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Does Fitna misquote the Qur’an?

Apr 19, 2008 11:19 am By Robert Spencer

So claims Ali Eteraz, who writes here that “Wilders’ obfuscations are pernicious. He conceals his xenophobic nativism by waving (incorrectly translated and randomly picked) verses of the Quran.”

If this is true, of course, it substantially buttresses Eteraz’s claim that the film is simply a manifestation of xenophobic nativism. But if the verses are quoted correctly, it says something about those moderate Muslims in the West who seem desperate to make sure that non-Muslims do not know what is in the Qur’an and how jihadists are using those verses to make recruits among peaceful Muslims.

You remember Ali Eteraz. He’s the Muslim reformist with whom I have had several exchanges in the past — during which he several times manifested a disheartening disingenuousness rather than the honesty we have a right to expect from reformist Muslims. Anyway, in support of his claim that Geert Wilders’s notorious film Fitna mistranslates the Qur’an, he links to none other than Michael van der Galien, the European blogger who has demonstrated a touching readiness to accept his distortions. But van der Galien, in his review of Fitna to which Eteraz links, doesn’t actually say that the Qur’an verses quoted in Fitna are incorrectly translated. Rather, he spends a great deal time explaining (incorrectly, but that’s another story) the context of Qur’an 8:60, by referring to the surrounding verses.

So let’s look at the record ourselves. Here are the Qur’an verses quoted in Fitna, exactly as they’re given in the film.

“Prepare for them whatever force and cavalry ye are able of gathering to strike terror, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies.” (8:60)

“Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast them in fire. Whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall substitute new skins for them, that they may feel the punishment; verily, Allah is sublime and wise.” (4:56)

“Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers, smite at their necks and when you have caused a bloodbath among them, bind a bond firmly on them.” (47:4)

“They but wish that ye should reject faith as they do, and thus be on the same footing as they, so take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah. But if they turn renegades, seize them and kill them wherever ye find them, and take no friends or helpers from their ranks.” (4:89)

“Fight them until there is no dissension and the religion is entirely Allah’s.” (8:39)

Now let’s look at common English translations of the Qur’an, made by Muslims as well as by non-Muslim Islamic scholars, and see if these were, as Eteraz says, “incorrectly translated.” It appears that Wilders has mostly hewed closely to Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation, but I’ll consult 15 others also in search of these incorrect translations:

1. Fitna: “Prepare for them whatever force and cavalry ye are able of gathering to strike terror, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies, of Allah and your enemies.” (8:60)

Yusuf Ali: “Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of God and your enemies.”
Nooruddin: (“Believers! It is your duty also that you) keep prepared to meet them with whatever you can afford of armed force and of mounted pickets at the frontier, to strike terror thereby into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies.”
Dawood: “Muster against them all the men and cavalry at your command, so that you may strike terror into the enemy of God and your enemy.”
Fakhry: “And make ready for them whatever you can of fighting men and horses, to terrify thereby the enemies of Allah and your enemy.”
Daryabadi: “And get ready against them whatever you can of force and well-fed horses with which you may overpower Allah’s enemy and your enemy.”
Pickthall: “Make ready for them all thou canst of (armed) force and of horses tethered, that thereby ye may dismay the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Hilali-Khan: “And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, etc.) to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Shakir: “And prepare against them what force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Asad: “Hence, make ready against them whatever force and war mounts you are able to muster, so that you might deter thereby the enemies of God, who are your enemies as well.”
Sher Ali: “And make ready for them who fight you whatever you can of armed force and of mounted pickets at the frontier, whereby you may frighten the enemy of ALLAH and your enemy.”
Muhammad Ali: And make ready for them whatever force you can and horses tied at the frontier, to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy.”
Khalifa: “You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of GOD, your enemies.”
Arberry: “Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to terrify thereby the enemy of God and your enemy.”
Palmer: “Prepare ye against them what force and companies of horse ye can, to make the enemies of God, and your enemies.”
Rodwell: “Make ready then against them what force ye can, and strong squadrons whereby ye may strike terror into the enemy of God and your enemy.”
Sale: “Therefore prepare against them what force ye are able, and troops of horse, whereby ye may strike a terror into the enemy of God, and your enemy.”

