The English Quran by Free Islam

[AhmedBahgat]

Salam all


My web site free-islam.com has started a project of translating the Quran into English, the reason our community descided to do so is simply to get the right Quran message for those young Muslims who are mislead on many non Islamic web sites like faithfreedom.org as well Islamic web sites thst distorts the message of the Quran like the Quran aloners web site free-minds.org, they prey on the ignorance of those young Muslims who donlt speak Arabic, anlother reaosn is simply there is no accurate English translation that I have seen in 40 years, therefore Free Islam English translation is going to be as accurate as possible with cross referrencing all identical words to make sure it will be translated the same, I started the project a couple of days ago and managed to finish Sura 1, there will be a max of 20 verses per movie to make sure the size is under 1.2 mb each, I have also finished the first 20 verses of sura 2 and waiting to confirm the translation by the community, I think this should be great for Tajweed Al Quran because the readers can repeat and listen to any verse they wish to read it properly.


Salam

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom brother


Jazakum Allah khairan for your post, however, I moved it here because we need to keep the tajweed room for step by step structured lessons assisted and instructed by Ustadh Mohamed. This will help the learner Insh a Allah to gain well regulated lessons.

[radiyah]

Bismillah

translating the Quran into English

The Quran <b>cannot</b> be translated, in Islam u r not allowed to do so, u translate only the meaning of The Quran, if this is what u mean okay, but if u want to translate word by word u cannot for the following reasons:


First: u can never get the same Translation that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'la wanted.


Second: the arabic language is very rich that u cannot find exact words that are in the Quran in english or any other language that exists in this world, which will make u substitute other words which will change the meaning, and u will not be better than others in misleading the new muslim generation.


Third: to translate u must be a professional arabic linguistic who is a professional english linguistic as well, and even if u are u cannot bring the exact meaning


Fourth: u must have Ilm in The Quran, specially Ilm of Tafseer, and u must have a certified certificate from Azhar or any certified islamic institute that u are a scholar in Tafseer.


Abdullah Ibn Masood may Allah be pleased with him was called to be "Torjuman Al-Quran" which means translator of Quran, HOW and his mother language is arabic, which means even if u r an arabic speaker u cannot have good Ilm in arabic language, and that is why the sunna for to translate The Quran.


I will not talk much here, it is not the topic or time. So do the above four fit u if so and your intention in tafseer is to translate the tafseer of Quran then my apologies. if not then have to tell u, u cannot finish this translation unless u change your intention of the translation.


Fifth Sorry for not welcoming u. Welcome :)


Sixth your file is not working. :conf06:


Salam Alaykom

[AhmedBahgat]

Bismillah


The Quran <b>cannot</b> be translated, in Islam u r not allowed to do so,

Salam mate


Sorry, who said that it is not allowed to translate the Quran?


I hope it is not some sort of a Fatwa by a human making it haram

u translate only the meaning of The Quran,

Wouldn't that mean translating the Quran?


well, logically speaking:


Translating the meaning of the Quran = Translating the Quran


I really can't see any difference

if this is what u mean okay, but if u want to translate word by word u cannot for the following reasons:

What I meant that translating the Quran is equal to translating the meaning of the Quran (logically speaking)

First: u can never get the same Translation that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'la wanted.

And who suggested that this is what I want to get?


my objective is to make the Arabic Quran understood bt those young Muslims who knows nothing about Arabic, this is going to happen to the best of my knowledge not to the best of Allah knowledge because I don't now Allah knoweldge neither those who want to translate the meaning of the Quran

Second: the arabic language is very rich that u cannot find exact words that are in the Quran in english or any other language that exists in this world,

I agree with that, an example is the word "Muttaqeen", and sure there will be notes to explain it to them, at the end of the day if there is an equevlent english word for any arabic word, I will use, if not I will explain it in a sentence

which will make u substitute other words which will change the meaning,

Why you are suggesting that there will be change in meaning?


if there will be then it means that I already understand the meaning of the Arabic wrong. Makes sense?

and u will not be better than others in misleading the new muslim generation.

hmmmm, that was an uncalled for comment to be honest, it really made no sense to me, sorry

Third: to translate u must be a professional arabic linguistic who is a professional english linguistic as well,

Hmmm again, well I have no problem with your arabic prequestics however yes I'm not a fluent English speaker, but that should not be a problem because I won't be given lessons in the English language rather making the Arabic quran understood by those who dont speak Arabiv and without misleading them


Who do you think is qualified to do it out of the following three:


1) Yusuf Ali


2) Pikthal


3) Shakir


??


and even if u are u cannot bring the exact meaning


why is that?


