Letters to the Editor

Ghazala Anjum, via email

Most of the time I read the Qur’an in English. Is it as authentic as reading Qur’an in Arabic? Suppose I read the Qur’an in English; will it be equally valid?

YMD

The Qur’an came down in chaste Arabic. It asserts that it is in Arabic, meaning, it should be read in Arabic alone.

It is also a miracle and miracles cannot be imitated.

Therefore, the Qur’an cannot be translated to the same accuracy and ends as the original.

Accordingly, a Qur’anic translation is at best, “an interpretation” of what it says in its Arabic original. No translation can be referred to as “the Qur’an.”

It can be recited, as a highly recommended ritual. But it can never be understood in a language other than Arabic.

Therefore, if you read its translation, you are neither reading the original Arabic version, nor are you getting the accurate meaning the original contains.

Kindly see this month’s editorial for further understanding.

It is said that one should repeat the entire Qur’an seven times.

YMD

That is not correct. The Qur’an should not be repeated 7 times, or 70 times, or 700 times; but rather, one should recite it every day of the week, and when finished with one round, start with another, and go on during the whole life; but never finishing the whole Qur’an at any time, in less than three days.

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