Month: August 2025

How is “muhaimin” translated?

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Those who attempt to say that the Qur’an teaches the corruption of the earlier scriptures, often appeal to Qur’an 5:48, but this argument turns on the translation of the word “muhaimin”. I therefore surveyed all the Qur’anic English translations I could find…

The Translations

And to you We have revealed the Book containing the truth, confirming the earlier revelations, and preserving them (from change and corruption)
– Ahmad Ali

We have sent down to you the Book with the truth, confirming what was before it of the Book and as a guardian over it.
– Ali Qarai

And O dear Prophet (Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him) We have sent down the true Book upon you, confirming the Books preceding it, and a protector and witness over them
– Amhad Khan

And We have sent down to thee the Book with the truth, confirming the Book that was before it, and assuring it
– Arberry

And We revealed to you the Book in [the] truth, confirming what (was) before his hands of the Book and a guardian over it
– Corpus

And We have sent down the Book unto thee with truth; and confirming that which hath preceded it of the Book, and a guardian thereof
– Daryabadi

And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad SAW) the Book (this Quran) in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it and Mohayminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures). 
– Hilali & Khan

Then We revealed the Book to you (O Muhammad!) with Truth, confirming whatever of the Book was revealed before, and protecting and guarding over it.
– Maududi

We have revealed the Book to you (Muhammad) in all Truth. It confirms the (original) Bible and has the authority to preserve or abrogate what the Bible contains. 
– Muhammad Sarwar

And We have revealed to you the Book with the truth, verifying what is before it of the Book and a guardian over it
– Muhammad Shakir

And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it.
– Pickthall

And to you We have revealed the Book with the truth confirming the Book that was revealed before it, and a guardian over it.
– Qaribullah

And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it. 
– Sahih International

And We revealed to you the Book, with truth, confirming the Scripture that preceded it, and superseding it
– Talal Itani

We have sent down the Book to you with the truth, fulfilling [the predictions] revealed in the previous scriptures and determining what is true therein
– Wahihuddin Khan

To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety
– Yusuf Ali

The Analysis

As you can see, the most consistent translation of the word relates to the Qur’an’s protection of the earlier Scriptures: “…preserving them… a guardian over it… a protected and witness over them… assuring it… a guardian over it… a guardian thereof… trustworthy in highness and a witness… protecting and guarding over it… a guardian over it… a watcher over it… a guardian over it… guarding it in safety“

This clear consensus makes the polemical nature of the remaining four all the more obvious, offering a “translation” which goes far beyond the the Arabic text:

  • “a criterion over it”
    – Sahih International
  • “confirming the Scripture that preceded it, and superseding it“
    – Talal Itani
  • “has the authority to preserve or abrogate what the Bible contains”
    – Muhammad Sarwar
  • “fulfilling [the predictions] revealed in the previous scriptures and determining what is true therein…”
    – Wahihuddin Khan

The bias of Sahih International’s translation is particularly blatant, translating it as “criterion”, pretending that the Arabic text says “furqan” rather “muhaimin”. Even among this group, Talal Itani seems to suggest that the earlier scriptures are uncorrupted, but just subordinate to the Qur’an.

Early Commentators

It’s instructive to look at how earlier Qur’anic commenators explained the word:

  • “Witness” (Al-Suddi, Qadadah, Ibn Abbas, Mujahid)
  • “Entrusted/Faithful” (Ibn Abbas, Qadadah, Mujahid, Ikrimah, Al-Hasan, Saeed bin Jubayr and others)
  • “Confirmer” (Ibn Zayd, Al-Hasan, Al-Hussein and others)
  • “Preserver” (Al-Khalil, and noted by Al-Tabari and Al-Qortobi)
  • “Judge” (Ibn Abbas, Saeed bin al-Musayyab, Al-Dahhak)
  • “Guardian” (Al-Khalil)

Trusted Testimony?!

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I’m reading through the Qu’ran one last time this year and wanted to follow along with a Tafsir. I discovered Quran Garden which was just the sort of thing I was looking for. Something was said early in the course which I found jaw-dropping:

Historically, as the Quran was being collected and written down in its book form, two rules were implemented for writing down each verse.  The first rule required that two people who had memorized the verse were present, and the second rule required that the verse was also found written down by one of the Prophet’s companions.  These two conditions were met for each and every verse in the Quran except for one.  This one verse was found written down; however, it was only memorized by one companion.  So, according to the rules, this verse should have been excluded from the Book.

But here comes an incident that shows the wisdom and mercy of God Almighty.  This particular verse was memorized by a man named  خزيمة (Khuzaima), and no one else.  The scribe who was writing down the Quran remembered that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Whomever Khuzaima testified for, it should suffice.”  The Prophet had given Khuzaima’s testimony the weight of two testimonies.  This was based on an event that happened while he, peace be upon him, was alive.  The Prophet had borrowed money from a man and then repaid him the debt.  After some time, the man came back to the Prophet asking for his money back.  The Prophet told the man that he had already repaid him the debt in full.  So this man asked the Prophet to bring forward a witness who saw the transaction.  However, no one was with the Prophet at the time he repaid the debt.  This is when Khuzaima came forward and said, “I was present when the Prophet repaid you the money.”   After the man left, the Prophet turned to Khuzaima and said, “I know you were not present when I repaid my debt, no one was there.  How could you say that you were with me?”  Khuzaima looked at the Prophet and said, “How can I believe you in all the revelations you brought from the heavens, and then disbelieve you about a few coins?”   Khuzaima, through his wisdom, saw that the Prophet, the most honest and truthful man he knew, could not be dishonest about a small worldly matter when he was honest in delivering God’s message.  When the Prophet saw Khuzaima’s deep understanding and belief, he was delighted and said, “Whomever Khuzaima testified for, it should suffice.”

This is bizarre logic! Muhammad declared Khuzaima to always offer trustworthy testimony because he knew for a fact that he was a liar!