Comments on: On reading the Qur’an http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/ original layout coming soon Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:05:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Ashi http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2010 Ashi Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:21:50 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2010 I'm so glad you agree! My mom is like, "You know you dont get sawab for reading the translation? You have to read it in Arabic." Everyone should be required to read the translation (with footnotes! It's always nice to find another South Asian social science major!) I’m so glad you agree! My mom is like, “You know you dont get sawab for reading the translation? You have to read it in Arabic.”

Everyone should be required to read the translation (with footnotes! It’s always nice to find another South Asian social science major!)

]]> By: Hasan http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2012 Hasan Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:31:15 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2012 Every time I bring the translation issue up, I'm treated like a heretic. What I said could probably get me stoned in some countries. You're a South Asian social sciences major? That makes about ten of us! Every time I bring the translation issue up, I’m treated like a heretic. What I said could probably get me stoned in some countries.

You’re a South Asian social sciences major? That makes about ten of us!

]]> By: Ashi http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2020 Ashi Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:38:35 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2020 We should start our own Islamic reform movement...its been like 100 years since the last one right? There's one due. haha Yes sir, I am the strange pre-law daughter of a doctor father and bio/psych major mother. I always get weird looks sometimes when people ask what I'm studying, but my parents are really supportive, which is awesome. We should start our own Islamic reform movement…its been like 100 years since the last one right? There’s one due. haha

Yes sir, I am the strange pre-law daughter of a doctor father and bio/psych major mother. I always get weird looks sometimes when people ask what I’m studying, but my parents are really supportive, which is awesome.

]]> By: kaiser http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2035 kaiser Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:11:06 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2035 for true my izzle. the next step is challenging the nonsense of '5 pillars'. if one were to go by repetition in the qur'an, one of the pillars would be to do good, be good, act truthfully. on top of that, the qur'an, as far as i know, makes no reference to 5 pillars. hmm... for true my izzle.

the next step is challenging the nonsense of ‘5 pillars’. if one were to go by repetition in the qur’an, one of the pillars would be to do good, be good, act truthfully. on top of that, the qur’an, as far as i know, makes no reference to 5 pillars.

hmm…

]]> By: Hasan http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2037 Hasan Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:12:45 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2037 Ashi: Hmmm. I don’t know if we need a reform movement. People just need to start thinking and stop being so ignorant! So many things would change for the better if people started to think logically. I don’t think it’s necessarily an education issue. How many Muslim PhDs, MDs, etc. do you meet that are really intelligent and articulate but are totally close-minded when it comes to religion? Many. My dad is a demographer, so my parents are pretty supportive of what I do. I’m probably not gonna make loads of cash, but hopefully I’ll do something that makes me happy and keeps me above the poverty line. I’m not really interested in doing law, but I haven’t ruled that out yet. Kaiser: I've been curious about where the five pillars come from. I need to look into that! Ashi: Hmmm. I don’t know if we need a reform movement. People just need to start thinking and stop being so ignorant! So many things would change for the better if people started to think logically. I don’t think it’s necessarily an education issue. How many Muslim PhDs, MDs, etc. do you meet that are really intelligent and articulate but are totally close-minded when it comes to religion? Many.

My dad is a demographer, so my parents are pretty supportive of what I do. I’m probably not gonna make loads of cash, but hopefully I’ll do something that makes me happy and keeps me above the poverty line. I’m not really interested in doing law, but I haven’t ruled that out yet.

Kaiser: I’ve been curious about where the five pillars come from. I need to look into that!

]]> By: Aina http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2062 Aina Tue, 25 Sep 2007 05:21:08 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2062 Its difficult to present my view on this. I don't mind learning how to read the Quran in Arabic as a child. Its perhaps a lot better reading translation at our age than it is as a child. So I don't particularly oppose to learning how to read the Quran while not understanding its concept, because as a young child, we probably aren't going to understand most of what we do read until much later on. Heck, even when I do read translations on my own, I have difficulties deciphering it. Aina Its difficult to present my view on this. I don’t mind learning how to read the Quran in Arabic as a child. Its perhaps a lot better reading translation at our age than it is as a child. So I don’t particularly oppose to learning how to read the Quran while not understanding its concept, because as a young child, we probably aren’t going to understand most of what we do read until much later on. Heck, even when I do read translations on my own, I have difficulties deciphering it.

