People who strive to learn it!
Therein lies the problem - not every Muslims is given the opportunity to learn Arabic.
My friends, this so called problem has not prevented Islam from being learnt and understood in Arabic for almost 1500 around the globe.
Islam has been perfected, and you will finde each iota preserved from the day it has been revealed.
My 100th post!
Anyone heard about the man who committed 99 murders?
Translation can be pretty close and if there are more than one translation then in the end the final translation will be very close. There are many translations in English (by scholars of Islam) on the internet and most of the time they are pretty similar..i have read them for comparision purposes.
Words like Mamma, Chacha have no camparable one word in English are good example (althougth they can be explained in more than one word e.g. mother's brother etc.) but they don't change the basic meaning of a verse.
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Originally posted by Rani:
**Translation can be pretty close and if there are more than one translation then in the end the final translation will be very close. There are many translations in English (by scholars of Islam) on the internet and most of the time they are pretty similar..i have read them for comparision purposes.
Words like Mamma, Chacha have no camparable one word in English are good example (althougth they can be explained in more than one word e.g. mother's brother etc.) but they don't change the basic meaning of a verse. **
[/quote]
Very close is not the same. The wine referred to in the Bible was not alcoholic, but in it's interepretations people assumed it was.
God chose Arabic as the language to convey his final message. This is obviously because he thought that it is the best language to accurately convey his message. No other lanuage can be as precise as arabic in conveying God's message, so if the Koran is recited in another language we are actually changing God's message, and this ofcourse is not premitted.
However, it is also important for us to understand what God is saying, and hence the TRANSLATION OF THE MEANINGS of the Koran are widely available in all languages. Remember the Koran cannot be translated into any other language, because then it wouldnt be accurate, but the MEANING of the Koran can be translated for us to understand the Koran.
Also, the Arabic used in the Koran is a classical style of Arabic, its PURE Arabic. Most modern Arabic speakers don't even understand themselves the Arabic in the Koran, because the Arabic in the Koran is not used anymore, much like Shakespearen english!
So well all need translations of the meanings if the koran to understand it, but in prayer we have to recite the Koran in its EXACT as it is in the arabic Koran, as we don't want to change the meanings do we!
Everything changes but you.
Translations do convey the basic meaning....the essence of what is being said.
Those of you who are crying 'wolf' in regards to the fact that the Qu'ran is meant to be read in Arabic, translations of the Qu'ran evolved for the specific reason that not everyone is blessed with the opportunity or maybe..perhaps in some cases even the ability to learn arabic, but whatever the case, provisions for those people ARE made by the way of translations.
But translations do not capture the true beauty of the Qu'ran, as most widely read people quickly realize, though translations do convey the basics, the basics are not everything and much can be lost in the process. It is said that the Qu'ran perfected Arabic.
Someone made a point of saying that the Arabic of the Qu'ran is not the same as the colloquial arabic most arabs use today. That’s true, even the pronounciation of different letters, is different. A friend of mine, an egyptian who was born and raised in egypt, who spoke, read, wrote arabic, did not know how to read the Qu'ran with tajweed, ie.proper enunciation until she was twentyfour, furthermore the person who taught her correct tajweed was not an arab but a pakistani woman. I guess my point is don’t assume so much:)
In my opinion, translations are obviously needed so that those of us who don’t understand arabic can interpret the word of Allah swt, but we must not let the presence of readily available translations act as a crutch, preventing us from learning the language of the qu'ran, the language in which it was revealed because the keyword there is 'interpret' and afterall that is what translations are, some are good, some are not so good, some are great, but in the end translations are only the interpretations of the reader—the translator into another language.
And those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that the (Qu'ran) is the Truth from thy Lord and that they may believe therein and their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it: for verily Allah is the Guide of those who believe to the Straight Way.(22:54)
[This message has been edited by Girl from Quraysh (edited December 22, 2000).]
As-Salamun-Alaikum
Allow me to explain to you why you can't 'recite' The Holy Quran in other languages. This is because when you translate Holy Quran in other languages you dont do exact word by word translations but rather you summarize whats being said. By doing this Quran loses its pattern and rhythym of recitation. Therefore you can definitely READ the translation but you can't recite it.
Peace and blessings be on Muhammad and his Ahl-Al-Bayt(AS)
Wa-Salamun-Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi-Wa-Barakatu
[This message has been edited by Salman- (edited December 22, 2000).]
My intention in starting this thread is not to demean Muslims or Islam, but point out a simple fact.
When the man on the street can't understand what his religion is saying, the priests will get more powerful.
In this context, I gave the example of Christianity which got more democratized since the Bible is translated into English.It was in Latin before.
Also Gutenburg's invetion of the printing press helped.