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Some Corrections to the Online Translations of the Qur'an

The following corrections have been made to the translations, based on the critique of the South African Majlis of Ulema. Each change is preceded by the author whose translation has been changed.

  1. [Yusuf Ali]: All references to "God" have been replaced by the proper name of the Creator, namely "Allah".
  2. [Yusuf Ali], M. Shakir: All references to "apostle" have been replaced by the more fitting "messenger" lest any Christian in particular get the wrong idea.
  3. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Baqara, Ayah 31 ([2:31]), the phrase "the nature of all things" has been replaced by "the names of all things", and the phrase "Tell me the nature..." has been replaced by "Tell me the names...".
  4. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Baqara, Ayah 33 ([2:33]), the phrase "Tell them their natures" has been replaced by "Tell them their names".
  5. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Baqara, Ayah 260 ([2:260]), the entire ayah:
    Behold! Abraham said: "My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead." He said: "Dost thou not then believe?" He said: "Yea! but to satisfy My own undertaking." He said: "Take four birds; Tame them to turn to thee; put a portion of them on every hill and call to them: They will come to thee (Flying) with speed. Then know that God is Exalted in Power, Wise."
    has been replaced by:
    When Abraham said: "Show me, Lord, how You will raise the dead, " He replied: "Have you no faith?" He said "Yes, but just to reassure my heart." Allah said, "Take four birds, draw them to you, and cut their bodies to pieces. Scatter them over the mountain-tops, then call them back. They will come swiftly to you. Know that Allah is Mighty, Wise."
  6. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Rad, Ayah 11 ([13:11]), the phrase "Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves (with their own souls)." has been replaced by "Allah does not change a people's lot unless they change what is in their hearts."
  7. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Hijr, Ayah 17 ([15:17]), the phrase "every evil spirit accursed" has been replaced by "every cursed devil".
  8. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Ad-Dukhan, Ayah 54 ([44:54]), the phrase "join them to Companions" has been replaced by "join them to fair women".
  9. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat At-Tur, Ayah 24 ([52:24]), the phrase "Youths (handsome) as Pearls well-guarded" has been replaced by "young male servants (handsome) as Pearls well-guarded".
  10. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat An-Naba, Ayah 33 ([78:33]), the phrase "Companions of equal age;" has been replaced by "And voluptuous women of equal age;".
  11. [M. Pickthal]: In Surat An-Naba, Ayah 33 ([78:33]), the phrase "And maidens for companions," has been replaced by "And voluptuous women of equal age;".
  12. [M. Shakir]: In Surat An-Naba, Ayah 33 ([78:33]), the phrase "And those showing freshness of youth, equals in age," has been replaced by "And voluptuous women of equal age;".
The following corrections appear courtesy of kind readers:
  1. [M. Pickthall]: In Surat Al-Baqara, Ayah 255 ([2:255]), the phrase "Allah! There is no Allah save Him, the Alive, the Eternal" has been replaced by "Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal".
  2. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 11 ([7:11]), the phrase "then We bade the angels bow down to Adam, and they bowed down; not so Iblis; He refused to be of those who bow down" has been replaced by "then We bade the angels prostrate to Adam, and they prostrate; not so Iblis; He refused to be of those who prostrate".
  3. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 11 ([7:11]), the phrase "Make obeisance to Adam. So they did obeisance except Iblis; he was not of those who did obeisance" has been replaced by "Prostrate to Adam. So they did prostrate except Iblis; he was not of those who prostrated".
  4. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 12 ([7:12]), the phrase "What prevented thee from bowing down when I commanded thee?" has been replaced by "What prevented thee from prostrating when I commanded thee?".
  5. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 12 ([7:12]), the phrase "What hindered you so that you did not make obeisance when I commanded you?" has been replaced by "What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you?".
  6. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 206 ([7:206]), the phrase "They celebrate His praises, and bow down before Him" has been replaced by "They celebrate His praises, and prostrate before Him".
  7. [M. Pickthall]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 206 ([7:206]), the phrase "they praise Him and adore Him" has been replaced by "they praise Him and prostrate before Him".
  8. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Al-Araf, Ayah 206 ([7:206]), the phrase "they declare His glory and throw themselves down in humility before Him" has been replaced by "they declare His glory and prostrate in humility before Him".
  9. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Furqan, Ayah 60 ([25:60]), the phrase "Adore ye (Allah) Most Gracious!" has been replaced by "Prostrate to (Allah) Most Garcious!", and the phrase "Shall we adore that which thou commandest us?" has been replaced by "Shall we prostrate to that which thou commandest us?".
  10. [M. Pickthall]: In Surat Al-Furqan, Ayah 60 ([25:60]), the phrase "Adore the Beneficent!" has been replaced by "Prostrate to the Beneficent!", and the phrase "Are we to adore whatever thou (Muhammad) biddest us?" has been replaced by "Are we to prostrate to whatever thou (Muhammad) biddest us?".
  11. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Al-Furqan, Ayah 60 ([25:60]), the phrase "Make obeisance to the Beneficent Allah" has been replaced by "Prostrate to the Beneficent Allah", and the phrase "Shall we make obeisance to what you bid us?" has been replaced by "Shall we prostrate to what you bid us?".
  12. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat As-Sajda, Ayah 15 ([32:15]), the phrase "fall down in adoration" has been replaced by "fall down in prostration".
  13. [M. Shakir]: In Surat As-Sajda, Ayah 15 ([32:15]), the phrase "fall down making obeisance" has been replaced by "fall down in prostration".
  14. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Fussilat, Ayah 37 ([41:37]), the phrase "Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore Allah" has been replaced by "Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah".
  15. [M. Pickthall]: In Surat Fussilat, Ayah 37 ([41:37]), the phrase "Adore not the sun not the moon; but adore Allah Who created them" has been replaced by "Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them".
  16. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Fussilat, Ayah 37 ([41:37]), the phrase "do not make obeisance to the sun nor to the moon; and make obeisance to Allah Who created them" has been replaced by "do not prostrate to the sun nor to the moon; and prostrate to Allah Who created them".
  17. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Ar-Rahman, Ayah 6 ([55:6]), the phrase "And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) bow in adoration" has been replaced by "And the herbs and the trees - both (alike) prostrate in adoration".
  18. [M. Pickthall]: In Surat Ar-Rahman, Ayah 6 ([55:6]), the phrase "The stars and the trees adore" has been replaced by "The stars and the trees prostrate".
  19. [M. Shakir]: In Surat Ar-Rahman, Ayah 6 ([55:6]), the phrase "And the herbs and the trees do adore (Him)" has been replaced by "And the herbs and the trees do prostrate (to Him)".
  20. [Yusuf Ali]: In Surat Al-Fatiha, Ayah 2 ([1:2]), the phrase "Sustainer of the world" has been replaced by "Sustainer of the worlds".

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