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A
Comparison of Different Translations |
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Not
all translation of the Qur-an is the same. Not all translations match the
Arabic Qur-an in rhythm of text, depth of meaning, syntax of sentences,
word usage and adherence to the divine words. While some translations are
truly loyal to actual Arabic words, some are liberal in bringing out the
meaning of the verses. Some translations are truly academic in nature, while
others are informative in their objective. Some translators disliked strict
loyalty to each and every Arabic words, for fear of obscuring the inherent
meaning; while others were vehemently loyal to the revelation, yet succeeded
in conveying the meaning. Some translators enjoyed slight liberty with choice
of words, while others guarded themselves from what could very well be interpolation
of thoughts. Below are sample of 6 translations of Surah Baqarah, arranged
verse by verse. The purpose is here is to provide an interesting platform
to compare the translations rather than to identify a correct or incorrect
translation. Translators names are arranged in alphabetic order by their
last name. The translators are Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Zohurul Hoque, T.
J. Irving, T.U. Hilali & M. Khan, M. Pickthall, and M.S. Shakir.
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Section
35
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Section 35
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Yusuf Ali:
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Hast thou not Turned
thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because
God had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth
life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But
it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then
cause him to rise from the West." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance)
rejected faith. Nor doth God Give guidance to a people unjust. |
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Zohurul Hoque:
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Have
you not considered him who disputed with Ibrahim concerning his Rabb,
because Allah had given him the kingdom? Behold! Ibrahim said: "My
Rabb is He Who causes life and Who causes death." He said: "I can
cause to live and cause to die." Ibrahim said: "But Allah surely brings
out the sun from the East, so you bring it from the West." Thus confounded
was he who disbelieved. And Allah does not guide the unjust people.
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T. J. Irving:
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Have you not considered
the person who argued with Abraham about his Lord, concerning whether
God would grant him any control. When Abraham said: "My Lord is the
One Who gives life and bring death;" [the former] said: "I (too) give
life and bring death!" Abraham said: "God brings the sun from the
East, so you bring it from the West." The man who disbelieved was
dumbfounded. God does not guide such wrong-doing folk. |
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T.U. Hilali-M. Khan:
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Have you not looked
at him who disputed with Ibrâhim (Abraham) about his Lord (Allâh),
because Allâh had given him the kingdom? When Ibrâhim (Abraham) said
(to him): "My Lord (Allâh) is He Who gives life and causes death."
He said, "I give life and cause death." Ibrâhim (Abraham) said, "Verily!
Allâh causes the sun to rise from the east; then cause it you to rise
from the west." So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allâh
guides not the people, who are Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.). |
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M. Pickthall:
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Bethink thee of him
who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had
given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth
life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death.
Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do
thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed.
And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. |
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M.H. Shakir:
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Have you not considered
him (Namrud) who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, because Allah
had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim said: My Lord is He who gives
life and causes to die, he said: I give life and cause death. Ibrahim
said: So surely Allah causes the sun to rise from the east, then make
it rise from the west; thus he who disbelieved was confounded; and
Allah does not guide aright the unjust people. |
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Yusuf Ali:
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Or (take) the similitude
of one who passed by a hamlet, all in ruins to its roofs. He said:
"Oh! how shall God bring it (ever) to life, after (this) its death?"
but God caused him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up
(again). He said: "How long didst thou tarry (thus)?" He said: (Perhaps)
a day or part of a day." He said: "Nay, thou hast tarried thus a hundred
years; but look at thy food and thy drink; they show no signs of age;
and look at thy donkey: And that We may make of thee a sign unto the
people, Look further at the bones, how We bring them together and
clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said:
"I know that God hath power over all things." |
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Zohurul Hoque:
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Or the
case of him who passed by a township, and it had fallen over its roofs?
He said: "How will Allah revive this after her death?" Then Allah
brought death upon him for a hundred years, then He raised him up.
He said: "How long have you tarried?" He said: "I have tarried a day
or part of a day." He said: "Of course you have tarried a hundred
years; yet look at your food and your drink, years have not affected
it. And look at your ass! And that We may make you a Sign for mankind.
And look at these bones, how We adjust them, then cover them with
flesh!" Then when it became clear to him, he said: "I know that Allah
is Possessor of power over all things." |
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T. J. Irving:
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Or like the man
who passed by a town whose roofs had caved in. He said: "How will
God revive this following its death?" God let him die for a hundred
years; then raised him up again. He said: "How long have you been
waiting here?" He said: "I've been waiting a day or part of a day."
