Because of One Vowel
Al-Risala (English), December 1992, p. 19
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
Because of One Vowel
1992 12 December 19 Because of One Vowel (148) This is how Professor A.J. Arberry has translated Verse 39 of the chapter of the Qur’an entitled “Pilgrimage”:
Leave is given to those who fight because they were wronged – surely God is able to help them.
It can be seen that he has rendered the verb “to fight” into the active voice, whereas in the original Arabic it is in the passive voice. There is a difference of one vowel between the active and passive forms of this verb. N.J. Dawood has correctly translated the verse as follows:
Permission to take up arms is hereby given to those who are attacked, because they have been wronged: Allah has power to grant them victory.
This translation shows that the Prophet and his companions only fought when they were attacked, whereas Professor Arberry’s translation gives one the impression that Muslims took up arms themselves, without provocation from the other side.
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