I mean, if I understand the meaning in Arabic, why you are suggesting that I will fail to express that meaning in another language that I know it well enough?

Fourth: u must have Ilm in The Quran, specially Ilm of Tafseer,

Hmm, and how do you know that I dont posses that?


I think it is something that Allah only knows because He is the only one Who gives that knowledge, right?

and u must have a certified certificate from Azhar or any certified islamic institute that u are a scholar in Tafseer.

where this prquestics is listed exactly? is it in the Quran or the Hadith?


sorry I forgot the third oprtion, or did you just make that up?

Abdullah Ibn Masood may Allah be pleased with him was called to be "Torjuman Al-Quran" which means translator of Quran, HOW and his mother language is arabic, which means even if u r an arabic speaker u cannot have good Ilm in arabic language, and that is why the sunna for to translate The Quran.

Sorry, what you just said make no sense nor it has no merit

I will not talk much here, it is not the topic or time.

hmmm, you already did


Thanks for the discourgament

So do the above four fit u if so and your intention in tafseer is to translate the tafseer of Quran then my apologies.

Honestely, you don't need to appolgise, thanks for you honest opinion anyway

if not then have to tell u, u cannot finish this translation unless u change your intention of the translation.

and what is my intention as you understand it?

Fifth Sorry for not welcoming u. Welcome :)

No worries, thanks

Sixth your file is not working. :conf06:
Salam Alaykom

I think you must have your browser blocking Flash movies, the file is a flash movie that is 1.2 MB in size, you should get a progress bar as the movie downloads


Salam

[AhmedBahgat]

Salam Radiyah


Let's look at this verse in Arabic:


<b> اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونِةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ (35)
</b>


<i>[The Quran ; 24:35]</i>


Here is 3 of the most common translations:


<b>YUSUFALI: Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things. </b>



PICKTHAL: Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.


SHAKIR: Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not-- light upon light-- Allah guides to His light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.


<i>[The Quran ; 24:35]</i>


Now, which translation you think is the most accurate one that reflects the Arabic meaning as read in Arabic?


Salam

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom dear sister and brother


Let me try to bridge a gap here. Brother Ahmed, taking Radiyah as being discouraging is somewhat incorrect. She is one who always encourages projects and major projects.


But may be she is just concerned about u.


Radiyah, let me tell u my humble opinion here.


First of all to say that u cannt or should translate the Quran and that current translations are misleading is making a blanket comment. Matter of fact, the current translations helped thousands of people to read and understand. Some of them reverted others didnt. But Quran did reach them..


Second what is more important is that the way you express makes it even harder for one who wants to recite the Quran. Whereas Allah Made Quran available for all of us to recits, strive to understand. Actually, one of the miracles of Quran is that any level can understand it according to one's given level.


Third, Allah Sobhanhu Wa Ta`ala allows people Ilm throughout time so that the effort of search and understanding never stops. For example there were Ayahs that were not properly understood during the time of the Sahaba because they talked about things that happened now and thus, they were unable to fully understand it. As u know tafseer was not made by the Messenger himself or else things would have been put to a hold.


Forth, people should be encouraged to work and try and they will be certainly rewarded. As u know one who recites quran excellenty will be rewarded once, one who stumbles will be rewarded twice for trying.


Fifth, I think Allah Allows really people to understand parts of Quran that may not be understood by others and so forth to keep the cycle going, Quran shall never be fully comprehend but we complete each other.


6th, about brother Ahmed's intention, only Allah KNows that and we can never tell someone what is your intention and change it.


7th and most important. Certainly we can only translate the meaning as we shall never be able to attain the level of language. And the meaning is what is important for those who need to know.. And again saying that it must be only read in Arabic, I think we discussed this before, you would be denying millions of people the right to know. Sheikh Maraghi may Allah Have mercy on him, was the first who proposed to translate the meanings of Quran to make it accessible. We cannt come now after how long and say stop, people have to learn Arabic... You are making it difficult, and impossible which i m sure you dont mean..


Brother Ahmed, all I can say may Allah Reward u, support u, allows u proper equipment, make this effort fruitful and useful and allow u light to do the job correctly ameen...

[AhmedBahgat]

Thanks sister Muslimah, very well said


Can you please tell me which translation out of the three above that you consider accurate?


Salam sisters (Muslimah and Radiah)

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Brother Ahmed, the whole idea here is was just to give u an advice since u were about to embark on a very crucial and difficult project. There is no need to use this approach of testing. We are not here to prove to one another who is more knowledgable. Let me again follow up on what Radiyah wanted exactly to say. She said you have to be very careful when you embark on this project.


I will confirm one of her points, you really need to be excellent in English.