Acknowledgements – 3rd – To Family and Friends

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Abid

Acknowledgements – 3rd – To Family and Friends

In 1966. 1967, 1968 and 1974 Almighty God gifted us with our four children.   I tried to teach them the Holy Qor-aan the way my father had done with us his children.   Later on several occasions I shared some knowledge of the Holy Qor-aan and Arabic language with the Moslem congregations in St Louis, Mo, and mosques on the East Coast, and Christian students in the Philadelphia College of Bible Studies in Pennsylvania.   All those occasions demanded that I freshen up my knowledge of the Arabic and add to it what I could — considering that I had limited time for such tasks while doing law practice as a Philadelphia Attorney, solo practitioner.

Practicing the teachings In-sha-kur-toom-la-azee-dunna-koom (If you thank Me, I will give you more – 014:008), it behooves to name the following and state briefly the remarkable expertise and indispensable help each contributed because I knew very little in those areas.

My wife Azra A. Buttar set up the site trueteachingsofislam.com and helped to keep it running.   All our four children, their spouses and grandchildren did what they could.

  • Dr Rashid A Buttar extended medical services for my wife and me.
  • Zahid A Buttar arranged and taught putting on ‘cloud’ the contents of this site.
  • Rashdah A. Buttar, Esquire managed several legal and fiscal matters.
  • Shahid A. Buttar, Esquire monitored posting on-line the contents of this site.
  • Joseph Miller set up the network of computers and printer.
  • Annisa Buttar-Miller repeatedly fixed the internet issues.

My brother Dr Majid Ali provided valuable experience in making the contents of the site more visible on-line.   Several other people mentioned elsewhere on this site although not named have also helped in varying degrees, and above all with their prayers.

And so did a gentleman I met in England in 1973 in a business transaction.   I barely knew him save that his name was Munir Ahmed Nangali.   He heard me talk, encouraged me to write the book I desired and prayed for my success.   And then floored me by insisting that I take his Ten British Pounds with a promise to mention his name in my writings conveying his request for prayers by those who may read my words — whenever I write them.

May Allah confer His choicest blessings on all persons mentioned above and Aabaa-e-him wa uzwaaj-e-him and zorriyaat-e-him wa usheerat-e-him (= Their parents, their spouses, their children, and their families) as well as those who might in future further the mission of this site; Amen.

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Acknowledgements – 2nd – To Teachers

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Abid

Acknowledgements – 2nd – To Teachers

In late 1948 one class teacher in the Campbellpore High school was Mr Jaffery.   I remember him for asking the class to enumerate Queen Victoria’s troubles when she took the reign of British Empire and remarking to a student who enthusiastically raised and waived his hand to provide the answer, “Not you. And I ask only the external troubles?”   But I can’t recall if it was he who told me the decisions that I had to stop attending classes for the Drawing, had to attend classes that taught the Arabic, and could not stay in the school-drama.

 
In 1951, Professor Soofi Busharat-ur-Rehman in Talim-ul-Islam College, Lahore taught us Arabic.   His kind methodology in teaching the Arabic and its grammar made me like it as an elective subject.   I excelled in tests for it was not difficult to top the class which at times had only two students.   All it took me to top was that the other student miss a lecture in the class, or miss the effect of a vowel in the text, or miss a point in the test.   Moreover we were told that as we aspired to go to the Paradise where only Arabic was spoken, it was better for us to learn Arabic from him in the College where no sticks were used to beat – implying who knew how Arabic would be taught to those who went to the Heavens.

 
In 1953-54, Professor Maulana Arjmund Khan taught Theology to the under-graduates.   Once having tea I insisted that he partake some of the pastries that were there, he kept repeating In-sha-kur-toom-la-azee-dunna-koom (If you thank Me, I will give you more – 014:008).   He explained that the verse spelled out the character of a Moslem.   I can’t ever forget what he had taught and how he had taught that beautiful teaching which since then has been a part of me.

 
In 1957, my father and Arabic professor’s efforts that I study Arabic blossomed when I chose Arabic for a Master’s degree from the Punjab University Oriental College.     Essentially it was because I thought it would be easy for me to bag an MA while sharpening my teeth in the first two years of law practice.   I admired there three professors who taught me a great deal.

 
Maulana Noor Al-Hasan was very knowledgeable and took time in teaching Allama Baizawi’s interpretation of the Third chapter of the Holy Qor-aan, Soorah Aale-Imran.

 
Ostaaz Mohamed Al-Arabee was a visiting Professor from Tunisia.   He taught us the Moslem Law of Inheritance as provided in the Fourth chapter of the Holy Qor-aan, Soorah Un-Nissa.   I followed him easily because of my law degree where we had already studied the ‘Mahomedan Law’ written by a Hindu lawyer Mulla and enforced in the British India.

