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 Post subject: Verses 87:1-5
PostPosted: 04 Jun 2009, 05:43 
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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 87:1-5
PostPosted: 28 Jul 2009, 17:14 
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Quote:
{87:1} Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,

I talked about punctuation in another thread. The first comma above forces one interpretation: that الأعلى in this verse is an adjective for God, which it is, but it can also be an adjective for the attributes of God. I'd rather leave the comma out, i.e.
{87:1} Sanctify the name of your Lord the Highest

Quote:
{87:3} And who destined and [then] guided

قدر does not mean "destined." In fact, this a very common error. The word means gave a precise measure or accurate amount. I like Asad's translation best. He translated it "determined." Thus a better translation, IMHO, would be,
{87:3} And who determined and guided

Quote:
{87:4} And who brings out the pasture

{87:5} And [then] makes it black stubble.

Not sure why the translation shifted tense to the present in these two verses. I suppose it's because these two actions of God are continuous. To reflect that, English uses verb to have. So, I'd say,
{87:4} And who has brought out pasture
{87:5} And has made it into decayed stubble,

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 87:1-5
PostPosted: 03 Aug 2009, 07:08 
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Linguistic wrote:
Quote:
{87:1} Exalt the name of your Lord, the Most High,

I talked about punctuation in another thread. The first comma above forces one interpretation: that الأعلى in this verse is an adjective for God, which it is, but it can also be an adjective for the attributes of God. I'd rather leave the comma out, i.e.
{87:1} Sanctify the name of your Lord the Highest

Is it possible that it is an adjective of "name" in 'the name of your Lord?" The reason I am asking is that writing "Highest" with a Capital H forces an interpretation that excludes this possibility.

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 Post subject: Re: Verses 87:1-5
PostPosted: 04 Aug 2009, 06:29 
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Pragmatic wrote:
Is it possible that it is an adjective of "name" in 'the name of your Lord?" The reason I am asking is that writing "Highest" with a Capital H forces an interpretation that excludes this possibility.

It sure does, as I indicated in this other topic,
http://forum.themostreadbook.org/viewtopic.php?p=96#p96

But wouldn't writing "highest" without a capital "h" remove the other interpretations from consideration?

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