69 million page views

Henrik, get a better translation, please

Reader comment on item: The Pentagon Looks at the Koran
in response to reader comment: Definition of Jihad

Submitted by Fahad (Pakistan), Oct 11, 2006 at 08:04

Salam Henrik Ræder Clausen.

You wrote(in bold):

You left out an important footnote. In 'The Noble Quran', which is the translation distributed by the Saudis in millions of copy, a footnote to the mentioned 2:190 explains it in detail:

"Jihad is holy fighting in Allah's Cause with full force of numbers and weaponry. It is given the utmost importance in Islam and is one of its pillars. By Jihad Islam is established, Allah's Word is made superior (which means only Allah has the right to be worshiped), and Islam is propagated. By abandoning Jihad Islam is destroyed and Muslims fall into an inferior position; their honor is lost, their lands are stolen, their rule and authority vanish. Jihad is an obligatory duty in Islam on every Muslim. He who tries to escape from this duty, or does not fulfill this duty, dies as a hypocrite."

Definition settled,...


WHAT?! So easily?! No way. The translator you are quoting cannot even differentiate between the arabic words "jihad" and "qitaal"! Quote the verses of the Quran to prove your point.

I repeat: There isn't a single verse in the Quran where the word ‘jihad' is used as ‘a call for violence and murder against apostates and unbelievers'.

"let's quote some real scripture:"

The real scripture is in Arabic.

"Qur'an 2:216 "Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims), though you
dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and like a thing
which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not." "

The actual verse does not even mention "jihad". So, either you are trying to deceive everyone here, or you are deceived yourself. Quote some real scripture.

Qur'an 4:95 "Not equal are those believers who sit at home and receive no injurious hurt, and
those who strive hard, fighting Jihad in Allah's Cause with their wealth and lives. Allah has
granted a rank higher to those who strive hard, fighting Jihad with their wealth and bodies
to those who sit. Allah prefers Jihadists who strive hard and fight above those who sit
home. He has distinguished his fighters with a huge reward."

The word "fight" does not occur in the actual verse. Incorrect translation.

Qur'an 33:22 "Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah
and have gone out for Jihad (holy fighting). Some have completed their vow to extreme and
have been martyred fighting and dying in His Cause, and some are waiting, prepared for
death in battle."

The word "jihad" does not occur in the actual verse. Incorrect translation, again.

The translations you are quoting are incorrect and your concept of "jihad" is un-Quranic

"So, did this satisfy your itch?"

Nope.

"I have plenty more if you care."

If you are going to quote from the same poor translation, I couldn't care less.

Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Comment on this item

Mark my comment as a response to Henrik, get a better translation, please by Fahad

Email me if someone replies to my comment

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

See recent outstanding comments.

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2023 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)