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 Post subject: Verses 7:8-9
PostPosted: 06 Jun 2009, 09:15 
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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 7:8-9
PostPosted: 19 Nov 2009, 04:26 
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Quote:
{7:8} And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy - it is they who will be the successful.

I'd edit that slightly to better match the Arabic tense, e.g.,
{7:8} And the weighing [of deeds] that Day is the truth. Then those whose scales weighed heavy - then those are the prospering.

Quote:
{7:9} And those whose scales are light - they are the ones who will lose themselves for what injustice they were doing toward Our verses.

Likewise, I'd edit that slightly for tense. Also, the verse uses the preposition بـ which means "with" or "by", not "toward".
{7:9} And those whose scales weighed light - they are the ones who will have lost themselves as they used to do wrong with Our signs.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 7:8-9
PostPosted: 19 Nov 2009, 09:03 
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Linguistic wrote:
{7:9} And those whose scales weighed light - they are the ones who will have lost themselves as they used to do wrong with Our signs.

I think we need to work on "they used to do wrong with Our signs" since it sounds strange and doesn't capture the Arabic meaning.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 7:8-9
PostPosted: 19 Nov 2009, 16:32 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Linguistic wrote:
{7:9} And those whose scales weighed light - they are the ones who will have lost themselves as they used to do wrong with Our signs.

I think we need to work on "they used to do wrong with Our signs" since it sounds strange and doesn't capture the Arabic meaning.

Sure. I'm open to suggestions ;)

I looked up all other occurrences, and it appears that this verse is the only one to use this particular idiom, ظلم بـ. I consulted the exegesis of Ibn Katheer but it doesn't provide further insight into this idiom. Irving translates it as "because they have been damaging Our signs." That is the closest to my reading of it.

How about "as they have been abusing Our signs." or something like it? This translation would also convey the meaning "as they used Our signs to do wrong instead of good." This understanding is actually validated and strengthened by the very next verse!

If you agree, then let me suggest this translation,
{7:9} And those whose scales weighed light - they are the ones who have lost themselves because they have been, with our Signs, unjust.

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