognition.’
Foreign newcomers [See the Commentary titled as ‘Acknowledgements – 4th – To Scholars‘] naturally benefited. However, a conspicuous failure was to understand the Arabic grammar which allows using the past tense to describe a past event, and then using the present tense in another part of the same verse to spell out a forecast, a prediction or Rule of Universal Application. The Holy Qor-aan has stated things this way frequently. But many translators failed to comprehend the significance of this methodology and consequently their work was not an accurate translation of the original text. Their error shows itself clearly in their translations of the verses among others of 002:162, 002:215, 003:092, 003:141, 003:142, 003:144, 003:145, 003:150, 003:157, 003:160, 003:162, 003:163, 003:169 , 004:008, and amplified in the Notes to the verses 003:113, 003:118, 003:166 and 003:168a
Foreign translators have frequently made inaccurate translations of the words as used in the Holy Qor-aan. An example is the verse 003:153 that includes the following.
- The word used is تُحِبُّوۡنَ (to-hib-boo-na). It is a verb in the present tense meaning ‘you love.’ It is inaccurately translated in the past tense as ‘you loved’ and ‘you desired.’
- The word used is يُرِيۡدُ (yo-ree-do). It is a verb in the present tense meaning ‘he aims at or seeks’ and correctly translated as ‘that hanker.’ It is inaccurately translated in the past tense as ‘you desired’ and ‘who desired.’
The precise nature of the Arabic language is partly reflected in several Commentaries titled under Arabic Grammar.
For example, there is only one word ‘went’ in English language that shows the past tense for all people in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd persons, i.e. ‘he went’, ‘she went’, ‘you’, ‘I went’ or ‘we went’. But 14 words [except for a couple of duplicates] show the past tense in Arabic grammar which differently, distinctly and pin-pointedly reflect when they refer to an act by one in 1st, 2nd or 3rd person, and for one, plural for two persons, and plural for three or more persons.
One example from one of its root ض ر ب that means to strike is as follows.
- Dza-ra-ba – – – – He one man struck
- Dza-ra-baa – – – – Those two men struck
- Dza-ra-boo – – – – All those men struck
- Dza-ra-but – – – – She one woman struck
- Dza-ra-ba-taa – – – – Those two women struck
- Dza-rub-na – – – – All those women struck
- Dza-rub-ta – – – – You one man struck
- Dza-rub-to-maa – – – You two men struck
- Dza-rub-toom – – – – You all men struck
- Dza-rub-tay – – – – You one woman struck
- Dza-rub-to-maa – – – You two women struck
- Dza-rub-toon-na- – – You all women struck
- Dza-rub-to – – – – I one man or woman struck
- Dza-rub-naa – – – – We all men or women struck
Similarly another 14 words show the present tense and present participle form that also is the basis of its derivates in the future tense.
Furthermore, many people speaking other languages experience confusion as to how so many words in the Arabic language that look-alike develop preciseness in their meanings by the mere placement of one vowel above or below one of its letters.
Yet exactly that way the many look-alike words do get differentiated by placing one of the vowels above its first letter, or above or below the last of its letters. Without the vowel the following words would look identical but the presence of vowels precipitate different meanings.
Dzo-ray-but [ ضُرِبَتۡ ] means single female ‘She was hit.’
Dza-ra-but [ ضَرَ بَتۡ ] means a single female ‘She hit,’
Dza-rub-tay [ ضَرَ بۡتِ ] means ‘You single female hit.’
Dza-rub-ta [ ضَرَ بۡتَ ] means ‘You single male hit.’
Dza-rub-to [ ضَرَ بۡتُ ] means ‘I hit.’
One translation of the Holy Qor-aan verse 003:037 is another example of how one author failed to distinguish the grammatically distinct words وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) from وَضَعۡتُ (Wa-dza-to). He correctly translated the 1st وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) that described the contemplated action by only a 3rd person in female gender. He correctly translated the 2nd وَضَعۡتُ (Wa-dza-to) that contemplated action by only a 1st person in female or male genders. But he translated the 3rd similarly-looking derivates word وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) incorrectly as “God knows what I have delivered” whereas its correct translation is “And God knew better what she had delivered.”
The Holy Qor-aan verse 002:231 is another example of the preciseness provided in the Arabic language. It has used the pronoun and verbs meant for only ‘2/pl’ (plural for two) again and again. The woman and man both have equal rights to contract and dissolve their marriage. Several words describe them both as to what they can or should do. This preciseness is unique in the Arabic language and does not exist in the English language.
Without knowing the effects of vowels on the Arabic words it is hard for an ‘unknowing’ person to understand the subtleties of the words, their meanings or the niceties thereby created in the language.
Accurate translation is commendable. For example, most authors noticed the sharp difference in the meanings that occurred by the different placement of just a vowel of kusrah below the letter ر as in اَخۡرِجُوۡ and fatah above the letter ر as in اَخۡرَجُو in verse 002:192
Translating Arabic without knowing the basics of its grammar is against common sense. The comprehension of just the Holy Qor-aan is not easy. But translating the Arabic against its grammar rules while trying to present the Holy Qor-aan accurately to a reader resembles trying to scale the Mount Everest without appropriate equipment and paraphernalia that will surely kill the climber. No wonder so many people have been misled by inaccurate translations.
Arabic Grammar 4 – Preciseness
Arabic Grammar 4
Preciseness – Hallmark of the Arabic
Bureaucratic expansionism in the entire Moslem history has been its most awe-inspiring highlight. See the Commentaries titled as ‘Law of War‘ and ‘MULLAH’S Modifications are NOT the True Teachings of Islam.’