Incorrectly translated? Only if these 16 other English translations of the Qur’an, many of which were made by Muslims, are also incorrectly translated.

It’s a slog, yes, but for the record, I’ll go through the others also:
2. Fitna: “Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast them in fire. Whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall substitute new skins for them, that they may feel the punishment; verily, Allah is sublime and wise.” (4:56)

Yusuf Ali: “Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for God is Exalted in Power, Wise.”
Nooruddin: “We shall soon cast into Fire all those who deny Our Messages. As often as their skins are burnt up We shall replace them with other (new) skins that they may (continually) taste (agony of) punishment. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”
Dawood: “Those who deny Our revelations We shall burn in fire. No sooner will their skins be consumed than We shall give them other skins, so that they may trully taste the scourge. Surely God is mighty and wise.”
Fakhry: “Those who have disbelieved Our Signs, We shall surely cast them into the Fire; every time their skins are burnt, We will replace them by other skins, so that they might taste the punishment. Allah indeed is Mighty and Wise!”
Daryabadi: “Verily those who disbelieve in Our revelations, them We will soon cast in the Fire. Whenever their skins are burnt up, We will change them for other skins, to keep up their tasting of the torment. Verily Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.”
Pickthall: “Lo! Those who disbelieve Our revelations, We shall expose them to the Fire. As often as their skins are consumed We shall exchange them for fresh skins that they may taste the torment. Lo! Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.”
Hilali-Khan: “Surely! Those who disbelieved in Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) We shall burn them in Fire. As often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for other skins that they may taste the punishment. Truly, Allah is Ever Most Powerful, AllWise.”
Shakir: “(As for) those who disbelieve in Our communications, We shall make them enter fire; so oft as their skins are thoroughly burned, We will change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement; surely Allah is Mighty, Wise.”
Asad: “Or, verily, those who are bent on denying the truth of Our messages We shall, in time, cause to endure fire: [and] every time their skins are burnt off, We shall replace them with new skins, so that they may taste suffering [in full]. Verily, God is almighty, wise.”
Sher Ali: “Those who disbelieve in Our Signs, We shall soon cause them to enter Fire. As often as their skins are burnt up, WE shall give them in exchange other skins that they may continue to taste the punishment. Surely, ALLAH is Mighty and Wise.”
Muhammad Ali: “Those who disbelieve in Our Messages, We shall make them enter Fire. As often as their skins are burned, We shall change them for other skins, that they may taste the chastisement. Surely Allah is ever Mighty, Wise.”
Khalifa: “Surely, those who disbelieve in our revelations, we will condemn them to the hellfire. Whenever their skins are burnt, we will give them new skins. Thus, they will suffer continuously. GOD is Almighty, Most Wise.”
Arberry: “Surely those who disbelieve in Our signs — We shall certainly roast them at a Fire; as often as their skins are wholly burned, We shall give them in exchange other skins, that they may taste the chastisement. Surely God is All-mighty, All-wise.”
Palmer: “Verily, those who disbelieve in our signs, we will broil them with fire; whenever their skins are well done, then we will change them for other skins, that they may taste the torment. Verily, God is glorious and wise.”
Rodwell: “Those who disbelieve our signs we will in the end cast into the fire: so oft as their skins shall be well burnt, we will change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the torment. Verily God is Mighty, Wise!”
Sale: “Verily those who disbelieve our signs, we will surely cast to be broiled in [hell] fire; so often as their skins shall be well burned, we will give them other skins in exchange, that they may taste the [sharper] torment; for God is mighty and wise.”

