Verses 2:6-7

Index · **Joined:** 08 May 2009, 14:16 **Posts:** 1994

Suggested translation^1,2:

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¹This translation may have been updated from the original suggested translation as a result of the discussions that follow.
²Click on the {verse number} of a translation to see other good translations of the verse.

Linguistic · **Posted:** 07 Jun 2009, 21:00

Quote:

{2:6} Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they do not believe.

I'd use the present perfect tense, i.e., "have disbelieved" because it conveys the meaning of the Arabic past tense used in the verse. In other words, they disbelieved and remain disbelievers.

Quote:

{2:7} God has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a cover. And for them is a painful punishment.

I'd like to reserve the word "punishment" to translate عقاب. For عذاب, I suggest the word "torment."

Pragmatic · **Posted:** 22 Jun 2009, 05:28

I agree with both points (the present perfect and the translation of عذاب).

Poetic · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2009, 12:00 **Posts:** 16

How come you are not translating كفروا literally? I'll do that to contrast it with disbelief لا يؤمنون. I also do not like "belief" for إيمان. I always use "faith" in my sermons. "Belief" sounds like delusion. Belief may be a better translation for ظن.

The rhythm now is: مُسْتَفْعِلٌ مَفْعُول

{2:6} Those who cover the truth, whether you warn or not, will not subscribe to faith.

{2:7} God sealed their hearts and hearing; a veil's upon their sight; for them, a great torment.

Linguistic · **Posted:** 03 Jul 2009, 17:19

Poetic wrote:

How come you are not translating كفروا literally?

Actually the translation quoted in the OP is not mine; it's the translation we start with and are building on.

Quote:

I'll do that to contrast it with disbelief لا يؤمنون. I also do not like "belief" for إيمان. I always use "faith" in my sermons. "Belief" sounds like delusion. Belief may be a better translation for ظن.

An excellent point! I agree that belief is a proper translation for ظن and not for إيمان. I also like very much your translation of كفروا as "cover the truth."

So, do you think that the phrase which is very often repeated in the Quran, ياأيها الذين آمنوا, should be translated as "O you who have faith"?

Poetic · **Joined:** 30 Jun 2009, 12:00 **Posts:** 16

The problem of "have faith" is its passivity. I prefer "0 you who have attained faith" as a semiliteral translation. In sermons, I have also used "O people of faith" and predicated it by: "God addresses the community of faith ..." or "the community of the faithful."

Pragmatic · **Posted:** 04 Jul 2009, 20:50

Poetic wrote:

The problem of "have faith" is its passivity. I prefer "0 you who have attained faith" as a semiliteral translation.

Excellent and subtle observation. Indeed, "O you who have faith" sounds a bit more passive than the Arabic expression. The alternative "0 you who have attained faith" that you suggested deals with that, and also uses the present perfect tense which makes it closer to the Arabic tense.

Linguistic · **Posted:** 27 Feb 2010, 19:39

{2:6} Indeed, those who have disbelieved - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they do not believe.

{2:7} God has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a cover. And for them is a grand torment.

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Verses 2:6-7

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