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 Post subject: Verses 4:1-3
PostPosted: 07 Jun 2009, 05:35 
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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 4:1-3
PostPosted: 03 Sep 2009, 14:27 
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Quote:
{4:1} O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear God, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed God is ever, over you, an Observer.

This is a great example of why اتقوا الله does not mean "fear God," because it is followed by "and the wombs." What does it mean to fear the wombs? The proper translation should be, IMHO, "Watch out for God, through whom you ask each other, and the wombs (watch out for God whenever you handle your family relations)."

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{4:3} And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women, two or three or four. But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one or those your right hand possesses. That is more suitable that you may not incline [to injustice].

I'd explain what "your right hand possesses" means because that's an Arabic expression for slaves. I'd say, "or those your right hand possesses (bond-maids, freeing them)."

Also, the verb تعولوا does not mean to incline to injustice, it means to bear the responsibility for raising children. Thus, what the ending of the verse means is that the recommended marriage is for the sake of caring for and raining the orphaned children.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:1-3
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2009, 09:00 
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Linguistic wrote:
The proper translation should be, IMHO, "Watch out for God, through whom you ask each other, and the wombs (watch out for God whenever you handle your family relations)."

Slight modification: "Watch out for God, through whom you ask each other, and [watch out for] the wombs (by maintaining your family relations)."

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 4:1-3
PostPosted: 05 Sep 2009, 13:03 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Slight modification: "Watch out for God, through whom you ask each other, and [watch out for] the wombs (by maintaining your family relations)."

I like that a lot. Thanks.

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 Post subject: Suggested translation
PostPosted: 15 Mar 2014, 18:28 
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{4:1} O mankind, watch out for your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And watch out for God, through Whom you ask one another, and [watch out for] the wombs (maintain your family relations). Verily, God has ever been over you a Proctor.

{4:2} And grant the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the wholesome [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Verily, it has [always] been a big atrocity.

{4:3} And if you feared that you may not deal equitably with orphans, then marry whom you found wholesome of women - two, three or four (to help you care for the orphans). But if you feared that you may not deal justly [with co-wives], then [marry only] one or those your right hands have possessed (bond-maids, freeing them). That is closer to you not raising children alone.

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