3. Fitna: “Therefore, when ye meet the unbelievers, smite at their necks and when you have caused a bloodbath among them, bind a bond firmly on them.” (47:4)

Yusuf Ali: “Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them).”
Nooruddin: “So (believers! Now that you know the will of your Lord), when you meet in (regular) battle those who disbelieve strike off their heads. After you have bound them fast in fetters (as prisoners of war)…”
Dawood: “When you meet the unbelievers in the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly.”
Fakhry: “So, when you meet the unbelievers, strike their necks till you have bloodied them, then fasten the shackles.”
Daryabadi: “Now when you meet those who disbelieve, smite their necks until when you have slain them greatly, then make fast the bonds.”
Pickthall: “Now when ye meet in battle those who disbelieve, then it is smiting of the necks until, when ye have routed them, then making fast of bonds.”
Hilali-Khan: “So, when you meet (in fight Jihad in Allah’s Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives).”
Shakir: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates.”
Asad: “Now when you meet [in war] those who are bent on denying the truth, smite their necks until you overcome them fully, and then tighten their bonds”
Sher Ali: “And when you meet in regular battle those who disbelieve, smite their necks; and, when you have overcome them, by causing great slaughter among them, bind fast the fetters.”
Muhammad Ali: “So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, smite the necks; then, when you have overcome them, make (them) prisoners.”
Arberry: “When you meet the unbelievers, smite their necks, then, when you have made wide slaughter among them, tie fast the bonds.”
Palmer: “And when ye meet those who misbelieve – then striking off heads until ye have massacred them, and bind fast the bonds!”
Rodwell: “When ye encounter the infidels, strike off their heads till ye have made a great slaughter among them, and of the rest make fast the fetters.”
Sale: “When ye encounter the unbelievers, strike off [their] heads, until ye have made a great slaughter among them; and bind [them] in bonds.”

4. Fitna: “They but wish that ye should reject faith as they do, and thus be on the same footing as they, so take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of Allah. But if they turn renegades, seize them and kill them wherever ye find them, and take no friends or helpers from their ranks.” (4:89)

Yusuf Ali: “They but wish that ye should reject Faith, as they do, and thus be on the same footing (as they): But take not friends from their ranks until they flee in the way of God (From what is forbidden). But if they turn renegades, seize them and slay them wherever ye find them; and (in any case) take no friends or helpers from their ranks.”
Nooruddin: “They would like you to reject the faith as they have done themselves, that you may be all alike; therefore, make no friends with them until they emigrate in the cause of Allah. But if they turn back (to hostility), then capture them and kill them wherever you find them, and do take anyone of them as a friend or as a helper.”
Dawood: “They would have you disbelieve as they themselves have disbelieved, so that you may be all alike. Do not befriend them until they have fled their homes in the cause of God. If they desert you, seize them and put them to death wherever you find them. Look for neither friends nor helpers among them…”
Fakhry: “They wish that you disbelieve, as they have disbelieved, so that you will be all alike. Do not, then, take any companions from them, until they emigrate in the Way of Allah. Then should they turn back, seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and do not take from them any companion or supporter.”
Daryabadi: “They yearn that you disbelieved even as they have disbelieved, so that you may be all alike. So do not take friends from among them unless they migrate for the sake of Allah; and if they turn away then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and do not take from among them a friend or a helper.”
Pickthall: “They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them.”
Hilali-Khan: “They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliya’ (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allah (to Muhammad SAW). But if they turn back (from Islam), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliya’ (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them.”
Shakir: “They desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you might be (all) alike; therefore take not from among them friends until they fly (their homes) in Allah’s way; but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper.
Asad: “They would love to see you deny the truth even as they have denied it, so that you should be like them. Do not, therefore, take them for your allies until they forsake the domain of evil for the sake of God; and if they revert to [open] enmity, seize them and slay them wherever you may find them. And do not take any of them for your ally or giver of succour.”
Sher Ali: “They wish that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved, so that you may become alike. Take not, therefore, friends from among them, until they emigrate in the way of ALLAH. And if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them; and take no friend nor helper from among them.”
Muhammad Ali: “They long that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved so that you might be on the same level; so take not from among them friends until they flee (from their homes) in Allah’s way. Then if they turn back (to hostility), seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take no friend or helper from among them.”
Khalifa: “They wish that you disbelieve as they have disbelieved, then you become equal. Do not consider them friends, unless they mobilize along with you in the cause of GOD. If they turn against you, you shall fight them, and you may kill them when you encounter them in war. You shall not accept them as friends, or allies.”
Arberry: “They wish that you should disbelieve as they disbelieve, and then you would be equal; therefore take not to yourselves friends of them, until they emigrate in the way of God; then, if they turn their backs, take them, and slay them wherever you find them; take not to yourselves any one of them as friend or helper.”
Palmer: “They would fain that ye misbelieve as they misbelieve, that ye might be alike; take ye not patrons from among them until they too flee in God’s way; but if they turn their backs, then seize them and kill them wheresoever ye find them, and take from them neither patron nor help.”
Rodwell: “They desire that ye should be infidels as they are infidels, and that ye should be alike. Take therefore none of them for friends, till they have fled their homes for the cause of God. If they turn back, then seize them, and slay them wherever ye find them; but take none of them as friends or helpers.”
Sale: “They desire that ye should become infidels, as they are infidels, and that ye should be equally [wicked with themselves]. Therefore take not friends from among them, until they fly their country for the religion of God; and if they turn back [from the faith], take them, and kill them where-ever ye find them; and take no friend from among them, nor any helper.”

