Quote from: bookish on March 03, 2014, 04:47:19 AM
I have a copy of translation. I'd be glad if you could give examples. I consider it among the best translations of the Quran....a lot of thought and analysis went into translating it...and it would be apparent if you read the introduction.
No translation is perfect though...it's all interpretation....but the important thing is to choose a meaning which blends well with the context and the overall message of the book.
One example is his promotion of marrying slaves. Islam is against slavery. Okay, Ill cut and paste a part of a book I wrote.
No slavery in Islam
Most readers would find it astonishing to hear that slavery still exists in the modern world. Though the practice was abolished officially it is still very much alive. According to a study done by the International Labour Organisation the estimated number of slaves has increased from 12.3 million to 30 million since 2005. Slavery is not declining, in fact it is increasing.
Defining slavery
Humans used, sold or bought as a commodity or property
Imprisoned or kept by force with no freedom of movement
Forced to work via some form of threat
Forcefully acquired or owned by a master or employer, abused or under threat of abuse.
Slavery has been officially abolished since 1981 and the world at large, including some Muslims believe that Islam does propagate slavery. It is an erroneous view as you will find the Quran telling us that slaves are to be set free as a repenting act for a sin or crime you commit. If a billion Muslims follow the Quranic teachings and seek to set a slave free to redeem themselves, 30 Million slaves might see a hope of freedom. Many do find it silly to discuss slavery but slavery is very much alive, it is in the increase and needs attention. The ILO goes to the length of quoting 90$ as the average cost of a slave.
Freeing a slave is defined as a fundamental pillar of piety in the Quran. Muslims currently believe in a theology called the five pillars of Islam.
1. Faith
2. Prayer
3. Zakath or charity
4. Fasting
5. Performing the Haj pilgrimage at least once in your lifetime
60
The above five pillars are not a formula found in the Quran. The Quran contradicts this.
Piety is not to turn your faces towards the east and the west, but pious is one who
believes in God and the Last Day,
and the angels,
and the Book,
and the prophets,
and who gives money out of love to the relatives,
and the orphans, and the needy, and the wayfarer, and those who ask,
and to free the slaves;
and who upholds prayer,
and who contributes towards purification;
and those who keep their pledges when they make a pledge,
and those who are patient in the face of hardship and adversity and when in despair.
These are the ones who have been truthful, and these are the righteous. ? Quran 2:177
Very directly and clearly the Quran gives a formula to live by, which if someone has an argument against is imprudent.
As you can see, freeing slaves is part of a Muslims creed.
Quran verse 4:92 says that if you kill someone by mistake (e.g. Motor Accident), you must free a slave and compensate the family. Compensating the family is for their wellbeing, freeing a slave is for your salvation. Imagine every Muslim in the world seeking to free a slave in case of an accidental death.
Verse 5:89 ordains you to free a slave in case you had broken an oath or a promise. If you owe someone money and you break the promise of return, if and when you repent, it is not enough just to return that money. You must free a slave as an act of repentance.
9:60 gives you freeing a slave as a duty amongst charity and relieving those in debt.
The Quran articulates in this manner
?Do you know which the better path is?
o The freeing of slaves.
o Or the feeding on a day of great hardship.
o An orphan of relation.
o Or a poor person in need.?
Quran 90:12-16
Islam is against slavery, contrary to popular belief and is a solution, not a problem.
