Sam Gerrans Translation of the Quran

A reader sent me (thank you) Sam Gerrans translation of the Quran. 

Sam Gerrans is a "Quranist".  Here is some info about Sam Gerrans.

https://www.quranite.com/sam-gerrans

Sam Gerrans has professional backgrounds in languages, media, strategic communications, and internet technologies. 

He has made an exhaustive study of Qur’anic Arabic and conducted a systematic analysis of the Qur’an’s contents.

On the basis of that analysis, he both believes the Qur’an to be from God and regards the Islamic religions as later human inventions.

He is author of The Qur’an: A Complete Revelation, where his consistent, Qur’an-centric hermeneutical methodology is applied to the text of the Qur’an in its entirety.

He is founder of Quranite.com where you may download his full translation and analysis of the Qur’an – which runs to 536,000 words – free. 

I present convincing and consistent evidence for the veracity and meaning of the Qur’an while rejecting all so-called secondary sources and focusing on internal textual proof. The problem for brand Islam is that its religion does not survive the process -  Sam Gerrans

My comments : If you are interested do read Sam Gerrans translations. I do not vouch for any one translation but the more we read the better.

Anyway I just picked up a couple of pages from Sam Gerrans translation.

Here is the 2nd chapter or Surah al Baqarah (the Cow or the Heifer).

Note verses 30, 31 and 32.

Gerrans translates malaaikah as angels. 

Angels is a biblical term. Unfortunately almost all translators of the Quran borrow very heavily from the Bible terminologies to translate the Quran.

For example the word malaaikah is translated as  'angels'. This is biblical.

Malaaikah is rooted in the word mulk which is also the root for words like malik. 
Mulk and malik refer to power, authority, a king. 

Other biblical words that are borrowed by Quran translators include 'heaven' and 'hell'  as the meaning for jannah and naar respectively. 

Jannah means garden and naar means fire.    The Quran also clearly says that the jannah and naar are allegories (mathalu).  

Here is Islam.org

http://www.quran-islam.org/main_topics/new_information/heaven_and_hell_(P1257).html


Heaven and Hell

Contrary to what many may think, the descriptions of Heaven and Hell throughout the Quran are allegorical. This is made clear in the Quran. 

Part One: Heaven

The descriptions of Heaven in the Quran are numerous and varied and they speak of flowing rivers of honey, milk and wine, as well as fruits of every kind, purified spouses, being adorned with bracelets of gold, and garments of silk and brocade. All while reclining on lush couches in elevated mansions, and being offered cups of delicious drinks from flowing springs.

However, of no less importance, we note that in a number of verses when such descriptions occur as independent statements and not within a general subject, the word 'mathal' (allegory) is placed at the front of these descriptions:

The 'mathal' (example) of Paradise, that is promised to the reverent, is that beneath which rivers flow, and its food supply is everlasting as well as its shade. Such is the outcome of those who were reverent while the outcome of the disbelievers is the Fire. 13:35

The 'mathal' (example) of Paradise that is promised to the reverent is that of rivers of unpolluted water, and rivers of milk whose taste does not change, and rivers of wine that is pleasurable for the drinkers, and rivers of strained honey. They have all kinds of fruits therein, and forgiveness from their Lord. Is that like those who abide forever in the Fire, where they are given boiling water to drink which cuts up their intestines. 47:15

The word 'mathal' (example/allegory) used in these verses, tell us that such descriptions are by way of examples only, and therefore, should not be taken literally.

Linguistically, the word 'mathal' in such verses could be removed and we would still have perfect sentences. This confirms that the use of the word 'mathal. is deliberately included before the descriptions to remind us that these descriptions of Heaven are not literal.

But I digress.  Lets go back to Sam Gerrans translation of Surah 2: 30, 31 and 32.

In Surah 2:30  when the Rabb decided to place a human on earth the malaaikah complained. They said, why do you wish to place someone on earth who will fight and shed blood?

The Rabb replies, 'I know what you do not know".

Then in 2:32 the same malaaikah say, 'Glory be to thee. We do not know except what you taught us'.

So here is the soalan cepu mas. 

The question is :  The malaaikah say in 2:32 that they do not know anything except what the Rabb taught them.    Then how come in 2:30 the same malaaikah already knew that the human being will fight and shed blood on earth?  How did the malaaikah already know this?

I have asked this question a few times.  I once asked this question to an Arab "religious" scholar here at the IAIS. He could not answer the question.

Tuan-tuan why dont you ask your ostards at the surau and masjid.  Tengok depa lari nanti. 

Obviously the malaaikah have seen humans fighting and shedding blood before.