Wa Alaikum Salam  

Not really sure what you mean by new Tafsir and a new literal translation.

"Alif-Lam-Meem This is the Book wherein there is no doubt." � how more literal than that can one get.

Maybe you can explain with an example.

There are groups of scholars reviewing and revising the Tafsirs, like we have the Commentary of Yusuf Ali reviewed and printed in Al-Madinah Saudi Arabia by a group of scholars there.

Salams

As I understand it, many of the meanings of the Holy Qur'an were established a long time ago by scholars.  Even though a word could have many meanings those scholars chose one of those meanings and it became standard.

Example... the infamous 4:34

Supposedly this verse says that if a man has suspicion of his wife he can not only admonish her, desert her, but he can resort to beating her.

As I have read, the word always known as "beat" in this verse has many many meanings and some of those other meanings are employed in the rest of the Qur'an.  It's even more suspicious that after translating this word as "to beat" the translators commentary says someone should never resort to it - as if apologizing for Allah.

But Allah was not wrong.  Whomever said this word should have the meaning "to beat" is wrong.  I believe the phonetic arabic word is "Daraba".  And I believe in this notorious verse it really was meant to mean divorce, or to strike someone from your life.

However, none of the new translators have ever looked at this verse or any of the others since those old scholars said this is this and this means that.  No one is rediscovering the literal meaning of the Qur'an.  Yes, there are some phrases that are of no question, that are so easy to translate that no translator could be mistaken.  But there are some like 4:34 that have commentators telling us something different from what they translated.

Also, since Qur'an translations are written by individuals we get only individual perspectives in the commentary.  Not to mention the fact that one translator is of one culture, whereas another is from a completely different culture.  Perhaps one translator is part of a sect, maybe he is too muslim, maybe he is a non-muslim.  And why is there no women translators?

Qur'an Translation Innovation seemed to stop in the mid of the 1900's.

Does that help?

As Salamu Alaikum

Firstly I would not call any Ayat from the Glorious Qur'an infamous, because this word comes with many meanings as well and you used one them later in your post Astaghfirullah!

Do you know Arabic or are you studying Arabic. Of course most words have different means but the scholars have chosen the one which best fits the text. Remember a translation is but a translation. You have pointed out that the scholars are individuals and from different places and cultures and yet they use the same meaning. Did you ever wonder why? No collaborating here. I don't think the scholars are being apologetic when explaining an issue or that Ayat.

So for the example you have chosen Daraba which meaning you will use. For argument sake how will you translate that Ayat into new literal translation to suit modern times. Everyone today desires to modernize Islam so why not modernize the translation of Glorious Qur'an as well. Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim.

Qur'an Translation Innovation seemed to stop in the mid of the 1900's. � everything has being said and done so there is not need for further innovation.

The only revisions that are being made to suit modern times is changing Thy Lord to your Lord, Thee to you etc, words like receiveth to receives etc.

Wa Alaikum Salam  

Friend,

The translation is infamous.  Of course not the real truth it attempts to translate.

Yes, all the individual authors are different yet all use the same word because they are using the same ancient tafseers.

I wish I could learn Arabic and read what is truely there, but while that is beyond my reach I am going to demand that people use their heads and hearts.  My heart says that no one should have a God-Given right to beat me for anything that I do.  If I ever to harm to myself or others or my community then justice will come from Allah and those around me should forbid me to perform harm around them - they should push me away, strike me from their lives.  This seems logical to me as prompts me to believe in this theory about the word Daraba in this verse.

I have learned of new translators who wish for the Qur'an to be the center of Islam yet again.  They are not only modernizing the speech but are trying to bring a better translation into the world.  This badly translated verse is one for the few things they want to change.  They believe in this same theory.

I want to know if other average muslims think these reformer scholars are nuts or not.  In my heart and my mind I believe they are doing justice for the sake of Allah by showing a different meaning - a meaning that needs no apology, no commentary that says "don't really do this".

2 new translations to come will be by

Edip Yuksel

& Yahiya Emerick

Both these people believe this verse and a few others were not understood with a full heart and mind.

By the way, thanks for discussing this with me.  I find that few people want to talk about the Qur'an anymore but it's center of my life.  I feel a great desire to show it's glory to the world, yet I feel the English speaking world can't see the glory through the inept translation.

Assalamualaikum,

   As you know the Holy Qur'an has been translated to most of the languages in the world.  In most of the cases, they were translations by single persons whose dedication to Islam resulted in Qur'anic translations that have made it easier for many people to world over to connect with Islam.  However, humans do and can make mistakes.  God reward them for their efforts.  I believe organized and scholarly translation projects if done carefully and with highest regard would be of value.  The reason why it has not been a priority, is that learning and understanding Arabic has been the way of teaching Islam since the time of the Caliphs.  Moreover, believers that understand Arabic are closest to Allah's Word then those who learn a filtered version of the Qur'an through translation.  

Anything correct is from Allah, anything incorrect is from me.

wasalam,

-Jawad 

As Salamu Alaikum

The Glorious Qur'an is also the central point of my life. Alhamdulillah

I personally don't feel anything wrong with any of the translations of the Qur'an that I have studied. Insha Allah I am not looking for any modernizing or literal means.