Conquering neighboring territories and annexing them to their empires for more revenue was considered lot more important than knowing the language and thus the Holy Qor-aan. See the Commentaries titled as ‘Law – Jihad – Is It Fighting‘ and ‘Mullah’s Jihad is no road to Peace.’
Aggrandizing conversions for increased collections in the modern times reflects the same mentality. See the Commentaries titled as ‘The Divine Forecasts Need No Human Assist’ and ‘World Peace Through Law’
Biggest beneficiary of promoting ignorance this way created the class of clergymen or Mullah who fanned the ignorance to unparalleled heights in the Moslem bureaucracy. See the Commentary titled as ‘Difference of Opinion.‘
Many Moslem states of the modern era follow the old ruling dynasties in treating Arabic grammar as superfluous. Academic discussions, Islamic studies, religious celebrations and other similar lip-service assemblies were generally arranged to advance political agenda of a group or sect. Meetings organized to study the Holy Qor-aan and Arabic did everything other than that though sometimes they generated good social side-effects and occasionally educational benefits too. But then that practice also dwindled to hardly anything of value. And all that was done for the sake of convenience and branded as evolution. See our See our Commentaries titled as ‘Islam and Sect Formation‘ and ‘Islam and ‘Sect Recognition.’
Foreign newcomers [See the Commentary titled as ‘Acknowledgements – 4th – To Scholars‘] naturally benefited. However, a conspicuous failure was to understand the Arabic grammar which allows using the past tense to describe a past event, and then using the present tense in another part of the same verse to spell out a forecast, a prediction or Rule of Universal Application. The Holy Qor-aan has stated things this way frequently. But many translators failed to comprehend the significance of this methodology and consequently their work was not an accurate translation of the original text. Their error shows itself clearly in their translations of the verses among others of 002:162, 002:215, 003:092, 003:141, 003:142, 003:144, 003:145, 003:150, 003:157, 003:160, 003:162, 003:163, 003:169 , 004:008, and amplified in the Notes to the verses 003:113, 003:118, 003:166 and 003:168a
Foreign translators have frequently made inaccurate translations of the words as used in the Holy Qor-aan. An example is the verse 003:153 that includes the following.
The precise nature of the Arabic language is partly reflected in several Commentaries titled under Arabic Grammar.
For example, there is only one word ‘went’ in English language that shows the past tense for all people in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd persons, i.e. ‘he went’, ‘she went’, ‘you’, ‘I went’ or ‘we went’. But 14 words [except for a couple of duplicates] show the past tense in Arabic grammar which differently, distinctly and pin-pointedly reflect when they refer to an act by one in 1st, 2nd or 3rd person, and for one, plural for two persons, and plural for three or more persons.
One example from one of its root ض ر ب that means to strike is as follows.
Similarly another 14 words show the present tense and present participle form that also is the basis of its derivates in the future tense.
Furthermore, many people speaking other languages experience confusion as to how so many words in the Arabic language that look-alike develop preciseness in their meanings by the mere placement of one vowel above or below one of its letters.
Yet exactly that way the many look-alike words do get differentiated by placing one of the vowels above its first letter, or above or below the last of its letters. Without the vowel the following words would look identical but the presence of vowels precipitate different meanings.
Dzo-ray-but [ ضُرِبَتۡ ] means single female ‘She was hit.’
Dza-ra-but [ ضَرَ بَتۡ ] means a single female ‘She hit,’
Dza-rub-tay [ ضَرَ بۡتِ ] means ‘You single female hit.’
Dza-rub-ta [ ضَرَ بۡتَ ] means ‘You single male hit.’
Dza-rub-to [ ضَرَ بۡتُ ] means ‘I hit.’
One translation of the Holy Qor-aan verse 003:037 is another example of how one author failed to distinguish the grammatically distinct words وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) from وَضَعۡتُ (Wa-dza-to). He correctly translated the 1st وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) that described the contemplated action by only a 3rd person in female gender. He correctly translated the 2nd وَضَعۡتُ (Wa-dza-to) that contemplated action by only a 1st person in female or male genders. But he translated the 3rd similarly-looking derivates word وَضَعَتۡ (Wa-dza-ut) incorrectly as “God knows what I have delivered” whereas its correct translation is “And God knew better what she had delivered.”
The Holy Qor-aan verse 002:231 is another example of the preciseness provided in the Arabic language. It has used the pronoun and verbs meant for only ‘2/pl’ (plural for two) again and again. The woman and man both have equal rights to contract and dissolve their marriage. Several words describe them both as to what they can or should do. This preciseness is unique in the Arabic language and does not exist in the English language.
Without knowing the effects of vowels on the Arabic words it is hard for an ‘unknowing’ person to understand the subtleties of the words, their meanings or the niceties thereby created in the language.
Accurate translation is commendable. For example, most authors noticed the sharp difference in the meanings that occurred by the different placement of just a vowel of kusrah below the letter ر as in اَخۡرِجُوۡ and fatah above the letter ر as in اَخۡرَجُو in verse 002:192
Translating Arabic without knowing the basics of its grammar is against common sense. The comprehension of just the Holy Qor-aan is not easy. But translating the Arabic against its grammar rules while trying to present the Holy Qor-aan accurately to a reader resembles trying to scale the Mount Everest without appropriate equipment and paraphernalia that will surely kill the climber. No wonder so many people have been misled by inaccurate translations.
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