Quote:
{58:1} Certainly has God heard the speech of the one who argues with you, [O Muhammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to God. And God hears your dialog; indeed, God is Hearing and Seeing.
I suggest,
{58:1} God did hear the uttering of she who argues with you [, O Muhammad,] about her spouse and complains to God. And God hears the dialog between you two; Verily, God is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.Quote:
{58:2} Those who pronounce thihar among you [to separate] from their wives - they are not [consequently] their mothers. Their mothers are none but those who gave birth to them. And indeed, they are saying an objectionable statement and a falsehood. But indeed, God is Pardoning and Forgiving.
The pre-Islam custom of ظهار is something that is hard to translate in one word. I therefore love Irving's translation "back away". He managed to find two words to convey the meaning, which is separation. I suggest,
{58:2} Those who back away among you from their wives (vow celibacy as though they were their own mothers) - they are not their mothers! Their mothers are none but those who gave birth to them. And verily, they surely say an objectionable saying and a falsehood. But verily, God surely is much Pardoning, much Forgiving.Quote:
{58:3} And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and God is Acquainted with what you do.
I suggest,
{58:3} And those who back away from their wives and then go back to what they said [before] (resume intimacy), then [there must be] a freeing of a neck (slave) before they pat each other. That, for you, you are admonished thereby; and God is All-Aware of what you do.Quote:
{58:4} And he who does not find [a slave] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they touch one another; and he who is unable - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is for you to believe [completely] in God and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] God. And for the disbelievers is a painful punishment.
I suggest,
{58:4} And whoever did not find [a slave to free or afford the emancipation of one] - then a fast for two months consecutively before they pat each other; and whoever did not find [in himself the ability to fast] - then the feeding of sixty poor persons. That is so that you may believe in God and His Messenger; and those are the limits [set by] God. And for the disbelievers is a painful torment.