He said: "Rather you have stayed here a hundred years. Yet look at
your food and drink: they have not yet even become stale! And look
at your donkey. We will grant you it as a sign for mankind. Look how
We set its bones together, then clothe them with flesh." When it was
explained to him. he said: "I know that God is Capable of everything!"
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T.U. Hilali-M. Khan:
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Or like the one
who passed by a town and it had tumbled over its roofs. He said: "Oh!
How will Allâh ever bring it to life after its death?" So Allâh caused
him to die for a hundred years, then raised him up (again). He said:
"How long did you remain (dead)?" He (the man) said: "(Perhaps) I
remained (dead) a day or part of a day". He said: "Nay, you have remained
(dead) for a hundred years, look at your food and your drink, they
show no change; and look at your donkey! And thus We have made of
you a sign for the people. Look at the bones, how We bring them together
and clothe them with flesh". When this was clearly shown to him, he
said, "I know (now) that Allâh is Able to do all things." |
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M. Pickthall:
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Or (bethink thee
of) the like of him who, passing by a township which had fallen into
utter ruin, exclaimed: How shall Allah give this township life after
its death ? And Allah made him die a hundred years, then brought him
back to life. He said: How long hast thou tarried ? (The man) said:
I have tarried a day or part of a day. (He) said: Nay, but thou hast
tarried for a hundred years. Just look at thy food and drink which
have not rotted! Look at thine ass! And, that We may make thee a token
unto mankind, look at the bones, how We adjust them and then cover
them with flesh! And when (the matter) became clear unto him, he said:
I know now that Allah is Able to do all things. |
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M.H. Shakir:
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Or the like of him
(Uzair) who passed by a town, and it had fallen down upon its roofs;
he said: When will Allah give it life after its death? So Allah caused
him to die for a hundred years, then raised him to life. He said:
How long have you tarried? He said: I have tarried a day, or a part
of a day. Said He: Nay! you have tarried a hundred years; then look
at your food and drink-- years have not passed over it; and look at
your ass; and that We may make you a sign to men, and look at the
bones, how We set them together, then clothed them with flesh; so
when it became clear to him, he said: I know that Allah has power
over all things. |
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Yusuf Ali:
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Behold! Abraham
said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." He said:
"Dost thou not then believe?" He said: "Yea! but to satisfy My own
undertaking." He said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to thee;
put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come
to thee (Flying) with speed. Then know that God is Exalted in Power,
Wise." |
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Zohurul Hoque:
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And
behold! Ibrahim said: "My Rabb! show me how You give life to the dead."
He replied: "Do you not yet believe?" He said: "Not that, but in order
to make tranquil my heart." He said: "Take four numbers of birds,
then tame them to respond to you, then put on every hill a portion
of them, then call them, they will come to you swiftly. And know that
Allah is Exalted in Might, most Wise." |
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T. J. Irving:
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When Abraham said:
"My Lord, show me how You revive the dead;" He said: "Why, do you
not believe?" He said: "Of course [I do], but just to set my heart
at ease." He said: "Take four [kinds] of birds and train them to [follow]
you; then place a part of them on every mountain. Then call them;
they will come to you at once. Know that God is Powerful, Wise." |
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T.U. Hilali-M. Khan:
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And (remember) when
Ibrâhim (Abraham) said, "My Lord! Show me how You give life to the
dead." He (Allâh) said: "Do you not believe?" He [Ibrâhim (Abraham)]
said: "Yes (I believe), but to be stronger in Faith." He said: "Take
four birds, then cause them to incline towards you (then slaughter
them, cut them into pieces), and then put a portion of them on every
hill, and call them, they will come to you in haste. And know that
Allâh is All-Mighty, All-Wise." |
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M. Pickthall:
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And when Abraham
said (unto his Lord): My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the
dead, He said: Dost thou not believe ? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask)
in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four
of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part
of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste,
and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise. |
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M.H. Shakir:
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And when Ibrahim
said: My Lord! show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said:
What! and do you not believe? He said: Yes, but that my heart may
be at ease. He said: Then take four of the birds, then train them
to follow you, then place on every mountain a part of them, then call
them, they will come to you flying; and know that Allah is Mighty,
Wise. |
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