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 Post subject: Verses 3:152-153
PostPosted: 07 Jun 2009, 07:41 
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Suggested translation1,2:


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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.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 3:152-153
PostPosted: 31 Aug 2009, 18:15 
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Quote:
{3:152} And God had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were killing the enemy by His permission until [the time] when you lost courage and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love. Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then he turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and God is the possessor of bounty for the believers.

Several comments:
  1. تحسونهم has been translated as "nearly destroyed" or "about to annihilate" by the other translators and I think those are correct. "Killing" falls short of the meaning. Also, "the enemy" should be between parentheses as well because it's not named in the verse.
  2. فشلتم does not quite mean "lost courage," more like "lost unity" or "failed your commitment." I'd translate it simply, "when you failed..."
  3. "Then he turned you back": "He" should be capitalized, shouldn't it? The verse refers to God, not to the prophet, peace be upon him.

In summary, I'd translate this verse this way,
{3:152} And God had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were about to annihilate them (the Meccan polytheists) by His permission until [the time] when you failed (by leaving your posts) and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet] and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love (victory and spoils). Among you are some who desire this world, and among you are some who desire the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already forgiven you, and God indeed has bounty for the believers.

Quote:
{3:153} [Remember] when you [fled and] climbed [the mountain] without looking aside at anyone while the Messenger was calling you from behind. So God repaid you with distress upon distress so you would not grieve for that which had escaped you [of victory and spoils of war] or [for] that which had befallen you [of injury and death]. And God is [fully] Acquainted with what you do.

I suggest,
{3:153} [Remember] as you (Muslims) are [fleeing and] climbing [the mountain] and not looking aside at anyone while the Messenger is calling you from behind. So God repaid you with distress for distress so that you would not grieve for what missed you nor what hit you. And God is All-Aware of what you do.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 3:152-153
PostPosted: 01 Sep 2009, 22:46 
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Linguistic wrote:
تحسونهم has been translated as "nearly destroyed" or "about to annihilate" by the other translators and I think those are correct. "Killing" falls short of the meaning. Also, "the enemy" should be between parentheses as well because it's not named in the verse.

I would use "nearly destroyed" as "annihilate" is too strong.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 3:152-153
PostPosted: 06 Mar 2014, 17:06 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
تحسونهم has been translated as "nearly destroyed" or "about to annihilate" by the other translators and I think those are correct. "Killing" falls short of the meaning. Also, "the enemy" should be between parentheses as well because it's not named in the verse.

I would use "nearly destroyed" as "annihilate" is too strong.

I agree. I suggest "vanquish":

{3:152} And God had certainly fulfilled His promise to you when you were about to vanquish them (the Meccan polytheists) by His permission until [the time] when you failed (by leaving your posts) and fell to disputing about the order [given by the Prophet] and disobeyed after He had shown you what you love (victory and spoils). Among you are some who want [this] the nearest [life], and among you are some who want the Hereafter. Then He turned you back from them [defeated] that He might test you. And He has already pardoned you, and God has bounty for the believers.

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