In my opinion there are many people who regard themselves as scholars and changing the rules and Fatawas to suit today's times and moods Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim.

They sit on their behind and click a mouse and think they are better in knowledge than those who traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to verify one Hadith or Fatawa Astaghfirullah!

Insha Allah I will pass on this discussion as the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) was warned us: that one of the sign of the Hour is when religious ignorance will prevail and religious knowledge will be taken away by the death of religious scholars. (Al-Bukhari volume 1 Hadith no 80)

It is better not to talk about these issues without knowledge, that is why sensible avoid these discussions.

Wa Alaikum Salam  

Wa Alaikum Salam

Sori if you misunderstood what I said.

I did not mean that you should not discussion this topic I was commenting on your statement:

"I find that few people want to talk about the Qur'an anymore"

when I said that the sensible avoid these discussions. I have being online for a very long time, and I have seen how quickly fitnah takes the place of healthy discussion.

That was all I meant.

In my opinion if you are really sincere about learning and researching Islam, refer to the well-known Tafsirs and Insha Allah, Allah will open your heart to the beauty of Islam.

Sori if I offended you in any way.

Salams

As Salamu Alaikum  

I would just like to clear up a point.

Before you misunderstand my meaning " if you are really sincere about learning and researching Islam" let me explain. Your sincerity is something between you and Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala and HE knows best. He is the Best of Judges.

I was reliving my own search for the truth that prompted me to make that statement. I always thought that as long as I prayed 5 times a day, partying etc was okay. I also found many Ayat that did not suit my thinking. I still remember the Ayat about cutting a thief's hand. (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:38 and 39) I used to say if Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala is The Most Merciful then how can He be so cruel. Auzo Billahe minash Shaitanir-Rajim. Astaghfirullah!

Being a non-arabic speaking person I also relied on translations and found fault with this or that translation. Why? I wanted the Glorious Qur'an to suit me and my ideas so I found fault in whatever did not suit me. It was only when I was really sincere in seeking the truth that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala opened my heart and I found those same translations made sense now. The words of those translations are still the same, it was my change of heart and attitude and sincerity that brought me out from the darkness into light.

Insha Allah I pray you will also realize that as long as we are looking within the Glorious Qur'an to suit our purpose, we will not succeed. It is only when we change and make the teaching of the Glorious Qur'an and Sunnah of the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) the central point in our life sincerely seeking the truth Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala brings us out from the darkness to His Light, Peace and Tranquility.

I pray this explanation about my personal experience will remove any doubt you may have that I was referring to your sincerity.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala guide us all to HIS Truth and Bless us with useful knowledge. Ameen!

Salams

Take care

As Salamu Alaikum

Regarding the Ayat about cutting of the hand it is backed by the Sunnah there is no doubt about the meaning/translation of that Ayat in the Glorious Qur'an.

Narrated By 'A'ishah (Radhi Allahu Anha): The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) said, "The hand should be cut off for stealing a quarter of a Dinar."

Narrated By 'A'ishah (Radhi Allahu Anhu): The Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) cut off the hand of a lady, and that lady used to come to me, and I used to convey her message to the Prophet and she repented, and her repentance was sincere.  (both are recorded in Al-Bukhari)

And Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala tells us time and time again in the Glorious Qur'an that although He is the Most Merciful, He is also Strict in Punishment. An Example:

Help you one another in righteousness and piety, but help you not one another in sin and transgression, fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment. (Surah Al Ma�idah 5: 2 part Ayat)

Like I pointed out earlier the Prophet (Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam) was warned us: that one of the sign of the Hour is when religious ignorance will prevail and religious knowledge will be taken away by the death of religious scholars. (Al-Bukhari volume 1 Hadith no 80)

So I don't pay much heed to what the new scholars are saying.

May open our hearts to the truth and guide us to His Straight way. Ameen

Wa Alaikum Salam 

Allah may be swift and severe in his punishment but I see little of the Qur'an telling us to judge others and pass out punishment so very severe.  Isn't Allah the most wise Judge, isn't His punishment that He hands out the most deserving and fair?  He asks of us to bring out that which is good and forbid the evil, as the phrase seems to go.  But I guess this is just how I feel.  I feel evil can be forbidden without resorting to severity of punishment.  We humans are not perfect and neither is out judgment.

I do not want to loose the knowledge of the old scholars but I do not believe they were the ONLY wisdom of Islam.

We should build bridges between the old and the new or we will always seem like we are living in the past and not moving forward as I hear the Prophet (pbuh) had always wanted.

Thanks for pointing some things out to me.  I still feel strange about accepting such acts I feel are cruel.  Everything else about Islam is so beautiful and so perfect.  Those bits just seem like horrible flaws that are in such contrast to the rest that there must be something wrong there... there must be something mistaken or untrue.

I feel Islam urges people to evolve beyond such actions. 

As Salamu Alaikum

I don't have much to add except :

I do not want to loose the knowledge of the old scholars but I do not believe they were the ONLY wisdom of Islam.

I agree with this statement. All I am trying to do is warn you not to fall into the trap, that I fell into before Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala guide me to the real beauty of Islam.

May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala guide us all to the truth. Ameen!

Wa Alaikum Salam