Lost in translation?

Question

I have read that the Quran cannot truly be translated into any language. Muslims, if you have read the Quran in Arabic and any other language, do you agree?

Answer 1

these 4 ayat/ verses of surah/ chapter ar ruum / the romans, as an example:
alif laam miim. (1)
الم ﴿1
the roman empire has been defeated- (2)
غلبت الروم ﴿2
in a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious- (3)
في ادني الارض وهم من بعد غلبهم سيغلبون ﴿3
within a few years. with allah is the decision, in the past and in the future: on that day shall the believers rejoice- (4)
في بضع سنين لله الامر من قبل ومن بعد ويوميذ يفرح المومنون ﴿4

until just recently, the في ادني الارضر (fii adnal ardhi) at verse 3 is translated into english as ; 'in a land closed by, 'in the nearer land', and 'in a near land'.
by modern gps observation, it's realized that the dead sea (the location where the roman was defeated) is the LOWEST POINT on the earth. so the 'modern' translation of ayat/ verse 3 should be "in the lowest point (on earth), (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious-"

may it help.

Answer 2

I cannot read arabic, I hope someday I can. But that is true. One word in arabic could mean 2 or 3 words in english. It is up to us to pass on the best translations possible. I have talked to arabic reading/speaking muslims and they all agree that when they read the translations it was not anything like the arabic Quran. And Allah knows best.

Answer 3

That is the concensus of most languages. I have to use a literary commentary to read the Bible myself, especially in difficult parts. It helps me understand what the original Greek and Hebrew meant. Plus, it gives me a heads up when the ancient texts (thousands from all over the world) have a disagreement (its always very slight).

Answer 4

I don't believe that. They fall back on that argument to defend things in the Quarn that are indefensible to reasonable, objective outsiders.