 
Ostaaz Ur-Rohuyom was a visiting Professor from the Egyptian University Al-Azhar.   For some reason he insisted that I speak to him in the Arabic only although he never demanded that from any of about two dozen other students in our class.   Yes, I have forgotten a lot of spoken Arabic since then.   But the 1957-58 experience helped me in 2000 to translate into English the Hujj instructions simultaneously as they were being played in the Arabic on video at the Egyptian airport Cairo when I along with some eighty other American and Canadian Moslems were proceeding to perform the Hujj.in Saudi Arabia.

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Acknowledgements – 1st – To Parents

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Abid

Acknowledgements – 1st – To Parents

In late 1930’s my mother taught me prayers including those in the Holy Qor-aan.   She made me rehearse them by narrating them to our relatives we visited or who visited us.   My father asked me to narrate them to his friends when we visited them or they visited us.   Abundant compliments on my presentations came as I poured out of my memory what was put in there.   I did not understand or know that the cause of those compliments was my repeating the prayers in one language and their translation in the other — all in one single continuation.   I learnt later that my parents had accomplished quite a feat by making their 4/5 years old son learn the original prayers in a foreign language Arabic and their translation in the local language Urdu.

In 1943-44, my father hired a professional to teach the Holy Qor-aan to his 5 children who then were 5 to 10 years old.   We learned recognizing and speaking Arabic Alphabets, the 13 Arabic vowels and 5 special effects to form words by connecting one or more alphabets to one or more of those numerous vowels and effects.

In October 1948, my mother passed away when I was 13.   My father took up the tough task to teach us all his 10 children the prayers in the Holy Qor-aan.   He wanted us to learn the grammar rules whereby a single Arabic root formed dozens of words.   He taught us how a tiny change in a vowel or pronunciation hugely changed a word’s meanings.   The process he used was consistent repetitive exercises that he organized for us every morning.   The time he chose was after the morning prayer for which he used to awake us all his children.   His objective in the interim was that we become familiar with the basic rules of Arabic grammar.   His ultimate goal was that we were able to read and reasonably comprehend the Holy Qor-aan.   He sought to make us practicing Moslems for our spiritual uplift as a matter of his moral duty.   He took his duties very seriously including the two full-time government jobs he held same time.   He was the Senior Civil Judge and Deputy Custodian of Evacuee Property when in Campbellpore.

In 1949, one morning my father asked me to bring him the Arabic grammar book that I had to study in school so that he could teach me from there.   I told him that I had none and did not need to study Arabic grammar anymore because I had taken up the Drawing as my elective.   Later that day the school sent me to the Arabic class because my father had told them that I had to study the Arabic, not the Drawing to become an engineer.   Also, after the first rehearsal in a school drama for which I was selected, the teacher told me that I could not stay in the drama as my father had told the school that he did not want me to grow up to be a film actor.

In 1957, the efforts of my father and later other teachers to study Arabic blossomed when I chose Arabic for my Master’s degree from the Punjab University Oriental College.   Continued study of the Holy Qor-aan and its translation by M Marmaduke Pickthall helped me a great deal in easily getting my Master’s Degree in Arabic in 1959.

See other Acknowledgements
#2 To Teachers — #3 To Family and Friends — #4 To Contemporaries — #5 To Others

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Islam, Qor-aan, 002:046, Comment by Abid Ali

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Abid

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                          002:046

 

وَاسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ‌ؕ وَاِنَّهَا لَكَبِيۡرَةٌ اِلَّا عَلَى الۡخٰشِعِيۡنَۙ‏

               

Wus-ta-ee-noo-bis-sub-ray-wus-sua-laat                                                                                   Wa-in-na-haa-la-ka-be-ra-toon-il-laa-alul-khaa-shay-een.

 

And you seek help with the perseverance and the prayer.                                           And that definitely is a big thing except for the fearful.

 

  • وَ — Wa…(us) — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • اسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا -Ta-ee-noo — Seek help (= Ask, beseech, beg, desire, pray, pursue or request for assistance, guidance, succor, fortification or protection against all real or perceived dangers, hazards and risks)
  • بِ — B…(is) — With the (= This word in Arabic literally means ‘with’. a/t/a ‘in’)
  • الصَّبۡرِ — Sub-ray — Perseverance (= Consistency; constancy; continuity; endurance; fortitude; patience; patiently persevering; persistence; regularity; repetition; steadfastness without failing,  flailing falling or faltering; unwavering )
  • وَ — Wa…(us) — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  •  الصَّلٰوةِ– Sua-laa-tay — The prayer (= Ask, beseech, beg, desire, pray, pursue or request for assistance, guidance, succor, fortification or protection against all real or perceived dangers, hazards and risks)
  • وَ — Wa  — And (= Conj., Connects words, phrases or clauses; also; but; additionally; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • اِنَّ — In-na — Definitely (= Absolutely; certainly; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; in all seriousness; positively; really; surely; truly; verily)
  • هَا — Haa — That (= s., f., 3rd person. Refers to the ‘act of seeking help’)’)
  • لَ — La — Definitely (= Absolutely; certainly; positively; surely; truly; verily)
  • كَبِيۡرَةٌ — Ka-be-ra-toon — Big thing (= Quite an uphill task; exacting discipline; extremely heavy and hard. Used for both good and bad things)
  • اِلَّا — Il-laa — Except (= Apart from; besides; excluding; save; unless; but not to)
  • عَلٰى — Al…(ul) — For (= Above; against; before; on; on top of; over; upon. Also incurs, obligates, subjects himself to, or takes on)
  • الۡخٰشِعِيۡنَ — Khaa-shay-een — The fearful (= n., pl., Afraid to anger Allah; devotees; humble-minded; humble in spirit; those obeying Allah submissively)

