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Size: 240 mm
x 160 mm
Hard bound
Total pages: 1256
Index: 112 pages
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A
Comparison of Different Translations |
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Not
all translations of the Qur-an are 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
39
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Yusuf Ali:
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O ye who believe!
When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations
in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write
down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse
to write: as God Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs
the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord God, and not diminish
aught of what he owes. If they party liable is mentally deficient,
or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully,
and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two
men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so
that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses
should not refuse when they are called on (For evidence). Disdain
not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether
it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of God, More suitable
as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves
but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves,
there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take
witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe
nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness
in you. So fear God; For it is Good that teaches you. And God is well
acquainted with all things. If ye are on a journey, and cannot find
a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the purpose). And if
one of you deposits a thing on trust with another, let the trustee
(faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him Fear his Lord conceal
not evidence; for whoever conceals it, - his heart is tainted with
sin. And God knoweth all that ye do. |
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Zohurul Hoque:
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O you
who believe! when you transact a loan-transaction for a fixed time,
then write it down. And let a scribe put it down between you equitably;
nor should a scribe refuse to write since Allah has taught him, so
let him write down. And let him upon whom is the liability dictate,
and let him revere Allah, his Rabb, and let him not depreciate anything
from it. But if he upon whom is the liability is lacking understanding,
or is infirm, or has no capability of dictating by himself, then let
his attorney dictate equitably. And call on to witness two witnesses
from among your males; but if there be not two males, then a male
and two females out of those whom you choose to be witnesses, so that
if one of the two be in error then one of them may be able to remind
the other. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are summoned.
And do not neglect to write it down,- whether it be small or large,-
along with its due time. This is more equitable in the sight of Allah,
and more upright for evidence, and is the best that you do not doubt,
except when it be a ready merchandise which you exchange among yourselves,
in that case there is no blame on you if you do not write it. And
have witnesses when you sell to one another; and let not a scribe
be harmed nor a witness. And if you do then that is indeed a sin on
you. And revere Allah; for Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knower
of all things. |
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T. J. Irving:
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You who believe,
whenever you contract a debt for a stated period, write it down. Let
some literate person write [what goes on] between you properly; no
literate person should refuse to write it down. Just as God has taught
him, so let him write it down, and let the borrower dictate. May he
heed God and not omit any part of it. If the borrower is feeble-minded
or incapacitated or cannot manage to dictate himself, then let his
guardian dictate it in all fairness, and seek out two witnesses from
among your men-folk to act as witnesses. If there are not two men
[available], then one man and two women [may serve] as witnesses from
anyone you may approve of, so that if either of them should slip up,
then the other woman may remind the other. Witnesses must not refuse
[to serve] when they are called upon, nor try to get out of writing
anything down whether it is small or large, along with its due date.
Such [procedure] is more equitable so far as God is concerned and
it makes for more valid testimony, as well as reducing the chances
for doubt; unless it is some transaction handled on the spot that
you pass around among yourselves, in which case it will not be held
against you for not writing it down. Call in witnesses whenever you
engage in trade, and let no literate man nor any witness feel obligated
if you do so; that would be immoral on your part. Heed God, for God
teaches you! God is Aware of everything. |
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T.U. Hilali-M. Khan:
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O you who believe!
When you contract a debt for a fixed period, write it down. Let a
scribe write it down in justice between you. Let not the scribe refuse
to write as Allâh has taught him, so let him write. Let him (the debtor)
who incurs the liability dictate, and he must fear Allâh, his Lord,
and diminish not anything of what he owes. But if the debtor is of
poor understanding, or weak, or is unable himself to dictate, then
let his guardian dictate in justice. And get two witnesses out of
your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man
and two women, such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of
them (two women) errs, the other can remind her. And the witnesses
should not refuse when they are called on (for evidence). You should
not become weary to write it (your contract), whether it be small
or big, for its fixed term, that is more just with Allâh; more solid
as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves,
save when it is a present trade which you carry out on the spot among
yourselves, then there is no sin on you if you do not write it down.
