Translations, interpretations, and distortions of Quran should be welcome

Submitted by Prashant (United States), Jan 29, 2022 at 15:38

Dear Dr Pipes, despite DNM's persistent protestations, I think the meaning of Q83-9 and verses before it is sufficiently clear.
These verses just say that a wicked person will burn in hell and his fate is certain and is well inscribed in a register.

This interpretation is reasonably harmless. Even if it is based on slightly ungrammatical or ambiguous original phrases, there is no harm in deriving good meanings out of Quranic verses.

I personally think that well intentioned translations, interpretations, and, even, distortions of Quran are good for everyone. This is the only way changes will come to Islam. The day when Quran 5-33 is entirely sanitized or is entirely dropped out of Quran, for example, will be a good day for everyone.

The problem with Quran is that it needs to be changed a lot for it to become a clear and kind book. But that is not a reason to not try it at all.

I notice that some Islamic apologists twist and turn the meanings of Quranic verses to an extreme extent to make them look good (search 'quran and the Geneva convention' for example). It indicates that even Muslims realize that modern protocols are much better than certain cruelities codified in the Quran. And, that is a good sign.

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