5. Fitna: “Fight them until there is no dissension and the religion is entirely Allah’s.” (8:39)

Yusuf Ali: “And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God altogether and everywhere.”
Nooruddin: “And (O Muslims!) fight them until there is no more persecution (in the name of religion) and adopting a (certain) religion is wholly for the sake of Allah.”
Dawood: “Make war on them until idolatry shall cease and God’s religion shall reign supreme.”
Fakhry: “And fight them, so that sedition might end and the only religion will be that of Allah.”
Daryabadi: “Fight them until there is no persecution and religion be wholly Allah’s.”
Pickthall: ” And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.”
Hilali-Khan: “And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world].”
Shakir: “And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah.”
Asad: “And fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone.”
Sher Ali: “And fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly to ALLAH.”
Muhammad Ali: “And fight them until there is no more persecution, and all religions are for Allah.”
Khalifa: “You shall fight them to ward off oppression, and to practice your religion devoted to GOD alone.”
Arberry: “Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is God’s entirely.”
Palmer: “Fight them then that there should be no sedition, and that the religion may be wholly God’s.”
Rodwell: “Fight then against them till strife be at an end, and the religion be all of it God’s.”
Sale: “Therefore fight against them until there be no opposition [in favour of idolatry], and the religion be wholly God’s.”

Whew. All right. Has Wilders in Fitna “incorrectly translated” any of the Qur’an verses he quoted? No, unless Ali Eteraz would have us believe that all sixteen of these Qur’anic translators — orthodox Muslim, unorthodox Muslim, non-Muslim — have gotten the verses wrong also. Maybe only Eteraz possesses the coveted Secret Qur’anic Decoder Ring. But until he deigns to share his Precious with us, pardon me if I find in this yet another example of the dishonesty he has manifested all too many times in the past.

And it isn’t just Eteraz, of course. I wish it were just one guy. But constantly, day after day, month after month, year after year, we have seen Muslim spokesmen denying that the Qur’an contains any violent verses, and charging that those who claim otherwise are “Islamophobic” — while the jihadists continue to use those verses to make inroads within the larger Muslim community. A sincere reformer will, as a basic and obvious first step, acknowledge that there are elements of Islam that need reforming, not charge with “hate” those who point out those elements. But as we have seen, such sincere reformers are exceedingly thin on the ground.

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