But take witnesses whenever you make a commercial contract. Let neither
scribe nor witness suffer any harm, but if you do (such harm), it
would be wickedness in you. So be afraid of Allâh; and Allâh teaches
you. And Allâh is the All-Knower of each and everything. |
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M. Pickthall:
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O ye who believe!
when ye contract a debt for a fixed term, record it in writing. Let
a scribe record it in writing between you in (terms of) equity. No
scribe should refuse to write as Allah hath taught him, so let him
write; and let him who incurreth the debt dictate, and let him observe
his duty to Allah, his Lord, and diminish naught therof. But if he
who oweth the debt is of low understanding, or weak, or unable himself
to dictate, then let the guardian of his interest dictate in (terms
of) equity. And call to witness, from among your men, two witnesses.
And if two men be not (at hand), then a man and two women, of such
as ye approve as witnesses, so that if the one erreth (through forgetfulness)
the other will remember. Aand the witnesses must not refuse when they
are summoned. Be not averse to writing down (the contract)whether
it be small or great, with (record of) the term thereof. That is more
equitable in the sight of Allah and more sure for testimony, and the
best way of avoiding doubt between you; save only in the case when
it is actual merchandise which ye transfer among yourselves from hand
to hand. In that case it is no sin for you if ye write it not. And
have witnesses when ye sell one to another, and let no harm be done
to scribe or witness. If ye do (harm to them) lo! it is a sin in you.
Observe your duty to Allah. Allah is teaching you. And Allah is knower
of all things. |
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M.H. Shakir:
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O you who believe!
when you deal with each other in contracting a debt for a fixed time,
then write it down; and let a scribe write it down between you with
fairness; and the scribe should not refuse to write as Allah has taught
him, so he should write; and let him who owes the debt dictate, and
he should be careful of (his duty to) Allah, his Lord, and not diminish
anything from it; but if he who owes the debt is unsound in understanding,
or weak, or (if) he is not able to dictate himself, let his guardian
dictate with fairness; and call in to witness from among your men
two witnesses; but if there are not two men, then one man and two
women from among those whom you choose to be witnesses, so that if
one of the two errs, the second of the two may remind the other; and
the witnesses should not refuse when they are summoned; and be not
averse to writing it (whether it is) small or large, with the time
of its falling due; this is more equitable in the sight of Allah and
assures greater accuracy in testimony, and the nearest (way) that
you may not entertain doubts (afterwards), except when it is ready
merchandise which you give and take among yourselves from hand to
hand, then there is no blame on you in not writing it down; and have
witnesses when you barter with one another, and let no harm be done
to the scribe or to the witness; and if you do (it) then surely it
will be a transgression in you, and be careful of (your duty) to Allah,
Allah teaches you, and Allah knows all things. |
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Yusuf Ali:
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If ye are on a journey,
and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the
purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another,
Let the trustee (Faithfully) discharge His trust, and let him fear
his Lord. Conceal not evidence; for whoever conceals it,- His heart
is tainted with sin. And God Knoweth all that ye do. |
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Zohurul Hoque:
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And
if you be on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, then a mortgage
taken into possession. But if some of you trust the others, then let
him who is trusted pay back his trust; and let him revere Allah, his
Rabb. And do not conceal the evidence; for whoever conceals it, then
he is indeed wicked at his heart. And Allah is Knower of what you
do. |
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T. J. Irving:
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If you are on a
journey and do not find any literate person, then a deposit may be
withheld as a lien. If one of you entrusts (something to] another,
the one who has been entrusted with it should hand over his security
and he should heed God his Lord and not hide any testimony. Anyone
who hides it has a vicious heart. God is Aware of anything you do!
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T.U. Hilali-M. Khan:
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And if you are on
a journey and cannot find a scribe, then let there be a pledge taken
(mortgaging); then if one of you entrust the other, let the one who
is entrusted discharge his trust (faithfully), and let him be afraid
of Allâh, his Lord. And conceal not the evidence for he, who hides
it, surely his heart is sinful. And Allâh is All-Knower of what you
do. |
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M. Pickthall:
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If ye be on a journey
and cannot find a scribe, then a pledge in hand (shall suffice). And
if one of you entrusteth to another let him who is trusted deliver
up that which is entrusted to him (according to the pact between them)
and let him observe his duty to Allah his Lord. Hide not testimony.
He who hideth it, verily his heart is sinful. Allah is Aware of what
ye do. |
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M.H. Shakir:
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And if you are upon
a journey and you do not find a scribe, then (there may be) a security
taken into possession; but if one of you trusts another, then he who
is trusted should deliver his trust, and let him be careful (of his
duty to) Allah, his Lord; and do not conceal testimony, and whoever
conceals it, his heart is surely sinful; and Allah knows what you
do. |
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