Question For Muslims-the Bible and the Koran?

Question

The Christian Bible has many different versions of the Bible-the King James Version, the New International Version, etc. They all say the same basic thing. Why can't the Koran be translated into English and be "understood"? I have seen many answers that say--you have to read it in the original language to understand.

WHY?

I do not understand this. The Christian Bible was written in many different languages but retained the message when translated in English.

What do you think the reason is?

I am sorry for any misspellings but I am trying to learn/understand-and did not mean offense Thank you

Answer 1

Sorry, I disagre with you.

The "Living Bible" is the most horrible translation I've ever seen.

When I compared 8 texts I quickly threw the "Living Bible" out of the equation as just bring too off from the rest of the texts I was reading.

Also, have you studied Ancient Greek and Anceint Hebrew and looked at the scroll and Codex yourself!

Do you AGREE with all the translators!

If the Quran shows us anything, it shows us how three different translators can't agree on the ancient texts!

They sometimes come close, but they don't fully agree with all the phrasings.

I'd say the Judeo-Christain Bible can easily fall into the same conflicts!

I came up with a ficitious Diary entry of a Girl in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

"We went to the Dead show at Winterland and had a bitchen time!"

Now, you translate that!

Let's see just how well you know your 1970's trivia!

TELL ME exactly What she said and meant. DEFINE every word and phrase.

I know the answers, but only Dead-Heads can translate that.

Now, what do you do in 500 years!

The same exact thing applies to the Bible and Quran!

You sort of have to be there to know what was REALLY meant!

Answer 2

"retained the message when translated", Jesus Son of Mary, spoke Aramaic, the current English bible come comes the Greek version. While, I am sure there were many devout people who tried there best, to bring the original message, how can you do that if the original no longer exists?


Once you translate something into a different language, especially if your going from completely different scripts, and grammar systems, it is very difficult to get 100% meaning. This is from an academic, and scholarly point of view.


But the good news is there are Intepretations of the Qu'ran in English. I have read two completely. The first by Marmaduke Pickthall, it wad old English and gave me a decent understanding.

The best one I have read on recommendation is by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. He writes little 'warning' before his translation/interpretation

Please keep in mind ANY translation (interpretation) of the Qur.aan will most definitely contain errors. In its natural language (Arabic), the Qur.aan is the direct Word of Allaah (God) to mankind through the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Any translation of the Qur.aan no longer retains that 'official' and perfect status, however it can be tremendously helpful to beginning students wanting to learn more about Islaam.

We would strongly encourage those want to learn about Islaam to purchase a hardcopy of the Qur.aan but with the following conditions:

l get one with commentary (tafseer)
l make sure the tafseer is scholarly (e.g. references to reasons behind a verse, references to hadith and sunnah, etc.)

And please, its the Qu'ran and were Muslims.

Not Koran and Moslems, thanks ;)

Any questions you have don't hesitate to contact me.

Answer 3

There are different level is Islam so people have different understandings. The views of the people who say you have to learn Arabic to read teh Quran get under my skin and are on a low level. This is my view, which is a higher level,

God revelaed the Quran in Arabic because it was an Arabic speaking Messenger. The Quran is meant for understanding and any lauguage it is translated it is still the Quran. The Quran purifies any lauguage. A Muslim who doesn't understand Arabic need not be burdened by trying to learn another lauguage to start practicing Islam. There are Arabic speaking people who don't understand or practice Islam correctly. The Quran is not bonded by any lauguage, and is meant to be understood. If you want to adopt a child and get close to them, would the lauguage you teach them matter? Here is the Quranic Passage warning Muslims about other Muslims who think this way.


The Quran Must Be Translated

[26:198] If we revealed this to people who do not know Arabic.

[26:199] And had him recite it (in Arabic), they could not possibly believe in it.

[43:2] And the enlightening scripture.

