This is the start of a new series of blog entries, inshAllah. This isn't going to be an analysis of Arabic grammar, vocabulary, or translation comparison, as I am no speaker or scholar of the Qur'anic Arabic language. Instead, I intend to point out chapters or verses that make an impression on me, for whatever reason, and share my perspective and understanding of them. Please keep in mind that these are strictly summaries of what I personally take away from each chapter, and that I am not wanting or requiring anyone to agree with me.
I am including a link to an online Qur'an so that you can read this chapter for yourself. It's not a long chapter.
http://www.free-minds.org/quran/PM/30
Starting with Surah al-Fatiha would be obvious, and it has been done many times over, so I thought I'd start with a chapter I randomly came across while reading Qur'an at the masjid:
Surah Ar-Rum (Surah 30: The Romans)
This surah begins with talking about the Romans. I've compared 30:2 in multiple translations, and they translate “Ar-Rum” as follows:
Abdallah Yusuf Ali: The Roman Empire
S.V. Mir Ahmed Ali: The (east) Romans
Ali Unal: The Byzantine Romans
Maulana Muhammad Ali: The Romans
Dr. Syed Vickar Ahamed: The Romans
Tarif Khalidi: The Byzantines
Muhsin Khan: The Romans
Ahmed Ali: The Romans
N.A. Dawood and A.J. Arberry depart from the Roman theme and instead translate Ar-Rum as “The Greeks” and “The Greek empire”. I wonder how they came to that conclusion? “Greek” and “Roman” aren't exactly interchangeable.
Most interestingly of all, Abdul Hye translates it as “The Romans (Christians)”. I'm intrigued by his whole translation of those verses, which read:
“30:2 The Romans (Christians) have been defeated (by the Persians – idol worshipers)
30:3 In the nearest land (of Syria), but after their defeat, they (Allah revealed to Muhammad that Romans) will be victorious
30:4 within a few years. Allah is in command with the matter before (the defeat of the Romans by the Persians in 615 CE) and after (the defeat of the Persians by the Romans in 625 CE). On that day the believers will rejoice (for victory).”
That, however, is a study for another time. The surah continues by stating that larger, stronger empires have fallen before because they denied the messengers/warners sent to them by Allah and were consumed by their own evil ways. This verse implies that it wasn't an act by Allah which deliberately destroyed them (the first example of deliberate acts that comes to my mind is of Sodom and Gammorah, destroyed by Allah for their corruption, idol worship, and unprecedented oppression), but that they basically self-destructed. I was left with the distinct impression that Allah simply did not get involved, but allowed them to destroy themselves through their actions.
Those who reject Allah after signs have come to them through the messengers/warners and continue to worship pagan gods are warned that what they worship will be revealed as false, that on the last day they will deny their gods and it won't avail them or change their fates.
The next verse moves into describing the reward for those who believe and do good, and transitions to a command to give glory to Allah in the morning and the evening and noon, and instructs those who believe to praise only Him. (Side note: It is from these verses (30:17-18) that many Quranists I know draw their belief that we are ordered to pray/worship 3 times per day, rather than the traditionalist Sunni/Shi'a 5 times.)
Verses 20 through 25 detail some of the signs in which we can recognize the existence of Allah:
20: Creation of humanity from dust and the scattering of people throughout the world.
21: Our spouses, with whom we are supposed to dwell in love and compassion.
22: Creation of the earth and all that is in it, and in the diversity of our languages and skin colors. (I read this verse as a refutation of the (unfortunately) prevalent attitude among Muslims that Arabic is a “special holy language” and “better than/superior to” other languages. It also refutes the notion that the Qur'an's message isn't communicable in other languages, as I've often heard claimed. Does it make sense that Allah would create so many languages and make it impossible for all but one to communicate His Revelation to mankind? Nope.)
23: Sleep coming to us at night, and our natural urge to seek Allah's grace/proof of a divine creator.
24: The weather (lightning, rain).
25: That the heavens and earth follow His commands, and that we will come out of our graves at His summons.
The above verses also stress reflection, seeking knowledge, listening, and understanding as conditions to us recognizing the signs. In other words, we have to actively put in the effort. Passivity or expecting to just “magically” have faith eventually won't work.
Verse 30 is a beautiful reminder: “So set your face uprightly for religion, in natural devotion to the truth, the nature caused by Allah in which He has made people; there can be no change in Allah's creation; this is the established religion, but most people do not know.”
Wow! People have a natural inclination towards truth, which is the nature of Allah.
We are reminded to fear and worship Allah alone and establish prayer (31), and also warned not to be polytheists, who divide up their religion into sects and think their specific way is the truth. Verses 33-36 speak of those who turn to Allah only in hardship, then go back to associating partners with Him (and these can be other gods, money, people, or other things of this world) when ease has come after the hardship. Basic message: Remember Allah and be grateful to Him, in ease or hardship. Don't forget where your blessings come from.
Verse 38 again urges us to charity, both to kin and strangers. The number of times charity is stressed in the Qur'an should clue us in as to how important it is to share what we've been blessed with, and reinforces the Qur'an as a book of action, meant to be implemented in our lives, not just read.
We are shown another sign of Allah's power, namely that He brings us to life, provides for us, causes us to die at our appointed term, then will raise us up again on the last day. Verse 44 reminds us that whatever we do in this life, be it good or bad, is for ourselves alone – there is no doing good deeds for others, even if they are family members, that will affect what they will get on the last day. (See also 6:164, 39:7)
The next verses detail examples of Allah's mercy (the wind, sailing of ships, rain, sunshine, giving life to the Earth after it has withered and died). An example of those who are “fair weather faithful” is given as those who see the silt blown from their crops by the wind, and turn from faith because of their misfortune. It is also stressed that we are tested with a portion of what we've done wrong in order to give us an opportunity to return to the straight path, particularly in the case of those with wealth. (41)
Verses 52 and 53: “For you cannot make the dead hear, nor can you make the deaf hear the call when they withdraw, turning upon their heels. Nor can you lead the blind away from straying; you cannot make anyone hear except those who believe in Our Signs, for they have submitted.”