* Note 002:046.  The verse 002:046 shows that the Command اسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ (Seek God’s help with perseverance and prayer) was mandated for the Children of Israel.   Later exactly those words came down for Moslems (002:154).   Obligating Moslems to five daily prayers can be inferred from 002:154, but not as some translators have extrapolated from 002:046 as it is a part of an historical account that started by addressing the Children of Israel (002:041 to 002:097).   Some of those 56 verses did tell Moslems to avoid specified malpractices by earlier nations but primarily they were addressed to the Children of Israel by reminding them of the facts summarized in  Commentary ‘Are Jews and Moslems alike- 002:046?’

Are Jews and Moslems alike? 002:046

Prayers of universal application initially taught to the Children of Israel

  • God’s forgiveness because He accepts repentance – 002:055
  • God’s forgiveness on entering places submissively and seeking forgiveness – 002:059
  • God’s reward for believing in Him and doing good deeds – 002:063
  • God’s protection against being ignorant – 002:068
  • God’s guidance by saying “God-willing” – 002:071
  • God’s giving life to the dead – 002:074

Good tides for the Children of Israel

  • Preference given to them over all others in the Universe – 002:048
  • Parting of the sea to save them from the Pharaoh’s army – 002:051
  • Forgiving them despite the taking calf for God – 002:054, 002:055
  • Revival after their stupor, a real near-death experience – 002:057
  • Manna / Salwa specially sent down for them as food – 002:058
  • Guiding them to enter towns with plenteous foods – 002:059
  • Sprouting springs of water for all 12 of their tribes – 002:061
  • Granting their requests for foods that earth grows – 002:062
  • Grace of God to save them from becoming losers – 002:065

Bad times for the Children of Israel

  • Transgression regarding their Sabbath – 002:066
  • Their developing into a hard-hearted nation – 002:075
  • Slaying of their sons and sparing their women – 002:050
  • Worshiping a calf made of their golden jewelry – 002:052
  • Struck by lightning as they demanded to see God – 002:056
  • Punishment for their twisting the words of prayers – 002:060
  • Their flouting God’s signs and persecuting prophets – 002:062
  • Killing their own brethren contrary to their Covenant – 002:086
  • Raising issues in the command to sacrifice a heifer – 002:068/ 072
  • Their writing down materials they tried selling as Scriptures – 002:080

Other honorable mentions relating to the Children of Israel 

  • 9 times glorified their prophet Moses in 002-052, 054, 055, 056, 061, 062, 068, 088, 093
  • 2 times referred to their book (Torah) given near the Mount, in 002:064 and 002:094
  • 3 times addressed the Children of Israel by name in 002:041, 002:048 and 002:084
  • 5 times talked of their Covenant in 002:041, 002:064, 002:084, 002:085 and 002:094

So it is logical to conclude that the Commandment to “Seek help with prayer and perseverance” was for the Jews, and later with a refinement of “five daily prayers” for the Moslems as well.   Could “Seeking God’s help with prayer and perseverance” be a reason why Jewish communities flourished fantastically in medieval Moslem empires – unlike what they suffered under Russian Czars and Adolf Hitler?   Could that methodology be the sole reason of their regaining economic power and medical superiority repeatedly in their history?   Could Moslems have been warned that with this strategy that they too could be blessed like the precedent of their Jewish brethren, but if they repeated the earlier wrongs paying no attention to the history then the history would repeat itself?

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002:159

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Abid

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                 002:159

 

اِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالۡمَرۡوَةَ مِنۡ شَعَآٮِٕرِ اللّٰهِۚ فَمَنۡ حَجَّ الۡبَيۡتَ اَوِ اعۡتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِ اَنۡ يَّطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ؕ وَمَنۡ تَطَوَّعَ خَيۡرًا ۙ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيۡمٌ‏

 

In-nus-sa-faa-wul-mur-wa-ta                                                                                                       Min-sha-aa-aiy-ril-laa-hay                                                                                                                   Fa-mun-huj-jul-bai-ta-aa-waye-ta-ma-ra                                                                                   Fa-laa-jo-naa-ha-alai-hay                                                                                                                    Un-yut-tuw-wa-fa-bay-hay-maa                                                                                                        Wa-mun-ta-tuw-wa-aa-khai-run                                                                                                       Fa-in-nul-laa-ha-shaa-kay-roon-alee-m.

