Tag: featured

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)