Aina

]]> By: Hasan http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2120 Hasan Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:16:44 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2120 Aina: That's a good point. The Qur'an, or any other religious text for that matter, is very difficult to understand, even when you're older. But many adults out there still continue to read the Qur'an just in Arabic without trying to understanding it. I mean, that's good that you're reading it, but you should also make an attempt to understand it. I've been told several times that reading a translation "doesn't count." I'm just speaking from personal experience and the observations I've made. Aina: That’s a good point. The Qur’an, or any other religious text for that matter, is very difficult to understand, even when you’re older. But many adults out there still continue to read the Qur’an just in Arabic without trying to understanding it. I mean, that’s good that you’re reading it, but you should also make an attempt to understand it. I’ve been told several times that reading a translation “doesn’t count.” I’m just speaking from personal experience and the observations I’ve made.

]]> By: kaiser http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2121 kaiser Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:50:22 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2121 it's an over-simplification of the religion that's man-made (literally, hah). if we believe that the core of islam is in those 5 things, then we basically believe islam is very selfish--those acts, we're told, will help us to get into heaven and make allah happy with us. i guess it'd be ok for me to horde money and give it out once a year and nothing more, as long as i'm also devoutly doing the other 'pillars'. that's my only contribution to a life where i rely upon and use the hard (possibly slave) labor of others? islam is supposed to be about community. and not some far-fetched muslim ummah: i have an obligation to my neighborhood, don't i? if people get so fired up about palestine, they should move there. but until they do, there is undoubtedly parts of a city and groups of people near them that need help. maybe i'm not giving muslims enough credit. but remember how hard it was for us to rebuild the masjid? how many stingy people do we have in the community of hundreds? no doubt a lot of them made 6 figures or more. even within a muslim context, we're not doing the right thing. anyway, main point: pillars are an oversimplification that prevents muslims from striving beyond that. and that goes back further to trying to understand the qur'an. it's kinda scary that a lot of people out their follow what they're told and not what they read (even if it is just a translation--at least one could read multiple translations and weigh the biases). it’s an over-simplification of the religion that’s man-made (literally, hah).

if we believe that the core of islam is in those 5 things, then we basically believe islam is very selfish–those acts, we’re told, will help us to get into heaven and make allah happy with us.

i guess it’d be ok for me to horde money and give it out once a year and nothing more, as long as i’m also devoutly doing the other ‘pillars’. that’s my only contribution to a life where i rely upon and use the hard (possibly slave) labor of others?

islam is supposed to be about community. and not some far-fetched muslim ummah: i have an obligation to my neighborhood, don’t i? if people get so fired up about palestine, they should move there. but until they do, there is undoubtedly parts of a city and groups of people near them that need help.

maybe i’m not giving muslims enough credit. but remember how hard it was for us to rebuild the masjid? how many stingy people do we have in the community of hundreds? no doubt a lot of them made 6 figures or more. even within a muslim context, we’re not doing the right thing.

anyway, main point: pillars are an oversimplification that prevents muslims from striving beyond that. and that goes back further to trying to understand the qur’an. it’s kinda scary that a lot of people out their follow what they’re told and not what they read (even if it is just a translation–at least one could read multiple translations and weigh the biases).

]]> By: Hasan (clearout) http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2122 Hasan (clearout) Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:31:32 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2122 I know this may seem like a shameless plug, but I believe the Sunday School I teach at is the best in the nation. We actually have teaching standards, and all the Quraan teachers are required to teach the meanings. I know this may seem like a shameless plug, but I believe the Sunday School I teach at is the best in the nation.

We actually have teaching standards, and all the Quraan teachers are required to teach the meanings.