 

Certainly Safaa and Murwata                                                                                                Are among the signs of Allah.                                                                                                  So anyone who did the Hujj or Oomrah                                                                              Shall have no sin on him                                                                                                         That he goes around those two.                                                                                          And any one who follows a good thing voluntarily                                                    Then will find Allah highly Appreciative and All-Knowing.

 

  • إِنَّ — In-na..(us) — Certainly  (= Absolutely; assuredly; categorically; clearly; definitely, doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; positively, really; verily; seriously; sincerely; specifically; surely; truly)
  • الصَّفَا — Sa-faa — The Safaa (= One of the two hilltops [the other being Murwa] where Prophet Abraham’s wife Hadzrut Hajra frantically ran up and down several times looking for water for her infant son Ishmael)
  • وَ — Wa…(ul) — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • الۡمَرۡوَةَ — Mur-wa-ta — The Murwata (= One of the two hilltops, the other is Safaa لصَّفَا see above)
  • مِنۡ — Min — Among (= Among or from or out of a class, category, count, kind, lot or several persons or things)
  • شَعَآٮِٕرِ — Sha-aa-aiy-r..(il) — Signs (= n., pl., Beacons; ceremonies; eminences; indications; mile-stones; portents; proofs; signs; symbols; tokens. A/t/a, Religious ceremonies)
  • اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
  • فَ — Fa — So (= After all this; at the end; consequently; hence; in conclusion; then; thus; therefore)
  • مَنۡ — Mun — Whoever (= Anyone; whoever; whom; whomever; whoso)
  • حَجَّ — Huj-ja…(ul) — Did Hujj (= Pilgrimage.  See the Note below)
  • الۡبَيۡتَ — Ul-Bai-ta — The House (= Home. The addition of الۡ before بَيۡتِ particularize it to the Sacred House, referring to Kau-ba in Mecca in the present day Saudi Arabia)
  • اَوِ — Aa-way..(e) — Or (= Alternatively; in substitution)
  • اعۡتَمَرَ — Ae-ta-ma-ra — Did Oom-rah (= Visit; visitation; short temporary stopover. See the Note below)
  • فَ — Fa — Therefore (= After all this; at the end; hence; in conclusion)
  • لَا — Laa — No (= Absolute denial; never; no; none; not at all; total negation)
  • جُنَاحَ — Jo-naa-ha — Sin (= Blame; inappropriate conduct; crime; illegal; misdeed; offence; wrong; violation of a Prohibition)
  • عَلَيۡ — Alai — On (= Above; against; during; for; on top of; over; to; upon. Also, incurs, obligates, subjects himself to or takes on)
  • هِ — Hay — It (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid ‘pilgrim’)
  • اَنۡ — Un — That (= So that; that)
  • يَّطَّوَّفَ — Yut-tuw-wa-fa — Goes around (= Ambulates, compass, goes up and down, run, or walk around those two hills. Does Twaaf of aforesaid two hill is to commemorate Hudzrut Hajra’s frantic run up and down them several times looking for water for her infant son Ishmael)
  • بِ — Bay — With (= The Arabic word بِ literally means ‘with’)
  • هِمَا — Hay-maa — Those two (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to those two hills)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • مَنۡ — Mun — Anyone (= Who; whoever; whom; whomever; whoso)
  • تَطَوَّعَ — Ta-tuw-wa-aa — Follows (= Carries out instructions of his own accord; complies with directions on his own; follows voluntarily; goes beyond what is obligatory or prescribed)
  • خَيۡرًا — Khai-run — A good thing (= Appreciable, good, happy or pleasant occasion; do good deed spontaneously)
  • فَ — Fa — Then (= After all this; at the end; hence; in conclusion)
  • إِنَّ — In-na..(ul) — Certainly (= Absolutely; assuredly; categorically; clearly; definitely; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; positively, really; verily; seriously; sincerely; specifically; surely; truly)
  • ٱللَّهَ — Laa— ha Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
  • شَاكِرٌ — Shaa-kay-roon — Appreciator (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him likes and approves and appreciates those who are grateful to Him Appreciating; Most Appreciative; responsive; One Who rewards and is bountiful in rewarding)
  • عَلِيۡمٌ‏ — A-leem — All-Knowing (= superlative form indicates the greatest, the highest, the most, and highlights that none more than Him knows, is knowing. Informed to the maximum. Has total and perfect knowledge. Has nothing out of sight. Knows all. Well-Acquainted. Well-Aware. Most Knowledgeable)

 