Another amazing verse, alhamdilullah. This is something important to keep in mind: We can't change the hearts and minds of others, especially in cases where people are determined that They Are Right when it comes to religion and you are “wrong”.
Verse 58: “Indeed, We have set forth for people every kind of example in this Qur'an; yet if you bring a sign to them, those who disbelieve will certainly say: “You are bringing falsehood!”
We are assured, yet again, that the Qur'an is detailed and complete for our guidance, and also that those who refuse to believe would do so even if they had been shown a sign as proof, because their hearts are sealed.
Finally, (whew, almost done here, folks!), in verse 60:
“Be patient, therefore; verily the promise of Allah is true, and let not those who have no belief in Allah make you despair of His promise.”
What a beautiful reassurance. The promise of Allah is true, so keep the faith and don't let others cause you to doubt.
Until next time, inshAllah.
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Most interestingly of all, Abdul Hye translates it as “The Romans (Christians)”.
ReplyDeleteWell, Rome was a 'Christian' empire at the time of the battles he seems to be referencing. So I can kind of see the addition of 'Christians' there, but it does bring up something that annoys me about translations of the Qur'an. I understand that translations from one language to another can lose nuances and as I've been informed the parenthetical additions to English translations of the Qur'an are there to express the original meaning of the text even though the words don't translate 100% 1 to 1. However, it's obviously so easy to add in *other* things to the translations in those parentheses. Because clearly the parentheticals you referenced are those of the author, not original textual meanings.
The surah continues by stating that larger, stronger empires have fallen before because they denied the messengers/warners sent to them by Allah and were consumed by their own evil ways...I was left with the distinct impression that Allah simply did not get involved, but allowed them to destroy themselves through their actions.
What do you think this says about the fact that the Islamic empires have all fallen as well?
Those who reject Allah after signs have come to them through the messengers/warners and continue to worship pagan gods are warned that what they worship will be revealed as false, that on the last day they will deny their gods and it won't avail them or change their fates.
I recently was listening to the Catholic station (again - I'm going to stop, I swear!) and they were talking about salvation for those who never heard the message of Jesus. Their argument was that the people who had never heard of the Gospel would be faced with Christ at their resurrection for the judgement and would recognize in him the 'thing that they'd always worshipped' and somehow that would save them and get them into heaven. I just throw that out there as I find the contrast interesting.
According to Islam, everyone has gotten the same chance, right? Prophets have been sent to all the people? But in Christianity if you missed Christ by a few thousand years or a few seconds, you're screwed (discounting relying on God's mercy to let you in anyway, in which case wouldn't it be kinder if we'd stopped evangelizing?).
cont.
(Side note: It is from these verses (30:17-18) that many Quranists I know draw their belief that we are ordered to pray/worship 3 times per day, rather than the traditionalist Sunni/Shi'a 5 times.)
DeleteMy translation says this: '17. So glory be to God when you approach the eve or the morn. 18. And His (alone) is the Praise in the heavens and the earth, and at dusk, and when you approach at noon.'
Wouldn't that establish 4 prayers? Morning, noon, dusk (sunset) and an evening prayer? Otherwise, if 'eve' and 'dusk' are meant to be the same time, then why is it repeated but not morning? All the other times are listed only once in these two verses talking about prayer.
21: Our spouses, with whom we are supposed to dwell in love and compassion.
What about people who never find a spouse, or a 'mate' as my translation has it?
I read this verse as a refutation of the (unfortunately) prevalent attitude among Muslims that Arabic is a “special holy language” and “better than/superior to” other languages...Does it make sense that Allah would create so many languages and make it impossible for all but one to communicate His Revelation to mankind? Nope.)
Also the attitude I've noticed in some that Middle Eastern culture is the superior culture.
23: Sleep coming to us at night, and our natural urge to seek Allah's grace/proof of a divine creator.
I'm confused as to why this should be a sign? We sleep at night because our eyesight is crappy at night. But even then, not everyone is strictly diurnal like the majority of humanity. What about the people who naturally prefer to sleep during the day and be awake and doing at night?
In other words, we have to actively put in the effort. Passivity or expecting to just “magically” have faith eventually won't work.
So what you're saying is that I'm doing this whole thing wrong? :p
Verse 44 reminds us that whatever we do in this life, be it good or bad, is for ourselves alone – there is no doing good deeds for others, even if they are family members, that will affect what they will get on the last day. (See also 6:164, 39:7)
What about praying for them? Not that that alone will 'save' them, but is there any concept that praying for a non-Muslim will in some way affect a conversion on them like there is in Christianity?
I enjoyed your notes and Amber's comments. I love discussions like this!
ReplyDeleteI remember my friend saying they would go to his dad's grave and I got the impression his dad received "bonus good deed points" (or whatever the correct term is) for his children doing this for him after his death. Maybe it made his grave life more pleasant??
I totally agree about the divine language thing. I am so grateful God speaks to me in English!
Amber, there is a verse about the grace of God that brings salvation appearing to all people so maybe God did make a way even for those who never heard of Christ to know the way to God. *shrug* I'd like to think so! Paul even says that creation shows there is a god so people are without excuse. Maybe God uses creation to show people the way to Him.
We could argue that creation shows a god so people have no excuse for not believing in some form of deity, but that's about it. There is nothing in creation that points to the Judeo-Christian God in specific, as far as I know. :)
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