some mistakes of abdullah yusuf ali's translation
TRANSCRIPT
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Some Mistakes of Abdullah Yusuf Alis
Translations
1. QS.Al Baqarah(2):16
16 It was We who created man and We know what dark
suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him
than (his) jugular vein.
17 Idz yatalaq qal mutalaq qiya_ni anil yamini wa anis
sima_li qaid
17 Behold two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (hisdoings) learn (and note them) one sitting on the right and
one on the left. 4953
18 Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him
ready (to note it). 4954
Idz never means Behold. It is translated as When by
Pickthall. This is true.
2.Tha Ha(20):5
Tha Ha(20):5 Ar rahma_nu 'alal arsyis tawa_
5 (Allah) Most Gracious is firmly established on the throne (of
authority).
While Pickthall translated that as:
5 The Beneficent One, Who is established on the Throne
This is true.
3. QS.Al Baqarah(2):15
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Alla_hu yastahzi'u bihim wa yamudduhum fi tugya_nihim
ya'mahu_n(a).
QS.Al Baqarah(2):15 Allah will throw back their mockery on
them and give them rope in their trespasses; so they willwander like blind ones (to and fro).
While the correct translation is as Pickthall said:
Allah (Himself) doth mock them, leaving them to wander
blindly on in their contumacy.
Yastahziu means doth mock him, and Allahs ways inmocking couldnt be illustrated well, and what is deserve for
Him is higher illustration than any illustrations.
4. Al Baqarah(2):29
Every time he found the word sky, he usually translate it as
Heaven
Huwal lazi khalaqa lakum ma_ fil ardi jami'an summas tawa_
ilas sama_'ifasawwa_hunna sab'a sama_wa_t(in), wa
huwa bikulli syai'in 'alim(un).
His wrong translation: It is He who hath created for you all
things that are on earth; moreover His design comprehended
the heavens for He gave order and perfection to the seven
firmaments; and of all things he hath perfect knowledge.
Pickthall wrong translation: He it is Who created for you all
that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and
fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is Knower of all
things.
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They are both wrong, because Allahu Taala nor Rasulullah
never said that Heaven(Paradise) number is 7, the correct
translation is 7 skies, not about atmosphere layers, but the
skies below Heaven or garden of Eden(Jannah). Theyrepeated the same mistakes in QS.2:59
5.QS.Al Baqarah(2):31
Wa 'allama a_damal asma_'a kullaha_ summa 'aradahum
alal mala_'ikati fa qa_la ambi'u_ni bi asma_'iha_'ula_'i in
kuntum sa_diqin(a).
His translation: And He taught Adam the nature of all things;
then He placed them before the angels and said: "Tell Me the
nature of these if ye are right."
The correct translation for asma is names, Allahu Taala
only asked an easy things that was the things name.
And he (Abdullah Yusuf A.)repeated the same mistake in
QS.2:33,
6.Al Baqarah(2):56
Summa ba'asna_kum mim ba'di mautikum la'allakum
tasykuru_n(a).
His right translation: Then We raised you up after your death;
ye had the chance to be grateful.
Pickthall's wrong translation: Then We revived you after
your extinction, that ye might give thanks.
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7. QS.Al Baqarah(2):58
Wa iz qulnad khulu_ ha_zihil qaryata fa qulu_ minha_ haisu
syi'tum ragadaw wadkhulul ba_ba sujjadaw wa qu_lu_
hittatun nagfir lakum khata_ya_kum, wa sanazidulmuhsinin(a).
And remember We said: "Enter this town and eat of the
plenty therein as ye wish; but enter the gate with humility in
posture and in words and We shall forgive you your faults
and increase (the portion of) those who do good."
The word hittatun means repentance not with humilityin posture and in words.