** Note 002:159.    The Hujj (الۡحَجَّ  = Ul-Hujja) is one of the 5 Acts of worships or pillars of Islam.    It consists of at least once in life visiting and praying in Kau-ba, the Sacred Mosque, in Muk-kah.    It is performed on the 10th of the month of Zool-Hujj, one of the 12 months in the Hijri calendar.    This calendar is counted from the date the Holy Prophet s.a.w left Mak-kah and went to Madina.    The Oomrah (الۡعُمۡرَةَ  = Ul-oom-rah) also spelled Umrah is performed that way at a different time.    The Hujj is also known as the ‘Greater Pilgrimage’ while the Oomrah is the ‘Minor Pilgrimage.’    The Oomrah can be performed at any time of the year and as many times as a person can manage.    Performing the worship of Hujj and Oomrah is controlled by Saudi Arab government Moullams.    They facilitate the performance of these worships for which extensive rules are being enforced.    Whoever plans these worships should contact the Saudi Embassy for the up-to-date information.    We experienced on two separate occasions to perform our Oomrah and Hujj that they truly help.

 

Reproduced … Note 003:098. The command to perform the Hujj merits to be studied in conjunction with several other verses including 002:159, 002:197 to 002:204, 003:098 and 022:026 to 030.

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002:158

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Abid

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                              002:158

 

اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَلَوٰتٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ‌ وَاُولٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ الۡمُهۡتَدُوۡنَ

 

Olaa-eka-alai-him-sa-la-waa-toon-mir-rub-bay-him-wa-rah-mah                                      Wa-olaa-eka-ho-mool-moh-ta-doo-n.

 

On them all are the blessings from their God and mercy.                                          And they all are those guided.

 

  • اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-eka — Them (= Aforesaid facts, persons or things. Here the reference is to the said folks, people; sinner; wrong-doers)
  • عَلَيۡ — Alai — On (= Above; against; before; for; on top of; over; to; upon)
  • هِمۡ — Him — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid persons)
  • صَلَوٰتٌ — Sa-laa-waa-toon — Blessings (= All good things that can be imagined; benedictions. A/t/a the blessing of being forgiven; prayers)
  • مِنۡ — Min…(r) — From (= Among, from or out of a class, category, count, kind, lot or several persons or things)
  • رَّبِّ — Rub-bay — God (= The Almighty Allah who fills needs of all creatures;
    Cherisher; Creator; Guardian; Master; Lord Provident.   The Only One Who provides all that sustains life.   The Ultimate Provider of air, water, food and whatever we and all other creatures need to live and subsist)
  • هِمۡ — Him — Their (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid persons)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • رَحۡمَةٌ‌ — Rah-mah — Mercy (= Beneficence. Clemency. Compassion. Condoning. Forgiveness. Intercession. Intervention. Kindness. Leniency. Omitting, relenting or waiving punishment)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • اُولٰٓٮِٕكَ — Olaa-eka — All (= Aforesaid facts, persons or things. Here the reference is to the said folks, people; sinner; wrong-doers)
  • هُمُ — Ho-mo…(ol) Them (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid persons)
  • الۡمُهۡتَدُوۡنَ‏ — Moh-ta-doo-n — Those guided  (= n., pl., Those who have been … directed or guided to or shown the good, proper or right course, line, path, road or way, led on proper lines, put on proper path, set on correct course. The rightly guided) The guided ones)
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002:157

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Abid

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                 002:157

 

الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٌ  ۙ قَالُوۡٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّـآ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ

.

Ul-la-zee-na-ezaa-asaa-but-hoom-mo-see-ba-toon                                                                   Qaa-loo-in-naa-lil-laa-hay-wa-in-naa-elai-hay-raa-jay-oon.

.

Who when a misfortune has struck them                                                                           They said, “We surely belong to Allah. And we surely will return to Him.”

.

  • ٱلَّذِينَ — Ul-la-zee-na Who — (= pl., m, 3rd person. All those articles, things or persons)

[ The next four words are also in 004:063 ]

