Bits and Bobs
February 27th, 2006Me and the Mosque looks reaaaaaaaally good. I hope they are planning on distributing it outside of North America.
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Christian shari’a law in the United States.
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I’m not quite sure how to react to this picture of little Johnny Howard. Speaking of which, WHO brought the old ‘let’s ban Muslim women’s clothes‘ debate up again (groan). They must be really desperate to take attention away from the AWB scandal. (Notice how the Hun article is almost word-for-word!) It’s enough to make me want to wear a burqa in protest. At least someone else in the Liberal (sic) party appears to have half a brain-cell, RU486 votes notwithstanding.
Islamophobia reports that there is a call for The Noble Koran: a New Rendering of its Meaning in English to be banned on the basis that it supposedly calls for the killing of ahl al-kitab (Jews and Christians). I bought this Bewley translation, which is based on the Warsh recitation, a few years ago and it’s definitely one of the better ones out there. It lacks the Arabic text and an index page, and it keeps quite a few technical Arabic terms in, but its rendering is quite compelling.
I have NO idea where Patrick Sookhdeo could have got such an idea. Perhaps he is confused with the similarly titled Salafi translation The Noble Qur’an. I know of nowhere in that translation where it calls for killing Jews and Christians, skewed as it is, but I find it incredible that he could impute such a thing to the Sufi-minded Bewleys (particularly given that I’ve read large swathes of that translation and never come across it.)
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Why is anyone surprised that the Muslim Reference Group would be having so many problems? Unlike what as commonly painted by pollies and the media, Muslims in Australia (or anywhere really) are not a homogenous group that speaks with one voice. We are made up of diverse cultures, ethnicities, social-classes, political and sectarian affiliations, and ages that we can barely agree on how to change a lightbulb at the local masjid. *Sigh*.
A Melburnian Muslim convert blogs religion, academia and life in general.
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Salaam ‘Alaikum
WHY why why do they use words like “garb” when referring to us? They’re clothes. Not “costume.” Not “garb.” So condescending.
::: looks at jeans and sweater :::
G’day Umm Yasmin,
Since you bring up the topic of translations of the Qur’an, could you recommend one for the open-minded Christian who wants to learn something?
I’ve seen a few on the Internet Sacred Text Archive (www.sacred-texts.com), but they’re older translations and use somewhat archaic English (”ye” and “thee” stuff). Something in more modern English would be more readable. (The translation used in “Ayah of the Day” reads nicely.) And a decent commentary or good footnotes would be very helpful - probably essential for the “outsider”. Whatever you think is best.
I came across your blog a few weeks ago (via a link from Irfan Yusuf) and have kept coming back. Thanks for your informative blogging, keep it up!
wa ‘alaykumusalam:
UZ: ‘coz if he said “clothes” then people would think he was nuts for trying to ban someone’s “clothes” *sigh*.
Anthony: G’day welcome, I’m glad you like the blog - I’ve been a bit narky lately but I’m going to try and lighten the tone. Irfan is a good friend of mine IRL - we like to call him “Sheikh Samblook” (say it out loud and you’ll get it).
The most clear, readable translation I’ve come across is Thomas Cleary’s new translation “The Qur’an: A New Translation” but it doesn’t have any notes, or commentary so it’s worth reading it with a book like Martin Lings’ “Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” close-by so that it gives some context.
For a good translation *with* commentary you can splurge on Muhammad Asad’s massive “The Message of the Qur’an” but it does have some peculiarities (he was very fond of the modernists).
A good serviceable translation is Abdullah Yusuf ‘Ali’s but its English isn’t as good as the two mentioned above. However, it is widely available and comes with and without notes. (I think it’s the one Leena uses for “Ayah of the Day”).
Someone like Umm Zaid might be able to give you her 2cents too (as she is very knowledgeable) and would be interesting to see what she says.
Cheers
Umm Yasmin
Salaam ‘Alaikum
I think the Thomas Cleary is a very good one. There is one that came out last year called the Majestic, translated by a team of scholars and then edited by Uthman Hutchinson, Mostafa Badawi, and Abdal Hakim Murad. It’s a little pricy (around $60 US), but my friends say it’s worth the $$ (Um ‘Amr, if she’s out there, can maybe add her 2 cents on it). http://www.islamicbookstore.com/majqurenreno.html — you can see a sample page here, with notes.
You might read the Cleary alongside the Yusuf ‘Ali, which has the commentary, although some of the commentary is a little (sigh).
Thanks to you both - I now have 4 cents worth of advice! I’ll have a look at the versions you recommend.
And Umm Yasmin, you’re allowed to be narky on your own blog! Judging by your smiling face on the “About” page, I can’t imagine you be consumed by bad temper. Besides, there’s plenty to be narky about these days…
As for that mad billionaire and his Catholic enclave - if the inherent contradictions of a utopian colony don’t get him, global warming and rising sea levels will. Building beside a swamp in Florida??
You might also be interested in “The Qur’an: A new translation” by M.A.S Abdel Haleem, a lecturer at SOAS.
http://www.soas.ac.uk/centres/centreinfo.cfm?navid=920
peace
Anthony,
You need to go immediately to http://www.faithfreedom.com/
A website by ex-muslims who have [edited due to inflammatory and prejudiced statement].
“As for that mad billionaire and his Catholic enclave - if the inherent contradictions of a utopian colony don’t get him, global warming and rising sea levels will. Building beside a swamp in Florida??”
Yeah, next thing you know someone will want to build a theme park there.
Anthony,
You need to go immediately to http://www.faithfreedom.com/
A website by ex-muslims who have left islam and now [provide their opinion] about the religion of peace…
[Edited by moderator to remove inflammatory and prejudiced sentiments].
Flanny, my dahling, you simply must find a new schtick. Your endless repetition of the same thing over and over again points to a severe lack of oxygen at birth.
If I was so boring you wouldn’t be frightened enough to edit me and remove the URL for my blog. wassa matter - afraid of the truth?
I think the fact that you didn’t differentiate between the commenter “Bored with Flanny” and me as “Umm Yasmin” is highly telling - we are just a single, amorphous entity that is “the enemy” to you Flanstein.
It’s a little bit like someone visiting a blog about African-American history and providing links to the racist propoganda of the KKK. You know my comment policy, you’ve broken it before, why are you surprised that I would edit out any seriously prejudiced and inflammatory statements?
“seriously prejudiced and inflammatory statements?”
You mean when someone tells the truth about islam? How cowardly that you aren’t capable of debate - I’m surprised that one of you hasn’t shouted “death to Flanstein”.
That is your speed - isn’t it?
No Flanstein it isn’t. I don’t wish for the death of any soul.
Flanstein, as a Christian who’s had some experience with ex-Mormons and ex-other Christian sects, I take a bit of salt with any site like the one you posted. Go be a jerk somewhere else.
“You need to go immediately to http://www.faithfreedom.com/”
The joke’s on Flanstein!
Scott: that’s a lottttttta salt you got there.
George: