From: glennd@StarConn.com (Glenn Davis)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic
Subject: Re: 2 interpretations
Date: 10 Apr 92 19:23:57 GMT
Organization: Starnet-Public Access UNIX--Los Altos, CA  415-949-3133

From apple!hoqaa.att.com!aj Fri Apr 10 08:12:39 1992
To: glennd@StarConn.com

To: glennd@StarConn.com
Subject: Re: 2 interpretations
----------

= Article 10116 of soc.culture.arabic:
= Path: cbnewsi!att!att!rutgers!ukma!asuvax!mcdphx!udc!motcsd!starnet!glennd
= From: glennd@StarConn.com (Glenn Davis)
= Newsgroups: soc.culture.arabic
= Subject: A question on 2 interpretations of the Holy Qur'an
= Message-ID: <1992Apr6.044533.2522@StarConn.com>
= Date: 6 Apr 92 04:45:33 GMT
= Organization: Starnet-Public Access UNIX--Los Altos, CA  415-949-3133
= Lines: 31
= 
= 
= I recently downloaded the English interpretation of the Holy Qur'an from
= through.ugcs.caltech.edu, and I noticed some differences between this
= interpretation by M.H. Shakir (Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc.) and the
= interpretation by N.J. Dawood (Penguin Books 1990).
= 
= Could an Arabic speaker please tell me which interpretation of this portion of
= Surah Al-Naba Chapter 78 is more accurate?
= 
= By Shakir:
= 
= <  31. Surely for those who guard (against evil) is achievement,
= < 
= <  32. Gardens and vineyards,
= < 
= <  33. And those showing freshness of youth, equals in age,
= < 
= <  34. And a pure cup.
= 
= 
= By Dawood:
= 
= >  31. As for the righteous, they shall surely triumph.
= >  
= >  32. Theirs shall be gardens and vineyards,
= >  
= >  33. And high-bosomed maidens for companions:
= >  
= >  34. A truly overflowing cup.
= 
= Thank you.
= 
= 

Glenn,

I have seen several replies to your email, but none seemed to address the
question that you asked. Finally, there was one yesterday that said that
Dawood's is the more literal translation in this case.

I do not dispute that. I would like to point out, however, that a more
literal translation may indeed be misguided and less accurate to the
true meaning of the verse. Let me explain using a simple example; If we
were to translate the expression "Tete a Tete" from French to English,
the literal translation would be "head to head". This gives the impression
of a combat situation or squaring off. That is wrong in this case. The more
accurate and less literal translation would be "face to face" which comes
much closer in connotation to the actual French expression.

With that in mind, I will try to explain the accurate meaning of the verses
and let you be the judge as to which translation comes closer.

31. Verily for the righteous(*) they shall receive great rewards:
32. Gardens and Grapevines(**);
33. Companions of equal age(***);
34. And a cup full (to the brim)(***).

(*) the Arabic word is so rich that we can not find an exact replica for it
    in English. Righteous comes close, but it is more than that, it includes
    a whole attitude which can be explained as fear of God. Essentially,
    it speaks of those who believe in God and his prophets and words, and
    do not disobey God intentionally, and seek forgiveness for their
    wrongdoings from God, and carry out his commands. It speaks of those
    who submit themselves to the will of God (this latter being the meaning
    of the Arabic word Islam).

(**) The reason I did not chose vineyards is because it connotes wine to me.
    This connotation is not found in the Arabic text. The Arabic word is
    actually 'grapes' in plural, and it symbolizes and abundance of all kinds
    of fruits to the heart's content.

(***) For verses 33 & 34 I use the translation from Yusuf Ali. Even though
    Arabic is my native tong, much of the rich vocabulary used in the Qur'an
    is beyond my grasp. That is unfortunate, but Just as an English native
    needs a good English dictionary when they read Shakespeare, Arabic
    speaking people need a good Arabic dictionary when they read the
    Qur'an which has no comparable work in any other language (for Muslims
    believe it is the very words of God). Currently I have no good Arabic
    dictionaries, Any suggestions?

As you can see now, verses 32, 33, & 34 give examples of the great rewards
that await the righteous people in the afterlife which will be eternal.

If you are interested in more detail, I have a detailed explanation of the Holy
Qur'an in Arabic which I can read to get more detail about what is meant by
the verses above. But for now I send you this first.

Incidentally, just any Arabic speaking person is not actually allowed to
translate the Holy Qur'an to another language if they are to get at the
intended meaning. For some verses can mean several things at once, and
only a Qur'anic scholar can actually explain what is meant there. For
others to just think up their own interpretations is a grave sin in Islam.
Because they would be attributing to God that which He did not say.

May Allah (SWT) forgive me any unintentional slip up in this message.
Ahmad Jrad