  • اِذَاۤ — Ezaa — When (= Any time or event; now that; when; whenever)
  • اَصَابَتۡ — Asaa-but — Struck (= v., past., f., 3rd person, Affected; afflicted; arrived;  befell; came to; got hold of; landed upon; overtook; reached; smote; smut; struck)
  • ھُمۡ‌ — Hoom — Them (= pro., pl., m., 3rd person. Refers to aforesaid people)
  • مُّصِيۡبَةٌ — Mo-see-ba-toon — Misfortune (= n., s., Adversity; affliction; bad luck; calamity;  catastrophe; difficult situation; disaster; hardship;  loss; inconvenience; misfortune; severe problem; tribulation; trouble)
  • قَا لُوۡا — Qaa-loo — They said (= v., past., pl., m., 3rd person.  All those men: Asserted; announced; called; conveyed; declared; exclaimed; explained; insisted; professed; specified; stated; told.  Also added in extrapolation:  “They do not loose heart, but say…”
  • اِنَّـآ — In-naa — Surely we (= Combines two words. اِنَّ means ‘certainly, definitely,
    surely or verily. And نَآ means ‘all of us’)
  • لِ — L…(il) — Belong to (= For the benefit, object, person, purpose or reason)
  • اللّٰهِ — Laa-hay — Allah (= The Almighty God; The only One worthy of worship)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; yet; whereupon)
  • اِنَّـآ — In-naa — Surely we (= Combines two words. اِنَّ means ‘certainly, definitely,
    surely or verily. And نَآ means ‘all of us’)
  • اِلَيۡ — Elai — To (= In the direction of; to; towards)
  • هِ — Hay — Him (= pro., s., m., 3rd person. Refers in instant case to Allah)
  • رٰجِعُوۡنَ — Raa-jay-oon — Return (= Come back; revert)
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002:156

Posted on December 3, 2015 by Abid

The Holy Qor-aan                                                                                                                   002:156

 

وَلَـنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَـوۡفِ وَالۡجُـوۡعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَۙ‏

 

Wa  la  naub-lo-waun-na  koom  bay  shai-in
May-na  ul-khao-fay  wa  ul-joo-aiy
Wa  nauq-sin  may-na  ul-um-waa-lay
Wa  ul-aun-fo-say  wa  uth-tha-ma-raa-tay
Wa  baush-shay-ray  is-saa-bay-ree-n

 

And We surely will test you with something
From fear and hunger
And loss of assets
And lives and gains.
And congratulate the perseverant.

 

  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses; additionally; but; also; more over; though; when; while; whereupon; yet)
  • لَ — La — Certainly (= Absolutely; definitely; doubtlessly; earnestly; indeed; positively; really; seriously; surely; truly; verily)
  • نَبۡلُوَنَّ — Naub-lo-waun-na — Test (= v., pres., pl., 1st person. Assess. Evaluate. Examine; Test. Try. A/t/a, ‘will … reward you (after discipling you,’ ‘rewarding after disciplining’ and ‘test your steadfastness.’ “Muslims should be prepared … to lay down their lives in the cause of Islam” [mgf ‘s Note # 182]. Our Commentary Jihad – War of aggression is no Islam  presents an accurate and more balanced, peaceful and reasonable interpretation of the Command in 002:191, 002:192, 002:193, 002:194,  002:195)
  • كُمۡ — Koom — You (= pro., pl., m., 2nd person., You men)
  • بِ — Bay — With (= The best translation of the word بِ is ‘with’)
  • شَىۡءٍ — Shai-in — Thing (= Anything at all however little or insignificant. A whit. Not the least. Smallest part of an article, item, object, material, thing, matter, type, phenomenon or stuff. To the least extent. Also, Some, something or somewhat. See 003:155. A/t/a, ‘something’)
  • مِّنَ — May-na … (ul) — From (= Among, from or out of the class or category of several articles, counts, kind, things, persons or phenomenon)
  • الۡخَـوۡفِ — Khao-fay — Fear (= n., The state of being afraid, frightened or scared with or without any reason, perils or perilous condition)
  • وَ — Wa … (ul) — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
  • الۡجُـوۡعِ — Joo-aiy — Hunger (= n., Famine; period of hunger; person with the appetite; the state of having no food to eat; the urge or feeling that one must eat something)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
  • نَقۡصٍ — Nauq-sin — Loss (= n., Diminishing; the state of loosing what one owns)
  • مِّنَ — May-na … (ul) — From (= Among, from or out of a class. See مِّنَ above)
  • الۡاَمۡوَالِ — AUm-waa-lay — Assets (= n., pl., Affluence; gains; goods; money; property; riches; wealth; resources; substance; valuables. See more meanings in Note 002:262)
  • وَ — Wa … (ul) — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
  • الۡاَنۡفُسِ — Aun-fo-say — Lives (= n., pl., An individual’s heart, life; mind, person, self or  soul. See Note 002:010)
  • وَ — Wa … (uth) — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
  • الثَّمَرٰتِ — Tha-ma-raa-tay — The gains (= n., pl., 1. Fruits of effort made, labor performed, service  rendered or toil done. Gains from using one’s abilities, blessings, capabilities; capacities, faculties, qualities or talents that one has or possesses. Usufruct of the assets, education, facilities, opportunities or qualifications one acquires. 2. Fruits; crops harvested; edibles produced by or from the plants and trees; yield)
  • وَ — Wa — And (= Conj., Links words, phrases or clauses. See وَ  above)
  • بَشِّرِ — Baush-shay-r … (iss) — Congratulate (= v., pres., s., 2nd person. Announce, give, inform,  make aware, proclaim, share, state or tell good and happy news or glad tiding)
  • لصّٰبِرِيۡن — Saa-bay-ree-n — The perseverant (= n., pl., Consistent. Constant. Insistent. Patient. Persistent. Perseverant. Persevering. Pursuant. Steadfast. Unwavering. Who patiently persevere with continuity, endurance, fortitude and regular repetitions and show above characteristics with no failing, flailing, falling or faltering. Who are patient in adversity, tribulations and times of stress)
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Planning -vs- Predestination

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Abid

Planning -vs- Predestination

Verse 002:149 highlights four issues that scholars have raised but not answered uniformly.

