Shouldn’t we be mindful of language in front Allah SWT?Muslims widely recite Sura – Ikhlas in prayer, dua or at many other occasions. This and many other sura starts with word “Qul” translated as “Say”.
While reading grammar book “The Essential Arabic: A learner’s Practical Guide” by Rafi’el – Imad Faynan (Professor of Arabic at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi), I came across conjugation of word “Qala” and grammar rules of imperative verb.
According to conjugation of word “Qala”, word ‘Qul’ (Say) is a 2nd person masculine singular imperative verb (fi’lul-amri).
On page 53 of book, author writes:
‘Imperative verb’ is called “ fi’lul-amri ”.
It is a verb through which
we order or request someone to do something.
For example: Go (Order) or Please go (Request).
In other words:
One (Speaker) orders / requests someone (listener) to do something(to go).
Now, let me apply this rule to Sura – Ikhkas to demonstrate the problem, if we recite it “as it is”.
One (Allah SWT) orders someone (Prophet SAW) to do something (to say - i.e. recite or convey to his followers - : “He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.”)
This is perfect construction with reference to Quran. But problem arises when we recite ‘AS IT IS’ in prayer, dua or at any other occasions.
Now, imagine when we recite Sura- Ikhlas ‘as it is’ what will be scenario considering the listener in this case is Allah SWT.
One (who recites the Sura Ikhlas) requests someone (who listens - Allah SWT) to do something (to say: “He is Allah, the One. Allah is Absolutely Independent. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is absolutely none like Him.”) In other words,
we order / request Allah SWT to SAY that “Allah SWT (another one?)” is He who is One and so on.Isn’t this scenario problematic?
Will someone, expert in Arabic, throw some light here?
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I emailed this question to few scholars. The relevant part of only one response email, I received , is as under:
“You are absolutely correct, that the current utterance of the 2nd person masculine singular imp. verb (fi-lul'amri) ‘Qul’ (Say) is
possibly inappropriate in the context of a personal prayer. However, please note that
it can be argued that an 'imam' in a congregational prayer is reciting not only a personal prayer, but also in the capacity as a leader (to the congregation). In the latter case, it may be considered appropriate to recite the ‘Qul’ in such a way to the congregation”.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The argument that Imam is addressing congregation is untenable because of following reasons:
1) Generally, Imam is acting on behalf of congregation in the capacity of leader. So it may be inappropriate not only for his personal prayer, but for the congregation too.
2) Sura Fateha recitation before recitation of Sura Ikhlas:
When
we recite sura fateha, in verse 1:5, we are specifically
addressing Allah SWT in 2nd Person by saying word:
“Iyyaka”1: 5
Iyyaka naAAbudu wa
iyyaka nastaAAeenu
Yusuf Ali 5:
Thee do we worship, and
Thine aid we seek.
Mohsin Khan: 5:
You (Alone) we worship, and
You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
So, we cannot say that when we recite sura fateha 2nd person is Allah SWT and immediately after that when we recite sura Ikhlas suddenly 2nd person is congregation.
3) When reciting Sura Kafiroona, who is 2nd person? Look at the wordings of sura Kafiroona.
Transliteration 1: Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona
Yusuf Ali 1: Say:
O ye that reject Faith!
Mohsin Khan: 1: Say:
(O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم
to these Mushrikun and Kafirun): "
O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar)!
Transliteration 2: La aAAbudu ma taAAbudoona
Yusuf Ali 2:
I worship not that which
ye worship,
Mohsin Khan: 2: "
I worship not that which
you worship,
Transliteration 3: Wala antum AAabidoona ma aAAbudu
Yusuf Ali 3: Nor will
ye worship that which
I worship.
Mohsin Khan: 3: "Nor will
you worship that which
I worship.
Transliteration 4: Wala ana AAabidun ma AAabadtum
Yusuf Ali 4: And
I will not worship that which
ye have been wont to worship,
Mohsin Khan: 4: "And
I shall not worship that which
you are worshiping.
Transliteration 5: Wala antum AAabidoona ma aAAbudu
Yusuf Ali 5: Nor will
ye worship that which
I worship.
Mohsin Khan: 5: "Nor will
you worship that which
I worship.
Transliteration 6: Lakum deenukum waliya deeni
Yusuf Ali 6: To
you be
your Way, and to
me mine.
Mohsin Khan: 6: "To
you be
your religion, and to
me my religion (Islamic Monotheism)."
It is clear that
Allah SWT advising
Prophet SAW to challenge non-believers’ by reciting this verse. Means,
2nd person in this sura are non believers. So, if we accept the argument that
Imam (1st person) is addressing
congregation (2nd person) by word “Qul”, then essentially
Imam is challenging
people standing behind him as a non-believers.
And if we take
2nd person Allah SWT, then is it not a grave mistake on our part to recite these words?
4) Take another sura Al Kauther and analyze it grammatically:
Transliteration 1: Inna aAAtay
naka alkawthara
Yusuf Ali 1: To
thee have
We granted the Fount (of Abundance).
Mohsin Khan: 1: Verily,
We have granted
you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) Al-Kauthar
(a river in Paradise).
Who is
1st person (Subject) and
2nd person (Object) when we recite this sura "AS IT IS" in prayer?
Obviously, when
Imam recites it, he is
1st person and
Allah SWT is 2nd person.
Look at grammatical analysis of word
"aʿṭaynāka"V – 1st person plural (form IV) perfect verbPRON – subject pronounPRON – 2nd person masculine singular object pronounSource:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(108:1:2)
Isn’t this scenario problematic?
I simply don’t understand why scholars are not paying attention?
Once I understood this, I am not only afraid to recite these suras in namaz and dua, but afraid to join the congregation where Imam recites these verses without giving thought to what he is saying.
Will someone expert in Arabic shed some light here?