]]> By: Aina http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2123 Aina Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:54:57 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2123 I don't really care what people say. This is probably why I didn't join many religious organizations in high school, or even attended the mosque much. It annoys me when people sometimes say stupid things such as "it doesn't count" or "you can't read namaz with nail polish". Things of that sort. Its like...to hell with you. I have my own relationship with God, and you, your own. If you don't have anything productive to say, then please take a walk. I do think reading the translation counts even if others have different opinion. I know it counts and that's all that matter. I don't need to justify it to anyone but myself. That's good enough right thurr. =D Aina I don’t really care what people say. This is probably why I didn’t join many religious organizations in high school, or even attended the mosque much. It annoys me when people sometimes say stupid things such as “it doesn’t count” or “you can’t read namaz with nail polish”. Things of that sort.

Its like…to hell with you. I have my own relationship with God, and you, your own. If you don’t have anything productive to say, then please take a walk.

I do think reading the translation counts even if others have different opinion. I know it counts and that’s all that matter. I don’t need to justify it to anyone but myself. That’s good enough right thurr. =D

Aina

]]> By: amal http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2134 amal Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:59:12 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2134 why dont you consider the idea of reading the tafsir , that is so much better then translations . you will also find it a facinating read , as to how they come up with the translations and it makes more sense. why dont you consider the idea of reading the tafsir , that is so much better then translations . you will also find it a facinating read , as to how they come up with the translations and it makes more sense.

]]> By: sam http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2158 sam Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:45:57 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2158 salam I recommend all English speakers stick to Muhammad Asad's translation. His footnotes and commentary make the text come alive the way a great work of literature does - I feel like reading his translation is a night and day difference from any other. It's recently been republished, and it's expensive, but totally worth it. salam

I recommend all English speakers stick to Muhammad Asad’s translation. His footnotes and commentary make the text come alive the way a great work of literature does - I feel like reading his translation is a night and day difference from any other. It’s recently been republished, and it’s expensive, but totally worth it.

]]> By: Hasan http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2171 Hasan Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:17:53 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2171 Kaiser: You have a very good point, which I need to explore further. Clearout: How much did they pay you to say that? Aina: Dude, isn't it obvious you can't pray while wearing nail polish??? I mean, it's just so... obvious. Amal: That's the plan. First, I wanna read the Qur'an and then read the tafsir. And maybe read multipe translations, etc. Sam: I need to check that out! Kaiser: You have a very good point, which I need to explore further.

Clearout: How much did they pay you to say that?

Aina: Dude, isn’t it obvious you can’t pray while wearing nail polish??? I mean, it’s just so… obvious.

Amal: That’s the plan. First, I wanna read the Qur’an and then read the tafsir. And maybe read multipe translations, etc.

Sam: I need to check that out!

]]> By: sajda http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2205 sajda Sat, 29 Sep 2007 22:18:08 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2205 when i was little and unemployed and learning to read the Qur'an, my father said this to me: if your boss gave you a set of instructions and you sat there, rocking, memorizing them and then recited them back to him/her (your boss), would that get you anywhere? since my dad is an islamic scholar who likes to speak in analogies, i took that to mean that you have to read and follow the Qur'an as it is from the highest Boss in all the land...and besides, I really dislike that rocking motion. and like sam, I highly recommend Muhammad Asad's translation. my dad does too. and from reading your cool blog, i would venture to say that hasan, you would love it. when i was little and unemployed and learning to read the Qur’an, my father said this to me: if your boss gave you a set of instructions and you sat there, rocking, memorizing them and then recited them back to him/her (your boss), would that get you anywhere? since my dad is an islamic scholar who likes to speak in analogies, i took that to mean that you have to read and follow the Qur’an as it is from the highest Boss in all the land…and besides, I really dislike that rocking motion.
and like sam, I highly recommend Muhammad Asad’s translation. my dad does too. and from reading your cool blog, i would venture to say that hasan, you would love it.

]]> By: Hasan http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2209 Hasan Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:40:13 +0000 http://www.lungis.com/wordpress/2007/09/24/on-reading-the-quran/#comment-2209 Sajda: That's a really good analogy! But maybe your boss would at least be impressed by your memory? I'm really gonna have to look into this translation when I'm back in the States. Sajda: That’s a really good analogy! But maybe your boss would at least be impressed by your memory? I’m really gonna have to look into this translation when I’m back in the States.

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