  • 1. Did God predetermine everything for everyone and so man has no choice in that? OR
  • 2. Has God given man an unbridled will and whim to do what and when he pleases? OR
  • 3. Does God know what man will do in a specific scenario, but gave him a leeway? OR
  • 4. Has God predestined specific results of specific actions as rules of universal application but given man a limited choice of several (seven per 023:018) alternatives?

And then there are several meanings of following four words in the verse 002:149.

  • a) The word وِّجۡهَةٌ (Wij-ha-toon) means a person’s attention, countenance, determined mind, face, focus, ideal, intent, mission, sole purpose or total endeavor. All, entire, sole, total or whole attention to his single purpose of life. Goal in a pre-occupied mind. Clear-cut closing settlement one sets up for himself exclusively. Dominant thought and pursuit of a sole objective. Ultimate end-result object towards to which one is drawn. Direction one seeks and pursues at all costs. Destination. Destined goal. Destiny.
  • b) The word هُو (Ho-wa) refers to who: man who is focused OR ‘Allah who turns him.’
  • c) The word مُوَلِّيۡ (Mo-wul-lee) means to ‘achieve or arrive, attain or turn, etc.’ Is it ‘He, the man, will eventually succeed in reaching and arriving there” (M M Pikthall)? OR Is it Allah Who ‘will turn him, the man, in the direction destined for him’ (Ahmad Zindan).
  • d) The word الۡخَيۡرٰتِؕ (Ul-khai-raat) indicates man’s actions like good deeds and happy and pleasant acts, OR values like appreciating things that hold prospects of a better and improved prize, and comparatively superior noble goals, or moral virtues at their apex.

A commentary titled The Holy Qor-aan – The Most Read Book In The World has given a reasonable explanation of one view.   “In Trillions of disputes, cases and controversies the judges and jurists, and in academic situation the academia and critics have interpreted and extrapolated its Commandments and Prohibitions in all kinds of legal and social issues, spiritual and temporal environments, personal and familial matters.” But there are other views too.

The permutations and combinations of meanings of all above created many possibilities.   One of those possibilities that exceed over 65,000 when mathematically calculated is the answer.   Whether God preordained man’s life or empowered him to change it per his choice is one answer.   It is the disagreement in answering the above that has produced the right guidance for mankind.   The Almighty God has created every human being for a given purpose and not in vain (003:192).   Everyone is responsible for his actions (006:165), and that rule has been repeated several times.   The Holy Qor-aan makes man’s relation with his God the most important in religious matters.   And the law where one chooses to live binds him to obey it and to live in peace in temporal life.

The most logical meanings of the verse are thus very simple.   Everyone has a purpose of life, is given choices and exhorted to excel in virtuous conduct.   It appears illogical there is anybody who has a pre-set bad destiny to which God drives him.   The Tuq-dee-r (pre-ordained destiny) is known to be moved with a human Tud-bee-r (plan).   The plan provided in 002:046 and 002:154 is to seek Allah’s help and guidance with persistent prayers.

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Islam – 207 – Translations With Different Ideas

Posted on November 28, 2015 by Abid

ISLAM – 207

 

Translations With Different Ideas

 

The Holy Qor-aan brought Islsaam (see our Commentary Islam-101) and guaranteed it to remain intact (015:10).  Despite untold number of translations, cool complements, adverse criticism, and fabricated frivolous falsehoods, the Holy Qor-aan has not changed.

Translators’ mastery over English vocabulary often induced them to translate the Arabic of the Holy Qor-aan into flowery English, supplanting the original meaning with their own ideas. For example, in Verse 079:032, a reference to rain water was translated by an author into the ‘moisture and pasture.’

Elsewhere, the counter-concepts of wickedness and righteousness have been translated as ‘sins and piety,’ ‘wrongs and right,’ ‘the bad and the good,’ ‘weaknesses and strength,’ ‘evils and virtue’ as laid out in our Note to the verse 091:009.

A translator’s choice of a word, phrase or idea will remain open to critique by others, although even embellished translations must be construed as the best effort done in good faith to convey what the original text really meant.

“A translator’s task … is extremely difficult. He has to do with highly mystical symbols expressed in elliptical language suitable for mysticism, and he has to render them in another language with words of precision intelligible to readers. It is therefore necessary for him to put in part of the Commentary in the Translation in such cases.” A Yusuf Ali’s translation Note 5916.