[43:3] We have rendered it an Arabic Quran, that you may understand.*

[43:4] It is preserved with us in the original master, honorable and full of wisdom. (Arabic doesn't preserve the Quran, again there are people who speak Arabic and still don't follow the Quran, People leanr the Quran in the lauguage they best understand, that will give you enlightment, not reciting it in a foreign tongue which is hard for you to understand.)

Answer 4

First of all, this problem stands for any translation: there are worlds and phrases that just can't be translated to another language. It is like reading a novel in its original text or reading a translation of it.
Second, Koran has been translated to English and many other languages. You just have to look for a reliable and trusted version of it.

Answer 5

part of the reason the Koran must be studied in Arabic is because the Scriptures as they have been handed down to humanity are actually formulated to have a Divine vibration when read aloud in the original Arabic, which is lost when translated to other languages. This is true of many ancient religious texts, such as those of ancient Judaism/Christianity (There are Qabbalistic meanings to the original Hebrew scripts which lead to deeper lessons than the written word itself).

Answer 6

I think if you go back to the original text of the Bible, you will find there are differences in the "interpretation" of the original words if you attempted to translate them in this day and age. That's because translations add a flare of interpretation based on the period of time in which the translation took place.

All Qur'anic translations are called "interpretations".

Realistically speaking though, there is no such thing as a translation of the Qur'an because once you change the language, you have automatically added an interpretation to the meaning of the original words.

Answer 7

I do agree with Angels it is the translation of our best understanding of the interpretation of the wholly Quran and still holding the message.
The same apply to any book if translate it to another language it is not all the expressions are available in the others dictionary.

But in the Bible versions there is many differences in the Ideas it self while written in the same language.

What we are supposed to do is follow instructions, to our best.

Answer 8

Quran is in Arab only, other than Arab, it is called the translation of Quran.

U can learn and study Al-Quran in english, but to understand more, which covers the "Tafsir", which needs a deep and further understanding of Al-Quran u need a knowledgeable person who knows it. U have to refer to the right person to learn more.

Al-Quran is preserved in Arab as it is the language that Allah has revealed to Muhammad. From Muhammad time until now, Al-Quran is still in Arab.

the purpose to learn Arab to understand more is because....

every language has their own grammar and rules for their language. Thus, Arab is a language that has its own uniqueness of grammar and meanings. Thats why if u want to understand more u have to learn the arab languages. The usage of sentence is differents, maybe in Arab the words "many" has 5 meanings but in english "many" is just "many".

Let me give u examples...

the translation by yusuf ali:-
(Quran, 23:12-14)
12. Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay);
13. Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed;
14. Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!

To further understood in Arab:-

"We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an "alaqah" (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a "mudghah" (chewed substance)... 1 (Quran, 23:12-14) "

Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.

In comparing a leech to an embryo in the alaqah stage, we find similarity between the two2 as we can see in figure 1. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.3

u can read this link --> http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch1-1-a.htm

its just the same with Bible, bible is originated from HEBREW. Thus, the translator should understand the Hebrew grammar to truly understand the contents. However we wont find any hebrew bible nowadays. As u know, the latest translation of Bible (eg. NRSV) is made because the theologist said that the KJV has a very poor translation which has resulted a lot of mistakes in the meaning of the verses.

In any historical evidence or scrciptures... 1 have to understand and learn the actuall grammar and rules of the language to truly understand the scriptures.

Answer 9

Errrr, I'm not a Muslim, ma'am; but I thought I should point out that there is an English translation of the Koran available.

In fact, I think there are more than one, ma'am.

Insofar as the the rest of your Questions are concerned, I'm afraid you'll need to wait for the Muslims to answer you., ma'am.

Do have a nice day.

Answer 10

Millions of Muslims call for a double common: the slightest wondering of Islamic practices or teachings or political or social growth is greeted with violence and s destruction butviolence performed within the identify of Ismam and slanders/libels of alternative religions and ideologies are applauded American Leftists have a tendency to be rather tolerant of criticisms, misrepresentations and slanders of Christianity , peculiarly Catholicism, however are thoroughly illiberal of even fearing Muslim extremists because the NPR firing of Juan Williams indicates