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Verses 4:77-79
http://forum.themostreadbook.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1642
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Author:  Index [ 07 Jun 2009, 05:24 ]
Post subject:  Verses 4:77-79

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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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Author:  Linguistic [ 14 Sep 2009, 14:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Verses 4:77-79

Quote:
{4:77} Have you not seen those who were told, "Restrain your hands [from fighting] and establish prayer and give zakah"? But then when fighting was ordained for them, at once a party of them feared men as they fear God or with [even] greater fear. They said, "Our Lord, why have You decreed upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us for a short time." Say, "The enjoyment of this world is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who fears God. And injustice will not be done to you, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]."

The Arabic does not say "feared men," it says "feared people."

I suggest,
{4:77} Have you not seen to those to whom it was said, "Inhibit your hands (do not fight) and establish prayer and give alms", but once fighting was written upon them (ordained), all of a sudden a segment of them fear people like the fear of God or [even] a more intense fear? They say, "Our Lord, why have You written upon us fighting? If only You had postponed [it for] us to a near term." Say, "The enjoyment of [this] the nearest [life] is little, and the Hereafter is better for he who watches out [for God]. And you are not wronged [even as much as] a filament."

Quote:
{4:78} Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction. But if good comes to them, they say, "This is from God"; and if evil befalls them, they say, "This is from you." Say, "All [things] are from God." So what is [the matter] with those people that they can hardly understand any statement?

{4:79} What comes to you of good is from God, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself. And We have sent you, [O Muhammad], to the people as a messenger, and sufficient is God as Witness.

All the translations quoted here failed to distinguish between من and من عند, which would lead the English reader to view these two verses as contradictory to each other! 4:78 says all things good and bad are from God, while 4:79 says that only good things are from God while bad ones are from us. The distinction specified in the Arabic is lost in the translation and leads to a wrong conclusion! Rather, من عند means "comes from the reservoir of" while من means "is caused by." Thus, to be faithful to the Arabic, and in doing so dispel confusion, I suggest this,

{4:78} Wherever you are, death catches up with you, even if you have been in fortified towers. And if should hit them a good [thing], they say, "This is [coming] from God"; and if should hit them a bad [thing], they say, "This is [coming] from you." Say, "All [things come] from God." So what is [the matter] with these folk that they cannot hardly comprehend a narrative?

{4:79} What has hit you of good is [caused] by God, but what has hit you of bad is [caused] by yourself. And We have sent you [, O Muhammad,] to the people as a messenger, and sufficed God a Witness.

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