Many translations of the Arabic words to English equivalents are distinctly different.  An example is how the words in وَاِذَا النُّفُوۡسُ زُوِّجَتۡ  ‘081:008  were translated and then explained.  Was ‘men will be united’ best translated and illustrated by the formation of a ‘United Nation? What if they got ‘together’ in great numbers by easier travels in ships, planes, cars and trains? Could that be a fill of the forecast if men ‘gathered’ in humongous concerts and conferences? Will millions visiting Moslem Hajis in Mecca or Hindu Yatries on the Ganges banks qualify?

This site has chosen to side-step all attempts to answer the above difficult questions. Instead our word-by-word translation should enable a reader to make those determinations.   

M Muhammad Ali translated the verse 081:008 as “When men are united'” and in Note #2674 explained: “One of the greatest achievement of the modern civilization … Time is not far … when the whole world will be united and may become as a single nation.” A similar sentiment is expressed in many other translations as well. But Dr Khan has said, “Souls are joined with their bodies – the good with the good and the bad with the bad.”

The following part of our Note 081:008b  sheds light on this from an angle that currently has heated debates.

The key word زُوِّجَتۡ is generally used to express the matrimonial ties between a man and a woman. One example of such use is creating pairs consisting of a male and a female stated in 078:009. It is no extraordinary event for man and woman to marry to procreate the life as is done since Adam. Traditional marriage is hardly the type of a catastrophic extraordinary event told in other verses. The abomination of same-sex marriage is of that kind although legalized now in some countries. Almost all Scriptures denounced those who openly practiced the evil (007:082) thing in the past. The Prophet Lot was sent to end the immorality acquiesced by those people by warning them first. But the community persisted with its life-style and continued it until they annihilated themselves. The same-sex humans licensed as husband and wife is by no means the natural way to procreate. What makes sense for the continuation of human race is procreation of life by man and woman.

And then there are several other formations. Like nations forming consortiums such as the League of Nations and United Nations. Or, countries creating regional defense packets like NATO, CENTO and SEATO. Or, foreign invasions organized by creating multi-national task forces and alliances. Or, nations marrying and merging into each other before divorcing and separating like Syria did with Egypt or East Pakistan turned into Bangla Desh.

Illustrated above is just one verse which has been given distinct extrapolations in honest translations. But different translations of the same Arabic words, phrases and whole verses do confuse readers. There is no exception whether that reader is a genuine seeker of the Truth or a highly inimical critic. An uneducated Moslem is in the same boat as any other not familiar with vast Moslems’ literature. Even educated Moslems lazily prefer following their indoctrination over personally learning afresh. Those not equipped to become well-versed on their own have to follow what had been said earlier. Some scholars unwittingly fall to the political expediency, sectarian biases, even personal agendas. Resulting confusion is natural, particularly when one work is put against other for a comparison. Several examples of the difference in opinions are verses like 078:039, 079:044, and the following.

a. 078:013 shows the word شِدَادًا extrapolated multifariously in different translations such as ‘mighty heavens’, ‘firmaments’, ‘strong heavens’, ‘strong heavenly bodies of the solar system’, ‘major planets of the solar system of which sun is the center’, or ‘seven stages of spiritual development of man’, ‘ways by adding ‘Paradise’ as the 7th, the other six are the spiritual stages of the growth of Believers’, and ‘the major planets of the solar system.’

b. 079:002 detailed in our Commentary titled as The Callers to Allah.

c. 081:024 shows translators differing as to whom the pronoun هُ (hoo = him) has referred.

  • Him’ refers to the Almighty God – M Zafrulla Khan
  • ‘Him’ refers to ‘Himself’ ( صَاحِبُكُمۡ = your companion) the Holy Prophet s.a.w – M M Pickthall, Allamah Nooruddin and M Muhammad Ali.
  • ‘Him’ refers to the angel “Jibrail (Gabriel)” – Dr Khan, Dr Al-Hilali and N J Dawood.
  • As ‘It’ it refers to the ‘Glorious future of Islam,” or as ‘Him’ … “He saw himself in the distant East in the person of the Promised Messiah.” Malik Ghulam Farid

d. 082:002 detailed in our Commentary titled as The Interruptions to a Speaker.

e. 084:020. The word تَرۡكَبُنَّ (Tur-ka-boon-na = Pass on) is translated in opposite ways.

  • Moving upwards – conveyed by ‘ascending, developing, evolving, growing or improving into next better stage.’
  • Moving downwards – conveyed by ‘deteriorating down to the next lower stage’ based upon the two verses that follow this verse – Several translations.
  • Moving sideways – conveyed by ‘pass on’ that covered both sides.

The Holy Qor-aan has been and will forever remain safe and protected, unaffected and far above any impact by different translations whether friendly errors or inimical assaults.

 

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