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 Post subject: القيوم /ælqaj,ju:m/
PostPosted: 24 Aug 2009, 11:17 
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Admin note: This topic was split from a discussion topic of the translation of 2:255.

Linguistic wrote:
القيوم is not an easy word to translate. It means the one who takes care of all at all times and keeps everything under control.

The "Caretaker" has a problem of being used for temporary situations (e.g., caretaking government)

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 24 Aug 2009, 14:08 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
القيوم is not an easy word to translate. It means the one who takes care of all at all times and keeps everything under control.

The "Caretaker" has a problem of being used for temporary situations (e.g., caretaking government)

Agreed. Other possibilities are "Guardian", "Custodian" and "Curator."

"Overlord" would have been a good choice, except that it carries the tyranny or authoritarian connotation.

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 24 Aug 2009, 20:48 
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Linguistic wrote:
Other possibilities are "Guardian", "Custodian" and "Curator."

What القيوم conveys is being in charge and taking care of business (as you allude to in your earlier post). I think "Reigner" or "Reigning" fully covers the first angle and may implicitly cover the second. In this verse, the translation would be "God - there is no deity except He, the Living, the Reigning."

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 26 Aug 2009, 16:01 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
Other possibilities are "Guardian", "Custodian" and "Curator."

What القيوم conveys is being in charge and taking care of business (as you allude to in your earlier post). I think "Reigner" or "Reigning" fully covers the first angle and may implicitly cover the second. In this verse, the translation would be "God - there is no deity except He, the Living, the Reigning."

"Reigner" or "Regent" is good, but it does not imply the close supervision indicated by القيوم. Perhaps "the Maintainer?"

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 26 Aug 2009, 21:40 
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Linguistic wrote:
"Reigner" or "Regent" is good, but it does not imply the close supervision indicated by القيوم. Perhaps "the Maintainer?"

Any one word will be a compromise between the two meanings conveyed by القيوم. IMHO, the compromise should favor the "in charge" part over the "helpful" part in this particular verse since the context is that of authority and power.

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 27 Aug 2009, 02:19 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
"Reigner" or "Regent" is good, but it does not imply the close supervision indicated by القيوم. Perhaps "the Maintainer?"

Any one word will be a compromise between the two meanings conveyed by القيوم. IMHO, the compromise should favor the "in charge" part over the "helpful" part in this particular verse since the context is that of authority and power.

As much as I wish to continue trying o find the ideal word, I have to agree. How do you like "Regent?"

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 Post subject: Re: Verse 2:255
PostPosted: 27 Aug 2009, 03:23 
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Linguistic wrote:
How do you like "Regent?"

Regent suffers from the Caretaker problem. It is sometimes used for someone in charge on behalf of someone else. I am not crazy about "Reigning" or "Reigner" but so far I could not think of a better or equal alternative.

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 Post subject: Re: القيوم /ælqaj,ju:m/
PostPosted: 29 Dec 2013, 19:37 
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I thought of Stewart, but found out from dictionaries that it has a demure connotation.

"Governor" may be suitable.

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