Islam - Arabic

There is also another point I would like to add. Most people I know who converted to Islam changed their name in favour for a Muslim name.

The thing I can't understand is that Arabic names existed before Islam. So their Arabic names. The arabic names are translations of prophets names from Hebrew or aramaic. If this is not the case please explain.

If I converted to islam why would I have to change/ or feel that I have to change my name! If the point of changing my name is a sacrifice or submission then why couldn't i change my name to an english equivalant. i.e. Ibrihim - abraham?

I am not judging your religion, just trying to understand!

ChrisNo1 wrote: There is also another point I would like to add. Most people I know who converted to Islam changed their name in favour for a Muslim name. The thing I can't understand is that Arabic names existed before Islam. So their Arabic names. The arabic names are translations of prophets names from Hebrew or aramaic. If this is not the case please explain. If I converted to islam why would I have to change/ or feel that I have to change my name! If the point of changing my name is a sacrifice or submission then why couldn't i change my name to an english equivalant. i.e. Ibrihim - abraham? I am not judging your religion, just trying to understand!

This is a personal preference that reflects the desire to "have a new start." There is absolutely no requirement that one do it, and I know many reverts to Islam who have chosen not to.

ChrisNo1 wrote: If I created a book for cooking with receipes and it was translated, I might not be able to get a 'Pure' word for word translation but the receipe is still there. Surely if the Qu'ran is taught in native tongues the receipe is still there!

That's not a fair comparison. a recipe is a rather simplistic affair. the language of the Holy Qur'an is very subtle; additionally, word formation in Arabic is quite different than in English. for example, there is no past, present, or future tense in arabic. there is also a voice called the "medio-passive," which is halfway between the active and passive voice in english.

Auzubillahi minash shaitan ir rajeem,

Bismillah ir rehman ir rahim

ChrisNo1 wrote: If I created a book for cooking with receipes and it was translated, I might not be able to get a 'Pure' word for word translation but the receipe is still there. Surely if the Qu'ran is taught in native tongues the receipe is still there!

Dear Chris,

Quran is not a book of recepies or just straightforward/mathematical formulas.

It depends on the nature of the text that is being translated. Do you expect poetry to be translated without loss of meaning?

For that matter, even some jokes cannot create the complete desired effect when they are brought from one language to another.

There are some laws and rules in Quran, which i believe can be conveyed, in other languages, as there lived scholars int all times who have studied and written about these in their languages. However the spiritual aspects cannot be transported completely in English or any other language, without having a text alongside to explain it further.

Quran is the book that has been translated in maximum number of languages. This is so, because it is not in the capacity or means of everyone to learn arabic, and then understand the Quran. However, a translated text, helps a great deal, and solves the purpose.

So it is not that doing a  translation or reading it for the purpose of guidance is a totally redundant exercise. However for those who wish to and desire to understand the book in its complete depths, it is advisable to learn arabic and then study The Book, as it was revealed. It needs to be mentioned however, that understanding of Quran takes a lot of exercise and effort, just reading the original or the translation cannot be sufficient. it can help in reflection, but for a deeper understanding, one needs to "study" the Book. 

Peace,

Nausheen