There is a major philosophical issue here. If we cannot understand Arabic, how can we know the words of God? If God's message is universal, what is the problem with translating it into other languages? Why would God choose to put his universal message into the only untranslatable language on this earth? This is not shown yet, but even if we were to be given proof by science for the divine origin of the Qur'an, is the call of this web site that we should follow a book that is incomprehensible to us who do not understand Arabic? How come the "scientific parts" of the Qur'an are translatable and for us to examine, while the rest of the book is not?
Another problem is that of honesty. According to an article by Daniel Golden in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, January 23rd, 2002 :
Allah, may He be Exalted and Glorified, said in the Qur'an:
Alif Laam Meem, the Romans have been defeated, in the lowest part of the land (adnal-ardh), but after defeat they will soon be victorious. (Qur'an 30:1-3).
Sura 30:3
Yusuf Ali: In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious-
Pickthall: In the nearer land, and they, after their defeat will be victorious
Shakir: In a near land, and they, after being vanquished, shall overcome,
Seemingly the Muslim translators of the most common Qur'an translations into the English language, Yusuf Ali, M. Pickthall, and Shakir did not know this. Does it mean whatever you want it to mean?
True.
I have been given the most comprehensive words. [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Could you please cite the Hadith and quote it in context? Did it have anything to do with this passage from the Qur'an? Some doubt might be appropriate!
The Qur'an says that this happened in the near land. Even if we use your translation, this passage claims that the battle occurred in the lowest part of the land, it does not say the lowest part of the entire earth! This interpretation is also historically incorrect because the Romans were routed at Aleppo and Antioch in AD 610 according to Syed Maududi's commentary on Sura 30. In any event, neither Aleppo nor Antioch are anywhere near the Dead Sea.
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