Is this one example of the problems with translating the Quran into English ?

Question

Most all translations are good but not perfect.


One example fron the English Translation of the Quran----- "do not take the Jews and Christians as your friends (auliya)".

The arabic word AULIYA is used to mean protector or absolute confidential guardian of ones property and family if you died.

The translation "friend" doesnt translate well and in fact has created confusion.

There is no prohibition for taking the Christians and Jews for friends.

In Islam Muslim men can MARRY amongst the Christians and Jews so obviously marriage is stronger than friendship.

This verse pertains to taking a "fast friend" and a fellow person of ones faith to be appointed as an auliya or guardian over ones estate, family etc so that Islamic laws are carried out for the funeral and inheritance etc.

Always going back to the original Arabic meaning is very important for English readers of the Quran.

Also, studying the context of why each verse came down will answer a mulititude of questions concerning the verses of war and self defense.
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Answer 1

u r rite there are many verses which are translated wrong in english or any other language

Answer 2

for me i think it can't be translated,I am agree that there are a lot of Muslims who r not Arabic but if they translate it,there will be lot of mistakes and misunderstands; not because it's hard to understand but the words which are used in very simple way and could have different meanings (that is the Arabic language). So that they make an explanation for it (called TAFSEER )which could be translated,in addition the holy quraan is the word of god which is still as the god says there is no human can change even a do pt and in translating u can't translate every word,u can't find in English or other language a word meaning exactly the same so u will lose the meaning.

Answer 3

I've got an idea - why not make a point of producing an official translation which *IS* accurate so that this kind of misunderstanding doesn't happen? It almost seems that Muslims *WANT* the 'real' meaning of the Quran to be obscure so that they can obfuscate and claim it means whatever they want to pretend at any given moment. I get awfully suspicious of people who claim to worship the same God, then shoot any 'infidel' who even approaches the holy places.

Answer 4

Yes, and we say the same thing about the Bible, which some Muslims like to say is "corrupted." Yet obviously, by translating the Koran into English, IT has been "corrupted" too!