Re: New Translation

salaam talib

I had a brief look at the site. A few comments:

* I welcome any commentary of the Qur'an done by 
women. Of course, what the power dynamic is here 
between these 2 women and 1 man... I'm not sure.

* I don't believe there is such a thing as a 'translation' of 
the Qur'an. All so-called translations are, in fact, 
commentaries.

* I'm generally suspicious when anyone says they want 
to produce a translation that relies just on the Qur'an 
itself and not on "ancient scholarly interpretations". Why? 
Because they make the assumption that their translation has no 
baggage, which is really untrue. There is no such thing. They 
dispose of the baggage of earlier commentators but then apply 
their own baggage. That they refuse to see that is problematic 
for me.

* They make a point that they will not use ahadith or other 
tafasir in their translation, but then they also make a point that 
they will 'cross-reference' with the bible and "key philosophical 
and scientific documents in the Western canon". huh?

* when I read one example on the home page: "For instance, 
17:36, traditionally rendered "Pursue not that of which 
thou hast no knowledge," has been held for centuries by the 
Islamic clergy to apply only to those testifying as experts in 
legal proceedings! We render it as "You shall not follow 
anyone blindly in matters of which you have no knowledge," 
thus (we believe) restoring the meaning to its original 
dimensions", then I have a problem. I would much rather 
have the literal translation of the Qur'an and then make of 
it what I will, than have someone telling me they are giving 
me a translation and what they are, in fact, giving me is 
their interpretation - which, in this case, seems to be 
somewhat coloured by their dislike of 'the clergy'.

* from the above points, it doesn't seem to me like this 
translation will be "proclaimed without misdirection or 
obstruction" as they claim.

* I liked their comentary on 4:34 :)

and now I have to run.

Talib, the PSC delegation is already there and working - very 
hard. 2 have already been chased by settlers as they were 
assisting with olive harvesting. Insha Allah they will be well. 
Most are quite young - around 20.

na'eem