| Below are some of the verses which are translated incorrectly in "English Translation of the Message of The Quran" which is published by Book of Signs Foundation (copyright 2006 CE). This translation is authenticated and approved by al-Azhar University[1] and claims to be "Dawah oriented" i.e. it is catered to non-Muslim readers.
It also has a 14-page long preface by Dr. Zakir Naik!!! Please see the attached screenshot from the official website of the Book of Signs Foundation.
Below is the comparison of the translations of the meaning of some verses in it with the most authentic english translation that was endorsed by Imam ibn Baz rahimahullah viz. The Noble Quran translated by Allamah Taqiuddin Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan.
To see the Arabic verses associated with the correct translation of the meaning of the Qur’an select encoding Arabic(Windows) in your browser.
Here it goes,…
1. Wrong interpretation of the shahada "La ilaha illAllah" implying only Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah without consideration of Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah
47:19 – (O Prophet), therefore know, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin,…
Correct interpretation from The Noble Qur’an is
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Muhammad (47):19 |
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ
So know (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) that Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women. And Allâh knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes). |
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2. Wrong translations/interpretations of sifaat(attributes) of Allah
13:2 – …And (He) is firmly placed on the Throne [of Power];
Correction:
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Ra’d (13):2 |
| اللّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَاء رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
Allâh is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He Istawâ (rose above) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going round)! Each running (its course) for a term appointed. He regulates all affairs, explaining the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord. |
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92:20 – But only the desire to seek the Approval of their Lord Most High;
Correction:
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Al-Lail (92):20 |
إِلَّا ابْتِغَاء وَجْهِ رَبِّهِا لْأَعْلَى
Except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High; |
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76:9 – "We feed you for the sake of Allah alone, no reward do we want from you, nor thanks."
Correct translation from The Noble Qur’an is
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Al-Insan (76):9 |
إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَانُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاء وَلَا شُكُورًا
(Saying): "We feed you seeking Allâh’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. |
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2:115 – Wherever you turn, there is the Face (the Divine Countenance and Presence) of Allah. For Allah is All Pervading, All Knowing.
Correction:
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Al-Baqarah (2):115 |
وَلِلّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّواْ فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And to Allâh belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn yourselves or your faces there is the Face of Allâh (and He is High above, over His Throne). Surely! Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knowing. |
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57:3 – He is the First and (He is) the Last, and the All Present, (Omnipresent, the All Evident): And (He is) the Hidden, and He is the All Knower of all the (minutest) things.
Correction:
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Al-Hadid (57):3 |
هُوَ الْأَوَّلُ وَالْآخِرُ وَالظَّاهِرُ وَالْبَاطِنُ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
He is the First (nothing is before Him) and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him). And He is the All-Knower of every thing. |
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57:4 – He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, and then He rose over the Throne (of Authority). He knows what enters within the earth and what comes out of it: And what comes down from heaven and what rises up to it. And He is with you where ever you may be. And Allah sees well all that you do.
Correction:
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Al-Hadid (57):4 |
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاء وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then Istawâ (rose over) the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty). He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto. And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be. And Allâh is the All-Seer of what you do. |
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3. ‘Kursi‘ incorrectly translated as ‘Throne’ inspite of clarification in the footnotes of "The Noble Qur’an"
2:255 – His Throne extends over the heavens and over the earth,
Correct translation from The Noble Qur’an is
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Al-Baqarah (2):255 |
| اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Allâh! Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter . And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursî extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. [This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat-ul-Kursî.] |
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4. Hur translated as Companions. Click here to read about Dr. Naik’s errors with regards to this issue.
44:54 – We shall enjoin them the companions with beautiful, big and lovely eyes.
Correction:
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Ad-Dukhan (44):54 |
| كَذَلِكَ وَزَوَّجْنَاهُم بِحُورٍ عِينٍ
So (it will be), and We shall marry them to Houris (female fair ones) with wide, lovely eyes. |
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5. Miscellaneous mistakes
2:30 – And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels; "I will create a vicegerent on earth."
Correction:
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Al-Baqarah (2):30 |
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُواْ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاء وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ
And (remember) when your Lord said to the angels: "Verily, I am going to place (mankind) generations after generations on earth." They said: "Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood, – while we glorify You with praises and thanks (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners) and sanctify You." He (Allâh) said: "I know that which you do not know." |
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58:22 – …For such (people who believe) He (Allah) has written Faith in their hearts, and (He has) strengthened them with a spirit from Himself.
Correction:
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Al-Mujadilah (58):22 |
لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الْإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُم بِرُوحٍ مِّنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُوْلَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
You (O Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam)) will not find any people who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) ), even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people). For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with Rûh (proofs, light and true guidance) from Himself. And We will admit them to Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein (forever). Allâh is pleased with them, and they with Him. They are the Party of Allâh. Verily, it is the Party of Allâh that will be the successful. |
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